Ezekiel 17:15
But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text doesn't just point out Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon; it reveals the deeper issue: the breaking of a covenant sworn to God. This wasn't merely a political betrayal, but a spiritual one, directly defying the God who had established the terms of kingship in Israel. The rhetorical questions that follow underscore the absolute certainty that such profound faithlessness would not go unpunished.
Zedekiah, the king of Judah, has broken his solemn oath to the king of Babylon, who had placed him on the throne. Instead of remaining loyal, Zedekiah secretly sends envoys to Egypt to gather horses and a large army, seeking an alliance against Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel declares that such faithlessness and reliance on a foreign power will not bring prosperity or escape from judgment.
Why would King Zedekiah turn to Egypt for help when he was already indebted to Babylon? This wasn't just a political misstep; it was a spiritual rebellion.
Zedekiah's decision to send ambassadors to Egypt for horses and a large army was a desperate move, but more significantly, it was a rejection of God's established order.
A Forbidden Alliance
Egypt was known for its horses and military might. However, seeking this alliance was explicitly forbidden by God's law for Israel's king (Deuteronomy 17:16). This wasn't just about military strategy; it was about obedience and trusting in God rather than worldly power.
Trusting in Arms, Not the Almighty
The desire for 'horses and a large army' reveals a deep-seated lack of faith. Instead of relying on the God who had appointed Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah looked to a human power that would ultimately fail him. This is a timeless warning against placing our ultimate trust in earthly resources.
Zedekiah swore an oath to the king of Babylon, but he broke it. This wasn't a minor infraction; it was a betrayal of a sacred vow with eternal consequences.
The betrayal described in Ezekiel 17:15 goes far beyond a political treaty. It strikes at the heart of a covenant, a solemn agreement sealed with an oath.
The Weight of an Oath
In ancient Israel, as today, oaths and covenants were taken very seriously. They were not made lightly. Zedekiah had entered into a covenant with Nebuchadnezzar, a covenant God Himself had ordained through the prophet Jeremiah. To break it was not just an insult to Babylon, but a direct affront to God's authority and justice.
Divine Justice for Perfidy
The rhetorical questions – 'Shall he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?' – underscore the certainty of divine judgment. God is a God of justice, and He holds those who break their sworn commitments accountable, especially when those commitments are aligned with His sovereign will.
Understand the original words
marad · Hebrew Verb
An act of breaking a command, treaty, or allegiance, particularly against God or a legitimate authority. It implies a conscious turning away from a sworn duty or recognized sovereignty.
tsalach · Hebrew Verb
To succeed, prosper, or move forward in a state of well-being. Biblically, true success is often conditional upon righteousness and faithfulness to God's covenants.
Zedekiah's decision to seek aid from Egypt was a direct betrayal of his sworn oath to Babylon, a grave offense in the ancient world where covenants were considered sacred and binding under divine authority. Ezekiel's strong condemnation underscores that such perfidy, especially when appealing to a foreign power against a sworn overlord, would inevitably lead to divine judgment.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, begins his campaigns against Judah, deporting some of the nobility and carrying off treasures from Jerusalem.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a brief rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, along with more citizens and vital temple articles, installing Zedekiah as a puppet king.
c. 595-589 BC
Zedekiah's Covenant with Babylon
Zedekiah swears an oath of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar, promising to remain loyal and dependent on Babylon.
c. 590-588 BC
Egypt's Growing Influence
Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt begins exerting influence in the region, encouraging Judah and other Near Eastern states to resist Babylonian dominance.
This passage directly speaks to Zedekiah's folly in seeking help from Egypt, showing that it was a foolish and dangerous move that would lead to his downfall.
2 Kings 24:20This verse provides historical context for Zedekiah's rebellion, stating that it was due to his turning against Babylon that judgment came upon Jerusalem.
Proverbs 19:5This proverb directly addresses the idea that a false witness will not go unpunished, mirroring the consequence for Zedekiah's broken covenant and deceit.
Joshua 9:18-19This passage highlights the serious consequences of breaking a sworn covenant, even when made under deceptive circumstances, underscoring the sanctity of oaths in God's eyes.
Romans 2:2-3This New Testament passage reinforces the theme that God's judgment is just and that those who practice such things, like breaking covenants, can expect to face His wrath, echoing the rhetorical questions in Ezekiel.
cambridgeEzekiel 17:15: "But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?"
15 . Cf. 2 Kings 24:20 . The king of Egypt referred to was Pharaoh Hophra, Jeremiah 44:30 ; Jeremiah 37:5 seq . The indignation of Ezekiel against Zedekiah arises greatly from his regarding the subjection of Jerusalem to Babylon as a thing determined by Jeho…
ellicottEzekiel 17:15: "But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?"
(15) Shall he escape that doeth such things?— The faithlessness of Zedekiah and his court to his own sworn covenant was an act, in addition to all his other wickedness, especially abominable to God. The sanctity of an oath had always been most strongly insis…
The text doesn't just point out Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon; it reveals the deeper issue: the breaking of a covenant sworn to God. This wasn't merely a political betrayal, but a spiritual one, directly defying the God who had established the terms of kingship in Israel. The rhetorical questions that follow underscore the absolute certainty that such profound faithlessness would not go unpunished.
Zedekiah, the king of Judah, has broken his solemn oath to the king of Babylon, who had placed him on the throne. Instead of remaining loyal, Zedekiah secretly sends envoys to Egypt to gather horses and a large army, seeking an alliance against Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel declares that such faithlessness and reliance on a foreign power will not bring prosperity or escape from judgment.
Zedekiah, the king of Judah, has broken his solemn oath to the king of Babylon, who had placed him on the throne. Instead of remaining loyal, Zedekiah secretly sends envoys to Egypt to gather horses and a large army, seeking an alliance against Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel declares that such faithlessness and reliance on a foreign power will not bring prosperity or escape from judgment.
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c. 588-587 BC— this verse
Zedekiah Seeks Egyptian Aid
King Zedekiah breaks his covenant with Babylon by sending ambassadors to Pharaoh Hophra in Egypt to seek military support, including horses and soldiers, against Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 587-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces lay siege to Jerusalem, eventually breaching the walls, capturing Zedekiah, and destroying the city and the Temple.
c. 586 BC
Zedekiah's Fate
Zedekiah's sons are killed before his eyes, his own eyes are put out, and he is taken in chains to Babylon, where he dies.
"But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?" — The text doesn't just point out Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon; it reveals the deeper issue: the breaking of a covenant sworn to God. This wasn't merely a political betrayal, but a spiritual…
