And there was another large eagle, with great wings, and many feathers: and behold this vine, bending as it were her roots towards him, stretched forth her branches to him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
וַיְהִ֤י נֶֽשֶׁר־אֶחָד֙ גָּד֔וֹל גְּד֥וֹל כְּנָפַ֖יִם וְרַב־נוֹצָ֑ה וְהִנֵּה֩ הַגֶּ֨פֶן הַזֹּ֜את כָּֽפְנָ֧ה שָׁרֳשֶׁ֣יהָ עָלָ֗יו וְדָֽלִיּוֹתָיו֙ שִׁלְחָה־לּ֔וֹ לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת אוֹתָ֔הּ מֵעֲרֻג֖וֹת מַטָּעָֽהּ׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
It became evident that this was accomplished. He appeared feeble in his power and diminished in grandeur. There was yet another eagle, a magnificent eagle with vast wings: and indeed, the clusters of this vine were entwined around him. This second eagle represents the sovereign of Egypt; however, the vine is frail. This frailty parallels King Zedekiah, who placed his faith in the king of Egypt and formed an alliance with them.
And there appeared another large eagle with magnificent wings and numerous feathers. This vine, resembling a vine, directed its roots toward him and extended its branches to him, seeking support from the areas where it thrived. In fertile soil, beside abundant waters, he planted it so that it would spread, yield fruit, and become a majestic vine. Thus says the Lord God: Will it prosper? Will he not uproot its roots, sever its fruit, and dry up all its branches so that it withers? Not with great might nor numerous nations will he uproot it. Though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not shrivel as soon as the scorching wind strikes it, will it not dry up on the heights of its branches?
There was another great eagle, mighty with enormous wings and many talons, and this vine was entwined around him, its roots embracing him, its branches reaching out to him, so he might reinforce it with part of the soil it was planted in. In a rich field beside many waters, it flourished, producing branches, yielding fruit, and becoming a grand vine. Therefore, say, Thus says the Lord to Adonai: Will it be amended? Will not its delicate roots and fruit decay, causing all that has sprung from it to wither? Not with great strength nor throngs of people shall he uproot it. Now it has grown thick: will it be amended? Will it not wither as soon as the fierce wind blows upon it, will it not shrivel from drought, and will it not wither alongside the portion of soil where it has branched out? This second eagle, large and furred with many talons, symbolizes the king of Egypt, Pharaoh, due to the swiftness and desolation brought upon many nations. Hence, this vine, representing Zedekiah, who had been appointed by Nebuchadnezzar in Jerusalem, began to turn its branches towards him, the king of Egypt, seeking his support against the king to whom he was subjected. This illustrates what Scripture conveys; that he would reinforce it from the growth's heights. It was planted by Nebuchadnezzar in fertile ground so that it might grow branches and bear fruit, becoming a broad vine; thus, the prophet is directed to address the vine which Nebuchadnezzar planted and which was now reaching out to the Egyptian eagle: Will it prosper in its plans, and will not all its branches immediately wither? The answer is, not with great power or multitude. For Zedekiah, having fled and abandoned by the Egyptian king, was seized by Nebuchadnezzar's commanders in the wilderness of Jericho, and all his associates were scattered in various locations, as recorded in the book of Kings, the book of Chronicles, and the book of Jeremiah.
The Prophet refers to kings as eagles due to their sovereign power; the eagle symbolizes majesty, having ascended as the ruler among birds. In this context, the Prophet is alluding to the king of Egypt, identified as Baphrias, a figure also noted by the Prophet Jeremiah. Zedekiah formed an alliance with him, disregarding the commitments made to Nebuchadnezzar. This indicates that the vine was sent to him, symbolizing the financial tribute Zedekiah forwarded to the king of Egypt; he did this to strengthen his allegiance with him, implying a protective relationship for both the king and his people. In this metaphor, the Prophet likens the populace to breasts, maintaining this figurative language while referring to the king as a grape.
Grapes, once planted in soil, root themselves deeply and absorb nourishment from it. Thus, Zedekiah sent monetary aid to the Egyptian ruler with the hope that both he and his subjects would gain from his support and assistance, encouraging the grapes to flourish and produce fruit. The phrase "the grapes that remain" signifies that they have preserved the dignity that they once possessed.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS