The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 351

11ccording_ to e.1~ the.~ his ~athers had done~• (2 _Kings xxiii. 32). And,_nccording to our text, durmg his brief reign he abused his kmgly power by oppressrng his subjects. 'l'hen we have the abuse of kingly power in another sovereign (vers. 6-7), If we mke this as referring to Jehoiakim, it is difficult to see how it cnn be npproprintely snid that " she took another of her whelps, e.nd made him e. young lion," seeing that he was rRised to the throne by Pharaoh-Necho (2 Kings xxiii. 34). But in other respects the description here given suits him well (cf. vers. 6, 7 with 2 Kings xxiii. 36-37). Josephus says t.hat "he was of e. wicked J.isposition, and ready to do mischid: nor was he either religious towards God or good-natured towards men"(' Ant.,' x. 6. 2), Again if we translate ver. 7 e.s in the 'Speaker's Commentary,' "he knew his palaces" (both Hengsten berg and Schroder translate "his" in this clause, and not " their" as in the Authorized Version), the reference to Jehoiakim becomes yet more clear; for he had a passion for building splendid edifices, and he gratified it by injustice and oppression (Jer. xxii. 13-19). By both these princes their position and power were wickedly abused. Rank and might should be used in accordance with the will of God and for the good of man. Kings should employ their power for the protection and prosperity of their subjects. " Since by your greatness you Are nearer heaven in place, be nearer it In goodness. Rich men should transcend the poor. As clouds the earth ; mised by the comfort of The sun, to water dry and barren grounds." (Tourneive.) Bnt these princes used their power for the oppression and impoverishment of their anbjects. ·- • When those whom Heaven distinguishes o'er millions, Profusely gives them hononr, riches, power, Whate'er the expanded bee.rt oa.n wish: when they, Accepting the rewe.rd, neglect the duty, Or worse, pervert those gifts to deeds of ruin, Is there a wretch they rule so mean e.s they,- Gnilty at once of se.crilege to Heaven, And of perfidious robbery to men?" (Mallet.) Ill. ROYAL POSITION AND POWER TAKEN AWAY. "The nations also heard of him; he wa~ taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt" (cf. 2 Kings xxiii. 31-34). There is here "an allusion to the custom, when the news arrives that a lion or other savage beast is committing mischief, of assembling on all sides to seize and slay it" (C. B. Michaelis). The" chains,"" hooks," or "rings," by which Jehoahaz is said to have been brought into Egypt, refer to the custom of putting a ring "through the nose of animals that require to be restrained, to attach to it the bridle by which they are led, by which also their power of breathing can be lessened" (cf. 2 Kings xix. 28). Jehoiakim also was stripped of the power which he bad abnsed. " The nations set against him on every side from the provinces ; and they spread their net over him," etc. (vers. 8, 9). The historical explanation is given in 2 Kings xxiv. 1, 2; 2 Cbron. xuvi 5, 6. Or, if vers. 8 and 9 be applied to J ehoiachin, we have their explanation in 2 Kings xxiv. 10-16. When kings and princes abuse their power, in the providence of God it is taken away from them. Many examples of this might be cited; as Saul (1 Sam. xxxi.), Zimri (1 Kings xvi. 8-20), Jehoram (2 Chron. xri.), Manasseh (2 Cbron. xuiii. 1-11). And, as Greenhill says, "Tiberius was poisoned or smothered by bis own nephew ; Caligula slain by his own guard; Vitrellius was overthrown in battle, taken prisoner, and drawn with a baiter about his neck along the streets, half naked, and after many outrages done unto him, he was killed and cast into the Tiber. Leander, tyrant of Cyrena, was taken alive, and being sewed into e. leathern. bag, was cast into the sea. Thirty tyrants were slain in one day at Athens, by Theramenes, ThrasibulUB, and Archippus, who did it with seventy men." 'l'he measure they bad meted unto others was measured also unto them. As they bad done, so God requited them. These things call for lamentation on tho part of the patriotic and the pioUB. When splendid opportunities are worse than neglected, orr. x1x. 1-14.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL.