The Withering of the Vine.
“Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters.
She was fruitful and full of branches, by reason of many waters.
And she had strong rods for the sceptres of those who bare rule, and their stature was raised high among the thick boughs.
And he was seen in his height with the multitude of his branches.”
The concentration now comes off the kings to Israel-Judah as a whole, and to its destiny. It is likened to a fruitful vine with many thick boughs, prominent and strong among which were the branches that represented the kingship. ‘Strong rods' came from the vine to provide their sceptres. Thus they ruled in power, raised high among the thick boughs. Here we are taken back to such days as those of David and Solomon. The change from plural to singular may indicate reference to the current king, Zedekiah, as a representative of that royal household. The mixture of lion, sceptre and vine is not new. It is found in Genesis 49:9-12 speaking of Judah and kingship.
The likening of Israel to a vine is a well known one in the Old Testament, sometimes favourable as a picture of fruitfulness, as initially here (Genesis 49:11-12; Isaiah 27:2-6; Psalms 80:8-11), and sometimes derogatory because wild and unfruitful (Ezekiel 15:1-8; Ezekiel 17:1-10; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21). It depicts fruitfulness, or when failing, blameworthy lack of fruitfulness. So Israel were previously strong and its kings were mighty.
‘Like a vine in your blood planted by the waters.' For ‘in your blood' we can compare Ezekiel 16:6; Ezekiel 16:22. Birth in blood was not an uncommon sight. This vivid mixed metaphor connects the lament with the parable in chapter 16. It indicates here that although Israel was a flourishing vine, she had grown so out of poor beginnings and from suffering. (The phrase is admittedly difficult but no widely acceptable alternative suggestion has been made). For planting by the waters see Ezekiel 17:5. To be planted by waters was to be highly blessed and fruitful (compare Psalms 1).