1:4 As I watched, I noticed 1 a windstorm 2 coming from the north – an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, 3 such that bright light 4 rimmed it and came from 5 it like glowing amber 6 from the middle of a fire.
“‘A great eagle 10 with broad wings, long feathers, 11
with full plumage which was multi-hued, 12
came to Lebanon 13 and took the top of the cedar.
17:7 “‘There was another great eagle 14
with broad wings and thick plumage.
Now this vine twisted its roots toward him
and sent its branches toward him
to be watered from the soil where it was planted.
“‘You were the sealer 16 of perfection,
full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
48:1 “These are the names of the tribes: From the northern end beside the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan (which is on the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath), extending from the east side to the west, Dan will have one portion.
1 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
2 sn Storms are often associated with appearances of God (see Nah 1:3; Ps 18:12). In some passages, the “storm” (סְעָרָה, sÿ’arah) may be a whirlwind (Job 38:1, 2 Kgs 2:1).
3 tn Heb “fire taking hold of itself,” perhaps repeatedly. The phrase occurs elsewhere only in Exod 9:24 in association with a hailstorm. The LXX interprets the phrase as fire flashing like lightning, but it is possibly a self-sustaining blaze of divine origin. The LXX also reverses the order of the descriptors, i.e., “light went around it and fire flashed like lightning within it.”
4 tn Or “radiance.” The term also occurs in 1:27b.
5 tc Or “was in it”; cf. LXX ἐν τῷ μέσῳ αὐτοῦ (en tw mesw autou, “in its midst”).
6 tn The LXX translates חַשְׁמַל (khashmal) with the word ἤλεκτρον (hlektron, “electrum”; so NAB), an alloy of silver and gold, perhaps envisioning a comparison to the glow of molten metal.
7 tn See Ezek 1:4.
8 tc The LXX lacks this phrase. Its absence from the LXX may be explained as a case of haplography resulting from homoioteleuton, skipping from כְּמַרְאֵה (kÿmar’eh) to מִמַּרְאֵה (mimmar’eh). On the other hand, the LXX presents a much more balanced verse structure when it is recognized that the final words of this verse belong in the next sentence.
13 tn The parable assumes the defection of Zedekiah to Egypt and his rejection of Babylonian lordship.
14 sn The great eagle symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar (17:12).
15 tn Hebrew has two words for wings; it is unknown whether they are fully synonymous or whether one term distinguishes a particular part of the wing such as the wing coverts (nearest the shoulder), secondaries (mid-feathers of the wing) or primaries (last and longest section of the wing).
16 tn This term was used in 16:10, 13, and 18 of embroidered cloth.
17 sn In the parable Lebanon apparently refers to Jerusalem (17:12).
19 sn The phrase another great eagle refers to Pharaoh Hophra.
25 tn Heb “lift up.”
26 tn For a discussion of possible nuances of this phrase, see M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:580-81.
31 tn Heb “Nebuchadrezzar” is a variant and more correct spelling of Nebuchadnezzar, as the Babylonian name Nabu-kudurri-usur has an “r” rather than an “n” (so also in v. 19).
32 sn Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre from 585 to 571
37 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
38 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
43 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
44 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
49 tn Heb “three cubits” (i.e., 1.575 meters).
50 tn Heb “two cubits” (i.e., 1.05 meters).
51 tc So the Masoretic text. The LXX reads “base.”
55 tn Heb “he shall shut the gate after he goes out.”