Ezekiel 17:14-18

17:14 so it would be a lowly kingdom which could not rise on its own but must keep its treaty with him in order to stand. 17:15 But this one from Israel’s royal family 1  rebelled against the king of Babylon 2  by sending his emissaries to Egypt to obtain horses and a large army. Will he prosper? Will the one doing these things escape? Can he break the covenant and escape?

17:16 “‘As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, surely in the city 3  of the king who crowned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke – in the middle of Babylon he will die! 17:17 Pharaoh with his great army and mighty horde will not help 4  him in battle, when siege ramps are erected and siege-walls are built to kill many people. 17:18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Take note 5  – he gave his promise 6  and did all these things – he will not escape!

1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the member of the royal family, v. 13) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

2 tn Heb “him”; the referent (the king of Babylon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

3 tn Heb “place.”

4 tn Heb “deal with” or “work with.”

5 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates being aware of or taking notice of something.

6 sn Heb “hand.” “Giving one’s hand” is a gesture of promise (2 Kgs 10:15).