John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 17:18

"For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape." — Ezekiel 17:18 (ASV)

Ezekiel reiterates again that Zedekiah, even having made his solemn promise, could not succeed, since he violated the treaty. For, as we said yesterday, the conviction that treaties are sacred and cannot be broken with impunity is always fixed in people's minds.

Therefore, since the sacredness of treaties was always prevalent among people, Ezekiel here pronounces that the outcome would be disastrous, because Zedekiah despised his oath when he broke the treaty after stretching out his hand.

He describes a gesture that was, I think, customary among people at that time—that of extending the hand when they wished to seal a covenant.

The alliance, then, between the Egyptians and the Jews is here signified by an outward gesture—Zedekiah extended his hand—and yet he had violated this commitment. But since he treacherously revolted from King Nebuchadnezzar, to whom he had pledged his faith, he has done all this, says he, therefore he shall not be liberated.