**The Parable of the Two Eagles and the Vine**
In the days when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, son of Buzi, the prophet found himself standing among the exiles by the Kebar River in Babylon. The Spirit of the Lord stirred within him, and he lifted his voice to speak a riddle, a parable for the rebellious house of Israel.
### **The First Eagle: The King of Babylon**
The Lord showed Ezekiel a vision: a great eagle with powerful wings, covered in feathers of many colors, came swooping down to Lebanon. Its talons were sharp, its beak strong, and it carried itself with royal majesty. This eagle was none other than Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the mighty conqueror whom God had permitted to rule over nations.
The eagle flew to the highest branch of a cedar tree—symbolizing Jerusalem, the royal city of Judah—and plucked off its topmost shoot. With great care, he carried it away to a land of merchants, a city of traders, and planted it there. This shoot was King Jehoiachin, the young ruler of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken captive to Babylon along with the nobles and skilled men of the land.
Then the eagle took some of the seed of the land—the common people left behind—and planted them like a willow by abundant waters. These were the weak and lowly, those not deemed worthy of exile, left under the rule of Zedekiah, the puppet king Nebuchadnezzar had placed on the throne.
### **The Vine’s Betrayal: Zedekiah’s Rebellion**
The seed grew into a spreading vine, low in height but stretching its roots toward the eagle, dependent upon it for life. Yet, despite the eagle’s provision, the vine turned its heart toward another great eagle—this one with vast wings but less splendor. This second eagle represented Egypt, with its promises of power and deliverance.
The vine whispered to itself, *”Why should I remain under the rule of Babylon? Surely Egypt will break my chains and give me strength!”* So it sent its roots toward the Nile, seeking Pharaoh’s protection, breaking its covenant with the first eagle.
### **The Lord’s Judgment**
Then the word of the Lord thundered against the vine: *”Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit, left to wither? When the east wind strikes it, will it not surely die?”*
Thus said the Lord: *”By the life of the King of Heaven, this oath shall stand: Zedekiah has despised the covenant made before Me, and he shall not escape. Pharaoh’s army will fail him, and Babylon’s wrath shall fall upon Jerusalem. Its towers will crumble, its people will be scattered, and Zedekiah himself shall be brought before Nebuchadnezzar, his eyes blinded, his hope shattered.”*
Yet in His mercy, the Lord also spoke of restoration: *”I Myself will take a tender shoot from the top of the cedar and plant it on a high mountain. It will grow branches and bear fruit, becoming a noble cedar where birds of every kind will dwell. And all the trees of the field—all nations—will know that I, the Lord, bring low the high tree and make the withered tree flourish.”*
### **The Meaning Unveiled**
Ezekiel turned to the exiles, his voice firm yet heavy with sorrow. *”The first eagle is Babylon, who carried away your king. The vine is Judah, who swore loyalty but sought Egypt’s help. Because of this treachery, Jerusalem will fall. Yet, the Lord promises that from the fallen house of David, He will raise up a true King—one who will reign in righteousness.”*
The people bowed their heads, some in fear, others in repentance. For they knew the word of the Lord was true, and His justice would not be mocked. Yet even in judgment, His mercy shone—a promise of a future King, a true Cedar, under whose branches all nations would find shelter.
And so the word of the Lord through Ezekiel stood as both warning and hope: rebellion brings ruin, but faithfulness to God’s covenant brings life everlasting.
