Ezekiel 17:11-21 – Be people who keep our word.

In Ezekiel 17:1-10, the prophet at the instruction of God told the parable of the two eagles. The first eagle represents Babylon and the second represents Egypt. Here in Ezekiel 17:11-21, the meaning of the parable is unfolded. They were events that were described in 2 Kings 24. The parable of the two eagles was told to point to the treachery of King Zedekiah.  Because he swore allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar in God’s name, his treachery was as good as being committed against the Lord. Here we are reminded that our word is our bond. If our word is not good, we are unworthy of trust.

Nebuchadnezzar was said to personally come to the city. Verse 12 says Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother and his servants and his captains and his officials. Nebuchadnezzar then took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. What the latter carried with him to Babylon was enumerated in verses 15-16. The people and possessions taken into exile in Babylon included Jehoiachin the king, his mother, his wives and officials, the leading men of the best of the land, 7,000 men of valor, 1,000 craftsmen and smiths, and 1,000 strong men, who were fit for war.

Nebuchadnezzar then made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, his vassal king in Judah and renamed him Zedekiah. Second Chronicles 36:12-13 said that he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar whom he had pledged his allegiance to in the name of God. We are also told that Zedekiah also stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel. Though he had pledged allegiance to Babylon, he turned to Egypt for help to deal with Nebuchadnezzar. This was indeed a treacherous act.  

How did Zedekiah end? Second Kings 25:6-7 said that in his attempt to escape, he was caught and brought to Riblah in Babylon. The Babylonians slaughtered all of the sons before his eyes. Then his eyes were gouged out before they bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon. 

Jesus reminds us that we will have to render an account of the careless words we spew out. Jesus also said in Matthew 5:37 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” Take heed to what we are told in James 5:12, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” We must always say what we mean and mean what we say and be sure to keep our word.