That it may be a low kingdom and not lift itself up, but keep his covenant, and observe it.

that the kingdom might be abased, that it might not lift itself up, that it might keep his covenant in order to stand.

That the kingdom may be humble, That it may not lift itself up, To keep his covenant, that it may stand.

So that the kingdom might be made low with no power of lifting itself up, but might keep his agreement to be his servants.

that his might be a lowly kingdom, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

so that it may be a lowly kingdom, and may not lift itself up, and may instead keep his pact and serve it.

Ut esset regnum humile, ac ne se afferret, ut servaret foedus suum; ut staret in ipso.

That the kingdom might be base - Have no political consequence, and at last sink into a miserable government under Gedaliah.

That the kingdom might be base,.... Low or humble; its king but a viceroy, a tributary to the king of Babylon; and the subjects obliged to a tax, payable to him; and this is intended by the vine being of "low stature", Ezekiel 17:6;
that it might not lift up itself; above other neighbouring kingdoms and states; and particularly that it might not rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, but be kept in a dependence on him, and subjection to him:
but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand; continue a kingdom, and Zedekiah king of it; so that it was for their good that such a covenant was made, and it was their interest to keep it; for, had it not been made, it would have ceased to have been a kingdom, and would have become a province of the Babylonian monarchy, and have been put under the government of one of Nebuchadnezzar's princes or captains; and, should they break it, would endanger the ruin of their state, as the event showed. In the Hebrew text it is, "to keep his covenant, to make it stand"; or, "to stand to it" (y); that is, as it should seem, to make the covenant stand firm. The Targum is,
"that it might keep his covenant, and serve him;''
Nebuchadnezzar.
(y) "ad custodiendum pactum ejus, ad astandum ei", Montanus; "ad servandum foedus suum, ad consistendumm", Starckius.

That the kingdom might be base--that is, low as to national elevation by being Nebuchadnezzar's dependent; but, at the same time, safe and prosperous, if faithful to the "oath." Nebuchadnezzar dealt sincerely and openly in proposing conditions, and these moderate ones; therefore Zedekiah's treachery was the baser and was a counterpart to their treachery towards God.