Ezekiel 17:12-13 - Exposition

The parable has been spoken. Ezekiel, after the pause implied in verse 11, now becomes its interpreter. And that interpretation is to be addressed to the "rebellious house" ( Ezekiel 2:3 , Ezekiel 2:6 ) among whom he lived. Probably even among the exiles of Tel-Abib there were some who cherished hopes of the success of the Egyptian alliance, and of the downfall of the power of Babylon as its outcome. The tenses are better in the indefinite past—"came," "took," "brought," and so on in verse 13. The history of Jeconiah's deportation and of Zedekiah's oath of fealty ( 2 Chronicles 36:13 ) is recapitulated. He dwells specially on the fact that the mighty of the land had been carried off with Jecoutah. It was Nebuchadnezzar's policy to deprive the kingdom of all its elements of strength—to leave it "bare." Even masons. smiths, and carpenters were carried off, lest they should be used for warlike preparations ( 2 Kings 24:16 ). It could not lift itself up. It was enough if "by keeping its covenant" it was allowed to stand.