Zedekiah's
judgment for despising the oath taken in Jehovah's name
Chapter 17 present the
judgment of Zedekiah for despising the oath that
Nebuchadnezzar made him take in the name of Jehovah.
Israel not having been able to stand in integrity before
God, Jehovah had committed the kingdom to the head of the
Gentiles, whom He had raised up. This was His determinate
purpose; but He had disposed the heart of Nebuchadnezzar
to respect the name of Jehovah, and Judah might still
have remained the centre of religious blessing, and the
lamp of David might still have given light there,
although the royalty had been subjected to the head of
the Gentiles, until the time should come for the result
of the judgment and dealings of God. The covenant between
Nebuchadnezzar and Zedekiah was made on this ground, and
the name of Jehovah was brought in to confirm it. It was
not the Gentile who broke the covenant. Zedekiah added to
his other sins that of rendering impossible the existence
of a people and a kingdom that belonged to God. The name
of Jehovah was more despised and trampled under foot by
him than by the Gentile king. He intrigues with Egypt to
escape from the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, whom God
Himself, in judgment, had set up as supreme. This filled
up the measure of iniquity, and brought on the final
judgment. But it left room for the sovereignty of God,
who would bring down the high tree and exalt the low
tree, who would dry up the green tree and make the dry
tree to flourish. His grace would take the little
forgotten branch of the house of David and raise it up in
Israel upon the mountain of His power, where He would
cause it to become a goodly cedar, bearing fruit, and
sheltering all that would seek the protection of its
shadow. All the powers of the earth should know the word
and the works of Jehovah.
Ezekiel 17 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Chapter 17 present the judgment of Zedekiah for despising the oath that Nebuchadnezzar made him take in the name of Jehovah. Israel not having been able to stand in integrity before God, Jehovah had committed the kingdom to the head of the Gentiles, whom He had raised up. This was His determinate purpose; but He had disposed the heart of Nebuchadnezzar to respect the name of Jehovah, and Judah might still have remained the centre of religious blessing, and the lamp of David might still have given light there, although the royalty had been subjected to the head of the Gentiles, until the time should come for the result of the judgment and dealings of God. The covenant between Nebuchadnezzar and Zedekiah was made on this ground, and the name of Jehovah was brought in to confirm it. It was not the Gentile who broke the covenant. Zedekiah added to his other sins that of rendering impossible the existence of a people and a kingdom that belonged to God. The name of Jehovah was more despised and trampled under foot by him than by the Gentile king. He intrigues with Egypt to escape from the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, whom God Himself, in judgment, had set up as supreme. This filled up the measure of iniquity, and brought on the final judgment. But it left room for the sovereignty of God, who would bring down the high tree and exalt the low tree, who would dry up the green tree and make the dry tree to flourish. His grace would take the little forgotten branch of the house of David and raise it up in Israel upon the mountain of His power, where He would cause it to become a goodly cedar, bearing fruit, and sheltering all that would seek the protection of its shadow. All the powers of the earth should know the word and the works of Jehovah.