יחזקאל, פרק י״ז, פסוק כ׳

The inevitable downfall of King Zedekiah and his subsequent trial in Babylonian exile serve as a profound display of divine providence. Events that appear entirely coincidental are carefully orchestrated by God to execute justice. On a basic level, God simply influenced the Chaldean forces to pursue the fleeing king out of Jerusalem and overtake him [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. However, the primary approach among commentators reveals a more intricate sequence of events. Seeking to escape, Zedekiah fled through a secret tunnel that led from his home all the way to the plains of Jericho. At that exact time, God directed a deer to walk directly above the cave. The Chaldean soldiers, attempting to hunt the animal, chased it and arrived at the tunnel's exit precisely as the king emerged, effectively catching him in a hunting snare. Because the soldiers had no prior knowledge of his escape route, this perfectly timed capture stands as an act of direct divine intervention—a miracle orchestrated specifically to his detriment [חומת אנך].

Following his capture, the king is taken to Babylon to face judgment for his deep betrayal [מצודת ציון]. The specific crime in question is the false oath he had previously sworn in God's name [מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. The ensuing divine dispute with Zedekiah is not a verbal debate [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. Instead, God's argument takes the form of lifelong imprisonment. The ongoing suffering of captivity acts as a continuous rebuke, intended to make the king recognize that his misery is a direct result of his rebellion against God, ultimately leading him to confess his guilt [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Another perspective suggests that this judgment simply refers to the harsh punishment God exacts upon him in exile for his sins [רד״ק].