Ezekiel 19:1-9
Expanded Bible
A Sad Song for Israel
19 “Sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for the ·leaders [princes] of Israel. 2 Say:
‘Your mother was a lioness [C referring either to the Davidic dynasty or to Hamutal, the wife of Josiah and mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah; Gen. 49:9; 2 Kin. 23:31–34].
She lay down among the young lions [C the kings of Judah].
She ·had many [reared her] cubs.
3 When she ·brought up [reared] one of her cubs,
he became a ·strong [L young] lion [C King Jehoahaz; 2 Kin. 23:31–34; Jer. 22:10–12].
He learned to tear ·the animals he hunted [prey],
and he ·ate [devoured] people.
4 The nations heard about him.
He was trapped in their pit,
and they brought him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5 “‘The mother lion waited and saw
that there was no hope for her cub.
So she took another one of her cubs
and made him a ·strong [L young] lion [C either Jehoiachin (2 Kin. 24:8) or Zedekiah (2 Kin. 25:7)].
6 This cub ·roamed [prowled] among the lions.
He was now a ·strong [L young] lion.
He learned to tear ·the animals he hunted [prey],
and he ·ate [devoured] people.
7 He tore down their ·strong places [strongholds; fortresses]
and ·destroyed [devastated] their cities.
The land and everything in it
were terrified by the sound of his roar.
8 Then the nations came against him
from areas all around,
and they spread their net over him.
He was trapped in their pit.
9 Then they put him into a ·cage with chains [collar]
and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him into prison
so his ·roar [voice] could not be heard again
on the mountains of Israel [2 Kin. 24:8–17; 2 Chr. 36:8–10].
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