11 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying , 12 "Say now to the rebellious house , 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Say , 'Behold , the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem , took its king and princes and brought them to him in Babylon . 13 'He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath . He also took away the mighty of the land ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 17:11-13
Commentary on Ezekiel 17:11-21
(Read Ezekiel 17:11-21)
The parable is explained, and the particulars of the history of the Jewish nation at that time may be traced. Zedekiah had been ungrateful to his benefactor, which is a sin against God. In every solemn oath, God is appealed to as a witness of the sincerity of him that swears. Truth is a debt owing to all men. If the professors of the true religion deal treacherously with those of a false religion, their profession makes their sin the worse; and God will the more surely and severely punish it. The Lord will not hold those guiltless who take his name in vain; and no man shall escape the righteous judgment of God who dies under unrepented guilt.