Yehezkel 15-16

Perek 15 begins a series of prophetic parables that concern the history of Jerusalem and its fate. The focus of perek 15 is a parable that compares the nation of Israel to a grapevine. This comparison is common in the Tanakh (see for example: the parable of the vineyard in Yeshayahu 5:7 and Tehillim 80:9), however, the comparison usually focuses on the grapes while the prophecy here mentions only the vine and not the fruit.

The central theme of perek 16 is the parable of the foundling. The prophet recounts the history of the nation of Israel and its convoluted relationship with God with a dramatic, harsh and unique simile. The prophecy begins with a description of the creation of the nation that is compared to a foundling abandoned in a field at birth (3-5).  God then passes over her, takes her in, marries her and cares for her (6-14). However, her status and her beauty lead her to betray Him and to commit adultery with any available partner. She even gives them of the gifts that God has given her (16-34). As a punishment, God deprives her of all that He gave her, returns her to her position of origin and punishes her harshly (35-43). This harsh prophecy concludes with the promise of a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel (59-63).