INTRODUCTION
In chapters 15, 16 and 17 Ezekiel delivers further messages from YHWH about impending judgement upon Jerusalem. These chapters contain striking allegories which convey YHWH’s perspective on Israel/Judah. In chapter 15 the nation is likened to a vine and in chapter 16 to an adulterous wife. Chapter 17 contains an allegory of two eagles and a vine.
Ezekiel chapter 15 falls into two parts:
vv. 1-5 The allegory of a vine – five rhetorical questions.
vv. 6-8 The allegory applied to the people of Jerusalem – six conclusions.
THE ALLEGORY OF A VINE (1-5)
(1) That this is a new oracle is indicated by the now familiar prophetic word formula ‘the word of the Lord came unto me saying.’ As we learn from previous chapters false prophets among the exiles in Babylon have been predicting that all will be well with Jerusalem. YHWH’s temple is there and he dwells in it, therefore the city is safe. One prophet, however, is predicting that Jerusalem will be punished and destroyed because of the people’s sinfulness and idolatry. That prophet is Ezekiel.
With this prophetic word formula Ezekiel claims that the content of his oracles does not consist of his own ideas; the messages come to him directly from YHWH and Ezekiel then passes them on to the people.
(2) Again addressing Ezekiel as ‘son of Adam’ YHWH employs a clever allegory to illustrate Israel/Judah’s guilt and punishment: he likens the nation to a grapevine. This image of Israel as a vine was familiar to Ezekiel’s fellow exiles.
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: Gen 49:22
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Psa 80:8
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant… Isa 5:7 (The parable of the vineyard Isa 5:1-7)
In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Isa 27:2-3
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? Jer 2:21
Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Hos 10:1
The conventional interpretation of this familiar image focused on the vine’s purpose and ability to bear fruit. Indeed, that is the interpretation which Jesus applied in John chapter 15. Here in Ezekiel chapter 15, however, the fruit is not mentioned. The allegory is about the wood. It is not about Jerusalem being fruitless, rather it is about it being useless. YHWH addresses five rhetorical questions to Ezekiel which show how useless the wood of the vine is in comparison with the wood of the other trees of the forest. Its wood is portrayed as worthless and good for nothing.
QUESTION 1 – What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 15:2
The implied answer to this question whether the wood of a vine is superior to the wood of other trees is: ‘No. its wood is inferior.’ The vine’s only value lies in its ability to bear fruit. If it does not bear fruit then it is useless.
QUESTION 2 – Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? 15:3a
Again the implied answer is negative. Unlike other strong trees whose wood is suitable for construction or furniture the wood of a vine is useless for any kind of work.
QUESTION 3 – Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? 15:3b
The wood of a vine cannot even be used to make a peg to hang things on.
QUESTION 4 – Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work? 15:4
Vine wood has no practical use; all one can do with it is burn it. Even then, it burns quickly.
QUESTION 5 – Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? 15:5
If a healthy vine is already useless in its natural state then a burnt and damaged one is even more useless.
THE ALLEGORY OF A VINE APPLIED (6-8)
(6) This is an important verse since it serves as a bridge between the allegory in the first section and the explanation of the allegory in the second section. This verse contains the last mention of the vine in the chapter and also the first (and only) mention of Jerusalem. Beginning with the word ‘therefore’ (which tells us that what follows are conclusions drawn from that which has already been said) this verse moves the message on from allegory to reality. Jerusalem is no better than the other towns and cities in Israel/Judah so it too is destined to suffer destruction and burning. YHWH’s conclusions are set out in six statements:
STATEMENT No.1 – As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15:6
Just as a useless vine is consigned to the fire so will YHWH hand over the people of Jerusalem to be consumed by the ‘fire’ of invasion and destruction by the Babylonian forces.
STATEMENT No. 2 – And I will set my face against them; 15:7a, 7d
This expression, which is repeated for emphasis at the end of the verse, indicates that YHWH is opposed to the people of Judah. He is determined to bring judgement upon them.
STATEMENT No. 3 – They shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; 15:7b
This may mean that in previous invasions Jerusalem suffered some damage but will be totally destroyed as a result of the coming siege and pillage by the Babylonians. It may also suggest that some citizens might manage to escape the destruction but will then face further calamity (e.g. Jer 42:22; 44:12-14). Judgement is inevitable.
STATEMENT No. 4 – And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. 15:7c
This recognition formula is common in Ezekiel. Here it is addressed (‘ye’ – you plural) to the exiles with Ezekiel in Babylon to whom he is delivering this oracle. When they will see what has happened to Jerusalem they will acknowledge that it is YHWH’s doing.
STATEMENT No. 5 – And I will make the land desolate, 15:8a
This reiterates that Jerusalem will be utterly destroyed.
STATEMENT No. 6 – Because they have committed a trespass,15:8b
This will happen because the Jerusalemites have committed a trespass – an unfaithful act. The destruction is a direct result of their actions. By worshipping idols the people of Jerusalem have acted unfaithfully towards YHWH so he will not protect the city. This idea of punishment for unfaithfulness is a common theme in the books of Chronicles – which use words like ‘trespassing’ and ‘transgressing’ to identify unfaithful acts (1 Chron 5:25; 10:13;2 Chron 12:2; 28:19; 29:6; 30:7; 36:14).
SUMMATION
In this short chapter YHWH gives a message about Jerusalem to Ezekiel who then relays the oracle to his fellow-exiles in Babylon. The first section of the chapter (vv. 1-5) contains a clever allegory which is communicated by the technique of asking rhetorical questions. The allegory inverts the usual picture of Israel as a valuable fruit-bearing vine by focusing on the wood rather than the fruit. The vine is revealed as useless and only fit for destruction. The second section (vv.6-8) applies the allegory to the people of Jerusalem (standing for the nation of Israel/Judah) and emphasizes their unfaithful acts and impending doom. The theme of unfaithfulness is taken up and presented in graphic detail in the next chapter which contains an extended allegory about an unfaithful wife.
Written Exposition 