Ezekiel 17:13

And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

And hath taken {H3947} of the king's {H4410} seed {H2233}, and made {H3772} a covenant {H1285} with him, and hath taken {H935} an oath {H423} of him: he hath also taken {H3947} the mighty {H352} of the land {H776}:

Then he took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He removed the powerful leaders of the land,

He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,

And he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

Commentary on Ezekiel 17:13 (KJV)

Ezekiel 17:13 is a pivotal verse within the allegorical riddle of the two great eagles and the vine, which the prophet Ezekiel uses to explain the political turmoil and divine judgment upon Judah. This verse specifically describes the actions of the first great eagle, representing King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, towards the kingdom of Judah.

Context

In this vivid allegory, the "first great eagle" (Nebuchadnezzar) comes to Jerusalem and takes the "highest branch of the cedar" (King Jehoiachin and the leading citizens) to Babylon (Ezekiel 17:4). The verse then details how Nebuchadnezzar established a new king in Judah. He "hath taken of the king's seed," referring to Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Zedekiah and placed on the throne of Judah (2 Kings 24:17). This was a strategic move by Babylon to ensure Judah remained a vassal state and to prevent further rebellion after Jehoiachin's uprising. The verse highlights the stringent conditions imposed by the conquering power to maintain control.

Key Themes

  • Covenant and Oath: The passage emphasizes that Nebuchadnezzar "made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him." This highlights the solemnity and binding nature of the agreement. In ancient Near Eastern politics, such covenants (Hebrew: berith) were formal treaties, often backed by divine witnesses, and oaths (Hebrew: shebu'ah) were sworn promises invoking a higher power to guarantee compliance. For Zedekiah, this oath was a pledge of loyalty to Babylon.
  • Babylonian Supremacy: By taking "the mighty of the land," Nebuchadnezzar further solidified his control. This refers to the deportation of Judah's prominent leaders, skilled craftsmen, and warriors to Babylon, mirroring the events of the first deportation (2 Kings 24:14). This action was designed to cripple Judah's ability to resist and to break its national spirit, ensuring no strong figures remained to incite rebellion.
  • Consequences of Disloyalty: Although not explicit in this verse, the subsequent verses of Ezekiel 17 (e.g., Ezekiel 17:15) reveal Zedekiah's breaking of this sacred covenant and oath by seeking aid from Egypt. This act of treachery ultimately led to the final destruction of Jerusalem and the complete exile of Judah, demonstrating the severe consequences of violating solemn agreements, especially those under divine witness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "covenant" (berith) signifies a solemn agreement, often with mutual obligations and potential curses for breach. The word for "oath" (shebu'ah) denotes a sworn promise, typically invoking God's name, making its violation a serious offense in the eyes of both human and divine law. The emphasis on both a covenant and an oath underscores the deliberate and binding nature of Zedekiah's commitment to Nebuchadnezzar.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 17:13 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness and integrity, whether in personal relationships, business dealings, or national commitments. Zedekiah's failure to uphold his sworn oath had devastating consequences, not only for himself but for an entire nation. The passage implicitly teaches that breaking one's word, especially when it involves a solemn promise, can lead to severe repercussions. It also highlights God's sovereignty over history, even using foreign powers to bring about His purposes and judgment.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:13

    And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 24:15

    And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, [those] carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

  • 2 Kings 24:17

    And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

  • Ezekiel 17:5

    He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed [it] by great waters, [and] set it [as] a willow tree.

  • Jeremiah 24:1

    ¶ The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 37:1

    ¶ And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

  • Jeremiah 5:2

    And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

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