Ezekiel 19:13
And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Hosea 2:3Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.Ezekiel 19:10Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
Historical Context
The exiles in Babylon experienced physical displacement to a foreign land and spiritual desolation from separation from the temple and promised land. Though some (like Daniel and Ezekiel) remained faithful, the community as a whole struggled with identity, hope, and faithfulness in a pagan context.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we maintain spiritual vitality in 'wilderness' seasons of life?
- What does exile teach about the relationship between geography and faithfulness to God?
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Analysis & Commentary
'And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.' The vine's new location: wilderness—opposite of 'planted by the waters' (verse 10). From abundance to scarcity, from fruitfulness to barrenness. 'Dry and thirsty ground' describes Babylon's literal desert climate and the spiritual desolation of exile. The once-flourishing royal house exists but doesn't thrive.