That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
The covenant in view was that imposed upon Zedekiah when he was set on the throne in subjection to the king of Babylon, bound by a solemn oath before God to render loyal allegiance to Babylon. It was not a covenant of independence but of vassalage, with fidelity to that sworn loyalty as its express condition. The obligation was sacred because it was sworn in God's name, making disloyalty both political rebellion and breach of faith toward God.
By divine design the kingdom under that arrangement was made base and lowly, deliberately kept from lifting itself up in pride or power. Its continuance did not rest on military strength or foreign alliances but solely on keeping the covenant by which it stood. Zedekiah violated that covenant, and therefore God removed the diadem and took off the crown. The kingdom was overturned as the judicial consequence of that broken oath.
The covenant in view was that imposed upon Zedekiah when he was set on the throne in subjection to the king of Babylon, bound by a solemn oath before God to render loyal allegiance to Babylon. It was not a covenant of independence but of vassalage, with fidelity to that sworn loyalty as its express condition. The obligation was sacred because it was sworn in God's name, making disloyalty both political rebellion and breach of faith toward God.
By divine design the kingdom under that arrangement was made base and lowly, deliberately kept from lifting itself up in pride or power. Its continuance did not rest on military strength or foreign alliances but solely on keeping the covenant by which it stood. Zedekiah violated that covenant, and therefore God removed the diadem and took off the crown. The kingdom was overturned as the judicial consequence of that broken oath.