I.e., Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (v. 12).

I.e., Jehoiachin king of Judah.

I.e., Pharaoh king of Egypt (v. 15).

I.e., Jehoiachin king of Judah.

I.e., Zedekiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar made king in place of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:17).

Some MSS read, fugitives.

See note Ezek. 3:17^1b. In vv. 3-4, 22-23 the house of David, the royal household, is likened to a cedar tree. First, a branch of this tree, Jehoiachin, was cut off (vv. 3-4, 12; 2 Chron. 36:8-10a). Later, another branch, Zedekiah, was set up and was also cut off (vv. 13-21; 2 Chron. 36:10-20). According to vv. 22-23 one twig, one tender branch, on the top of this cedar tree was cropped and was transplanted on a high and prominent mountain, and it became a magnificent cedar. This twig is Christ (cf. Isa. 11:1). Christ, who was born as a descendant of the house of David (Matt. 1:1; Rom. 1:3), is a tender branch of the cedar of David. As such a tender branch, He was “cropped” by being crucified. Man cropped this tender One, but God caused Him to resurrect and to ascend (Acts 2:22-24, 32-36). In this way God planted Christ in a high place, and Christ became a majestic cedar under which many people will dwell. Although the house of David was cropped because of their corruption and thus became desolate and lowly, the day will come when they will be revived in Christ (Amos 9:11 and note Amos 9:11^1b). Because they will be joined to Christ, they will become majestic once again.