Yehezkel 19-20

The series of prophetic allegories continues, and in perek 19 the prophet Yechezkel describes the process of political deterioration in Judah in its last years using an allegory from the world of plants and animals. Unlike other allegories, the purpose of this allegory is defined at its beginning and end - it is a lamentation for the princes of Israel. The first part of the lamentation (2-9) includes an animal based allegory which describes a lioness and her cubs. The young lions represent the last kings of Judah - "Judah is a lion cub" (Bereshit 49:9), who are trapped by foreigners. The second part (10-14) includes an additional allegory from the world of plants, which laments the fate of Judah and Tzidkiyahu, its last king.

Perek 20 is Yechezkel's third prophecy to the Elders of Israel who come to ask him for God's word (the previous prophecies were in perakim 8 and 14). In response to the Elders, Yechezkel gives a unique and broad historical survey of the nation of Israel from its begninng until his time. This survey begins and concludes with the words of God to the elders "As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you" (3,31), and includes four historical stages which are described in a set format: making a covenant with God and revelation, warning the nation, the sinning of the nation and the desire of God to wipe them out, and finally mitigation of the punishment. This description sheds new light on a few different periods in the history of the nation. In the second part of the prophecy (32-44) the prophet turns to the future and describes the redemption in a unique way.