There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
There was also another great eagle - the King of Egypt (Ezekiel 17:15). The "long-winged" of Ezekiel 17:3 is omitted, as Egypt had not such a wide empire and large armies as Babylon.
This vine did bend her roots toward him - literally, 'thirsted after him with its roots,' happily expressing the longings after Egypt in the Jewish heart. Zedekiah sought the alliance of Egypt, as though by it he could throw off his dependence on Babylon (2 Kings 24:7; 2 Kings 24:20; 2 Chronicles 36:13; for a time Egypt did cause Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw from the siege of Jerusalem, but God warned the Jews, "Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt, to their own land," Jeremiah 37:5; Jeremiah 37:7).
That he might water it by the furrows of her plantation - i:e., in the garden beds (Judea) wherein it (the vine) was planted. Rather, 'by' or 'out of the furrows,' etc. It refers to the waters of Egypt, the Nile being made to water the fields by means of small canals or "furrows;" these waters are the figure of the auxiliary forces wherewith Egypt tried to help Judah. See the same figure, Isaiah 8:7. But see note, Ezekiel 17:10, "in the furrows where it grew."