All the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD,
    for to Israel you were just a staff made of reeds.
When Israel leaned on you,
     you splintered and broke
     and stabbed her in the armpit.
When she put her weight on you,
     you collapsed, and her legs gave way.

Ezekiel 29:6-7

• From The Archaeological Bible: “Ezekiel’s wife died on the same day the temple was burned–August 14, 586 B.C.”
• The Israelites took pride in the Temple in a manner that was idolatrous; they coveted the image, power, and authority that they felt the Temple gave to them, instead of worshiping the one true God who dwelled with them.

• When they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders, and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their legs give way.
  Ezekiel 29:7 (NRSVUE) 
• When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.
  Ezekiel 29:7 (NIV)
• You are like mighty Assyria, which was once like a cedar of Lebanon, with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade and with its top high among the clouds.
  Ezekiel 31:3
• Reeds were common in Egypt, so it was a well-understood metaphor.
• “The  pharaoh held several scepters that represented his power and office. The was scepter was forked at the bottom, and the top handle was carved in the shape of a dog’s head. The heqa scepter was shaped like a shepherd’s crook. Though these were generally not made of reed, tomb discoveries have confirmed that at least in one instance a reed staff was included among the staffs of Pharaoh.” IVP OT Bible Background Commentary
• The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
  Genesis 2:9
• It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
  Revelation 22:2

Lean on God and His wisdom. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. Proverbs 3:18