{"id":73769,"date":"2018-07-09T17:47:33","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-469\/"},"modified":"2023-11-22T18:13:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T16:13:31","slug":"wall-469","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-469\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Ezekiel-17"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"469","date":"20270616","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"469","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"73601","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Ezekiel Chapter 17 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Ezekiel Chapter 17","slug":"jps-audio-bible-ezekiel-chapter-17","old_id":"73601","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"469","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Ezekiel Chapter 17","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_ezekiel_chapter_17","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"469","date":"20270616","wall_id":"469"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"118883","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Aquiline Precedents ","post_title":"Aquiline Precedents","slug":"aquiline-precedents","old_id":"118883","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"469","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Why is the eagle the symbol that it is?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Riddle me this, proclaims Ezekiel:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The great eagle with the great wings and the long pinions, with the full plumage and the brilliant colors, came to the Lebanon range and seized the top of the cedar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet goes on to tell a tale of two eagles. The first plants a vine, but the vine does not grow in its direction. Instead, the vine grows toward a second eagle that arrives later. The parable describes the current political climate in Jerusalem. The king of Judah was appointed by Babylonia, and he signed a treaty with the great power. Instead of following the treaty, the king rebelled and gravitated towards the Egyptians, the other large power at the time. This decision ends in destruction for Jerusalem and the Egyptians as well. Israel as the vine matches the image presented by Ezekiel in chapter 15.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why does Ezekiel use the image of eagles for the foreign powers? One possibility is a reference to the covenant of the parts. After Abram performs this ritual that foretells the exodus \u201can eagle came down upon the carcasses and Abram drove them away\u201d (Genesis 15:11). Through this image, God shows the people that he will protect them from outside enemies. With the destruction imminent, however, God will not protect the people from the enemies\u2019 eagles that come to harass the people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another possibility could be a reference to the eagles' wings in Exodus 19:4: \u201cYou have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles\u2019 wings and brought you to Me\u201d. During the Exodus, God was the eagle protecting the people. When the people rejected God at the time of the destruction, God as eagle will be replaced by the enemies of Israel as eagles. Because the people can no longer turn to God for protection, they must turn to others to save them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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God next instructed Ezekiel to pose a riddle about two eagles to the House of Israel. To be fair, he not only \u201cclued\u201d him in to the answer, he explicitly gave it to him. As summarized by Malbim, here are both the riddle and its solution:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The \u201cgreat eagle\u201d is the King of Babylonia who resembles an eagle who soars above other birds and is their king. Therefore, he soared to the mountains of Lebanon, atop the lofty cedars. [Scripture] used four figures to describe him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. \u201cGreat wings\u201d\u2014the feathers on his wings are large and long enabling lofty flight.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. The pinion to which the feathers are attached is also long.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. His body and wings are filled with feathers.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The interwoven feathers are multicolored.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    The analogy is:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    1. He can fly swiftly to all corners of the earth.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    2. The long pinion indicates strength and power (unlike the second eagle mentioned subsequently, whose pinions are not long, because Pharaoh was powerless).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    3. He is full of feathers, meaning his land is replete with masses of people (unlike the second eagle [v.7] which is described as a multi-feathered [but not colorful and interwoven] signifying that his populace did not fill his land).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    4. Pomp and splendor and all desirable appurtenances are the intent of the colors (also not mentioned of the second one). This eagle, who is Nebuchadnezzar, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedars, meaning that he exiled Jehoiachin, who was the leader of the nation, and his officers and warriors.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      And Moshe Greenberg offered the following literary appraisal:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Duality pervades the prophecy: fable and interpretation, two eagles, two plants, two modes of punishment, two planes of agency (earthly and divine), doom and consolation. With this duality agrees the double command with which the oracle opens: \u201cPose a riddle and tell a fable\u201d\u2014an indication that more is here than meets the eye. As a whole, the bipartition of the oracle\u2026 is a familiar pattern (chs. 13,16 - Anchor Bible, <\/span>Ezekiel<\/span><\/i>, 317).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73885,"alt":"","title":"ez17-two eagles","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles.jpg","width":1280,"height":540,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-300x127.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":127,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-768x324.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":324,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-1024x432.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":432,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":540,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":540,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-1200x506.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":506,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-996x420.jpg","home_baner-width":996,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Double Eagle For A Double Riddle","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"There is more here than meets the eye","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73885,"alt":"","title":"ez17-two eagles","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles.jpg","width":1280,"height":540,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-300x127.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":127,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-768x324.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":324,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-1024x432.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":432,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":540,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":540,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-1200x506.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":506,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez17-two-eagles-996x420.jpg","home_baner-width":996,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"469","date":"20270616","wall_id":"469"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"73887","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Top Of A Cedar On A Lofty Mountain ","post_title":"The Top Of A Cedar On A Lofty Mountain","slug":"the-top-of-a-cedar-on-a-lofty-mountain","old_id":"73887","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":73524,"post_title":"Yaakov Beasley","slug":"yaakov-beasley","old_id":"73524","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Beasley ","description":"Yaakov Beasley is the Tanakh Coordinator at Yeshivat Hesder Lev haTorah, the host of the TanachTalks podcast, and the author of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: Lights in the Valley (Maggid Press, 2020). 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      Ezekiel once again poses a riddle and parable to his audience \u2013 phrasing his question with beautiful poetry, but revealing the answer in plain prose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      There was a mighty eagle (representing Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) that removed the top of a Lebanon cedar (representing King Jehoiachin of Judah), and took it away to a \"city of merchants\" (exile). However, the eagle took a seed representing exile. The eagle then takes a seedling (Zedekiah), which sprouts and becomes a vine. It spreads its branches toward the eagle with its roots going down, symbolizing its humility and loyalty to Babylon. However, another eagle (representing Egypt) appears. The new vine is attracted to its brilliant plumage and great wings, and transfers its allegiance, by turning its roots and branches upwards toward him so it would water him, just as Zedekiah rebelled by sending envoys to Egypt for help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      This is a fatal error: in a series of rhetorical questions Ezekiel makes it clear that Egypt cannot and will not be able to protect Jerusalem against the betrayed and angry Babylonians. God promises that no one will escape their wrath, and that the treachery of Zedekiah will be requited.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Ultimately, Ezekiel leaves a glimmer of hope at the end. Starting with verse 22, God says that he will take a shoot from the top of a cedar, plant it on a lofty mountain, ensure that the shoot bears fruit, so much so that birds of every kind will flock to it and nest in it. The other trees will learn that God brings down the high trees and raises the lowly ones \u2013 not only will Israel be redeemed, but God as well:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      All the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord.<\/span>
      \r\n<\/span>I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree;<\/span>
      \r\n<\/span>I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.<\/span>
      \r\n<\/span>I the Lord have spoken; I will accomplish it.\u00a0 (Ezekiel 17:24)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      The commentators focus on the punishment of the unfaithful vine (Zedekiah). What crime did he actually commit to deserve destruction? The text emphasizes the gravity of the breaking of the oath that Zedekiah made to Babylonia not to rebel: \"Can one violate a covenant and escape?... Therefore, so said the Lord God: As I live, surely My oath that he disparaged and My covenant that he broke, I will bring it upon his head\" (v. 15-19)).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      Rabbinic tradition goes a step further. Zedekiah's original name was Mataniah. When Nebuchadnezzar appointed him king, he made him swear not to rebel using God's name. On a deeper level, we can suggest that Judah treated Babylonia in the exact manner as it treated God \u2013 unfaithfully, and unable to keep to its covenant.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":70560,"alt":"","title":"jer22-cedar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar.jpg","width":1920,"height":1281,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1025,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1281,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-1200x801.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":801,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Top Of A Cedar On A Lofty Mountain","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"This will bear fruit, not the lowly vine: treachery will be requited","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":70560,"alt":"","title":"jer22-cedar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar.jpg","width":1920,"height":1281,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1025,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1281,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-1200x801.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":801,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer22-cedar-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"469","date":"20270616","wall_id":"469"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"73881","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"When Is An Eagle Not An Eagle? ","post_title":"When Is An Eagle Not An Eagle?","slug":"when-is-an-eagle-not-an-eagle","old_id":"73881","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"469","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When it\u2019s a vulture of course","post_main_content_content":"

      In chapter 17, God tells Ezekiel to tell a riddle to the House of Israel. The riddle describes two eagles. The first in verse 3:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cSay: Thus said the Lord GOD: The great eagle with the great wings and the long pinions, with the full plumage and the brilliant colors, came to the Lebanon range and seized the top of the cedar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      And the second in verse 7:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cBut there was another great eagle with great wings and full plumage; and this vine now bent its roots in his direction and sent out its twigs toward him, that he might water it more than the bed where it was planted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      From the remaining verses in the chapter, we see that these two eagles represent the kings of Babylon and Egypt, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      The Hebrew word for both of these eagles is <\/span>nesher<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i> The word <\/span>nesher<\/span><\/em> appears 26 times in the Bible, perhaps most famously in the image of God carrying the Israelites on \u201cthe wings of eagles\u201d in Exodus 19:4.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      However, many say that translation is incorrect. According to them, the <\/span>nesher<\/span><\/em> of Exodus 19, as well as in many other biblical verses, are in fact griffon vultures. This is based on a number of factors:<\/span><\/p>\r\n