Ezekiel 17:13-19

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

14 so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty.

15 But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?

16 “ ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, he shall die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.

17 Pharaoh with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.

18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

19 “ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.

Ezekiel 17:13-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 17

Under the simile of two eagles and a vine are represented the kings of Babylon and Egypt, and the condition of the Jews, who are threatened with ruin for their perfidy; and yet a promise is made of the raising up of the house of Judah, and family of David, in the Messiah. The prophet is bid to deliver a riddle or parable to the house of Israel, Eze 17:1,2. The riddle or parable is concerning two eagles and a vine, which is delivered, Eze 17:3-10; and the explanation of it is in Eze 17:11-15; and then the destruction of the Jews is threatened for their treachery to the king of Babylon, Eze 17:16-21; and the chapter is closed with a promise of the Messiah, and the prosperity of his kingdom, Eze 17:22-24.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 23:32; S Jeremiah 37:1
• 2. 2 Chronicles 36:13
• 3. Isaiah 3:2
• 4. Ezekiel 29:14
• 5. Jeremiah 52:3
• 6. S Isaiah 30:2; S Jeremiah 37:5
• 7. S Deuteronomy 17:16
• 8. S Psalms 56:7; S Isaiah 30:5; Jeremiah 34:3; Jeremiah 38:18; Ezekiel 29:16
• 9. S Jeremiah 52:11; Ezekiel 12:13
• 10. S 2 Kings 24:17
• 11. Jeremiah 37:7
• 12. S Ezekiel 4:2
• 13. S Isaiah 36:6; Jeremiah 37:5; Ezekiel 29:6-7
• 14. S 2 Kings 10:15; 1 Chronicles 29:24
• 15. Jeremiah 7:9; S Ezekiel 16:59; Ezekiel 21:23; Hosea 10:4