John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 17:13

"and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;" — Ezekiel 17:13 (ASV)

And has taken of the king's seed One of the royal family, signified by the seed of the land, (Ezekiel 17:5). Mattaniah, son of King Josiah, and uncle to King Jeconiah; whom Nebuchadnezzar took and made king of Judea, and called him Zedekiah, which signifies the "justice of the Lord": to put him in mind of doing justly, by observing the covenant and oath after mentioned, or that he must expect vengeance: and made a covenant with him, and has taken an oath of him ; he gave him the throne and kingdom upon certain conditions to be performed, and for the performance of which he made him swear by the God of Israel; see (2 Chronicles 36:13) ;

He has also taken the mighty of the land : or, "the rams of the land" ^F24; the principal men of it for wisdom, riches, and valour, the princes and nobles of it; which he did, as to weaken the nation, that it might not be so capable of rebelling against him, so to be hostages for the performance of the covenant entered into; and this is meant by planting the seed with circumspection, (Ezekiel 17:5) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: (Urah ylya) "arietes terrae", Montanus.