Ezekiel 17:6

And it grew and became a spreading vine, though no longer the cedar of David, of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, namely, they were intended to turn toward the eagle in humble submission, and the roots thereof were under him, deriving their strength from Babylon's practically exhaustless store; so it became a vine and brought forth branches and shot forth sprigs, always deriving its existence and vigor from Babylon, upon which it was dependent. If Zedekiah, so the text implies, had maintained his connection with the emperor of Babylon, his dependent position, then his kingdom might have had a steady growth. But here is where he made his mistake.