Ezekiel 29-32
What I Noticed Today (Ezekiel 29-32)
Ezekiel 29-32
Ezekiel now turns his attention to Egypt, the last of the seven nations he prophesied against. There are seven oracles in these four chapters, all beginning with the phrase, “The word of the Lord came to me.”
Ezekiel 29
Oracle 1. In verses 1-6a, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, in the tenth year, or January 5, 587 B.C. (about a year after the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem had begun). This prophecy was directed specifically at the pharaoh of Egypt.
Note: The pharaoh in Egypt at this time was Hophra. Hophra ruled Egypt from 589 B.C. – 570 B.C.
The Lord compared Hophra to a dragon that lives in the streams. Pharaoh thought of himself as a god who had created the Nile river. God said He would pluck him up out of the streams and cast him into the wilderness where he would become food for the beasts and birds. Then all the people of Egypt will know that He is the Lord.
Note: Ezekiel continues to use the “Because…Therefore…I will…” formula as he delivers these prophecies against Egypt.
In verses 6b-9, because Egypt had formed an alliance with Israel to provide support (you have been a staff or reed to Israel), but they reneged on their agreement. Therefore, the Lord promised to bring the sword against them, making them a wasteland. Then they will know that He is the Lord.
In verses 10-16, because they said they made the Nile, and it belonged to them, the Lord would make the land a desolation from Migdol (in the north) to Syene (in the south) as far as Cush. God would make the devastation last 40-years, and He would scatter the people among the nations. At the end of the 40-years, the Lord would allow them to return to their land, but they would be a lowly nation who would never rule over other nations. Then they will know that He is the Lord.
Oracle 2. In verses 17-20, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the first day of the first month in the 27th year, or April 26, 571 B.C. The city of Tyre surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar in 572 B.C., but there were no riches there to plunder to pay Nebuchadnezzar’s army. So the Lord gave Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar to plunder as wages for his army because Nebuchadnezzar was doing work for the Lord.
In verse 21, Ezekiel speaks of the day when God finally restores Israel and Egypt. The “horn” is a metaphor for strength or power. The reference here is to when Messiah will return and restore Israel. In this day they will know that He is the Lord.
Ezekiel 30
Oracle 3. In verses 1-5, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in an undated prophecy. It begins with “Thus says the Lord,” which is repeated in each of the four sections of this oracle (v. 2, v. 6, v. 10, and v. 13). The day is near when the sword of judgment will come against Egypt, and all her wealth will be carried away. The judgment will affect all of Egypt’s allies as well: Cush, Put, Lud, Arabia, and Libya.
In verses 6-9, Ezekiel repeats the area of destruction will range from Migdol to Syene. All these cities will be laid waste, and then they will know that He is the Lord. The news of the judgment upon Egypt will be sent via messengers to Cush.
In verses 10-12, the devastation of Egypt will be brought by Nebuchadnezzar who will draw their swords and destroy the land. But three times the Lord says, “I will do this;” put an end to Egypt’s wealth, dry up the Nile, and bring devastation upon the land.
In verses 13-19, the Lord says “I will…” eight times as He reveals all the extent of His judgment: He will destroy idols, remove the prince, put fear in Egypt, make Pathros a desolation, set fire to Zoan, execute judgment on Thebes, pour out wrath on Pelusium, set fire to Egypt, young men will fall by the sword, women will go into captivity, the proud will come to an end, and thus He will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that He is the Lord.
Oracle 4. In verses 20-26, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year, or April 29, 587 B.C.
Ezekiel describes the strength of Egypt’s army as a strong arm. God says he has broken one arm so badly it cannot be put in a splint nor will it become strong enough to hold a sword. He will also break the other arm of Egypt, making the people flee as the king of Babylon brings about the fall of the pharaoh. When God puts the sword in the hand of Nebuchadnezzar against Egypt, then they will know that He is the Lord.
Ezekiel 31
Oracle 5. In verses 1-9, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the first day of the third month, in the eleventh year, or June 21, 587 B.C. It was addressed to the pharaoh and his multitude (some translations say “hordes”). The prophecy is posed as though Egypt had already asked a question who is as great as we are. Ezekiel’s response is to consider Assyria.
Note: Ezekiel may have chosen Assyria for comparison because Assyria was the only country that had invaded and defeated Egypt (633 B.C.) and Assyria had been conquered by Babylon, and Babylon was about to attack Egypt.
Assyria was described allegorically as a great country of beauty and riches that matched even the gardens of God. Even the trees of Eden were envious of the trees in Assyria.
In verses 10-14, God proclaimed judgment upon Assyria because of her pride, so He would hand her over to the mighty one of the nations (Babylon). The great trees of Assyria were destroyed. No nations would grow to the heights of Assyria. They were all given over to death.
Note: Assyria fell to Nebuchadnezzar’s father in 612 B.C.
In verses 15-17, Assyria (referred to here as the cedar tree) went down to Sheol. Nations quaked at the sound of the fall of Assyria. The allies of Assyria already in the grave were comforted by the fact that Assyria was now also in the grave.
In verse 18, Ezekiel restates the question from verse 2, who is like Egypt. The answer to the allegorical question is Assyria was like Egypt, even better in many ways, and they were defeated by the same country that was about to attack Egypt (Babylon). Babylon would bring pharaoh and his multitudes down to the grave, slain by the sword.
Ezekiel 32
Oracle 6. In verses 1-2a, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the first day of the twelfth month in the twelfth year, or March 3, 585 B.C. (2 months after Jerusalem’s fall). This oracle is directed to Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt.
In verse 2b, Hophra considers himself to be like a lion (king), but instead, God considers him to be a dragon in the seas who fouls the waters.
In verses 3-10, there are eleven more “I will’s” stating what the Lord will do to the pharaoh. The Lord says He will throw his net over pharaoh and haul him up and cast him on the ground where beasts and birds will feed on him. He will strew his flesh on the mountains and drench the land with his blood. He will cover the heavens and blot out the stars and cover the sun with a cloud. I will trouble the hearts of many peoples when I bring destruction upon you. He will make people appalled because of the sword of judgment I am bringing to you.
In verses 11-16, the Lord says the king of Babylon will come bringing his sword and will ruin the pride of Egypt, destroy its beasts, and make the land a wasteland. Surrounding nations would chant this lament (verses 13-15) over Egypt’s fall.
Oracle 7. In verses 17-30, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the fifteenth day of the month in the twelfth year (no month named), in all likelihood March 17, 585 B.C.
Ezekiel tells Egypt she will go down to the pit (Sheol) and all the nations who supported will also go down with her, slain by the sword. The list of countries to go down into the pit includes Assyria (vv. 22-23), Elam (v. 24), Meshech-Tubal (vv. 26-28), Edom (v. 29), and the princes of the north and the Sidonians (v. 30).
In verses 31-32, pharaoh will see them in the pit and be comforted because he is surrounded by the uncircumcised who had been slain by the sword.
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