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"He set it in a city of merchants"

Text: Ezekiel 17:4

EXILED ISRAEL IN BABYLON

This riddle/ parable described the new life of those who were brought from Judah to live in Babylon. This text gives us an insight of those who lived in exile.

“He cropped off its topmost young twig
And carried it to a land of trade;
He set it in a city of merchants.
Then he took some of the seed of the land
And planted it in a fertile field;
He placed it by abundant waters
And set it like a willow tree.
And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature;
Its branches turned toward him,
But its roots were under it.
So it became a vine,
Brought forth branches,
And put forth shoots.”
Ezekiel 17:4-6

1. King Jehoiachin

a) He was only 18 years old when he was exiled to Babylon.

b) He was well described as a “young twig” (2 Kings 24:8).

2. Babylon described:

a) A land of trade.

b) A city of merchants.

3. The seed of the land.

a) They were the princes of Israel.

b) The servants.

c) The officers (2 Kings 24:12).

d) They were exiled to Babylon with King Jehoiachin.

4. There were favourable factors that enabled them to thrive.

a) A fertile field.

b) Abundant waters.

c) They were compared to a willow tree thriving because of the abundance of water nearby.

5. Growth of the exiled Israelites.

a) It grew well.

b) But it was compared to a vine of low stature (not a high-grade vine).

c) It survived well enough.

i) There were roots.

ii) Branches grew.

iii) New shoots as well.

d) Israel did not perish in Babylon.