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More Ezekiel commentaries
Ezekiel 26:1-14
Proclamation Against Tyre
Ezekiel 26:15-21
The Effect of Tyre’s Destruction
Ezekiel 27:1-36
Lamentation for Tyre
Ezekiel 28:1-10
Lamentation Against the King of Tyre
Ezekiel 28:11-26
Proclamation Against Sidon
Ezekiel 29:1-21
Proclamation Against Egypt
Ezekiel 30:1-26
Egypt and Her Allies Will Fail
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Proclamation Against Egypt
Ezekiel 29:1–21
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Hitler imprisoned a German pastor, Martin Niemoeller, for eight years. He spent some time in prisons and concentration camps, including Dachau. Hitler realized that if Niemoeller, a First World War hero, could be persuaded to join his cause then much opposition would collap … More
This prophecy includes three sections, each of which closes with the words seen so often in Ezekiel, “then they will know that I am the Lord” (vv. 6a, 9, 16). This first of seven prophecies against Egypt was given almost a year after the siege of Jerusalem began (24:1-2).The Pharaoh in Egypt at that time was Hophra who reigned from 589 to 570 b.c. His promises of assistance prompted Judah to break with Babylon (vv. 1-6a). Pharaoh was considered a god; therefore he thought of himself as having created the Nile (v. 9). Pharaoh, however, would soon learn he was no match for the true Creator-God. God would defeat Egypt despite her great strength.
The second section of this prophecy deals with Egypt’s basic sin: she had been a staff of reeds for the house of Israel (vv. 6b-9). Israel leaned on Egypt for support in her revolt against Babylon, but Egypt’s support was as fragile as the reeds which grew abundantly on the Nile River’s shores. Egypt let her down (like a reed, she splintered and broke). This portion of Ezekiel’s prophecy discusses the extent of God’s judgment on Egypt (vv. 10-16). The desolation would extend from Migdol to Aswan. The Egyptians returned to their land, but they never achieved the power they once held.
The next verses indicate who would bring the judgment (vv. 17-21). Nebuchadnezzar himself would attack Egypt. This prophecy would take place after Israel was restored from captivity. Ezekiel would have been 83 when Cyrus’ edict to let Israel return to her land was issued. None of the post-exiled records refer to Ezekiel returning to Israel. The best explanation is that Ezekiel’s spoken prophecies which had perplexed the people would become clear when they were fulfilled.
Application
When truly wise people get closer to God, they recognize the need to depend on Him for guidance. It is my desire to know Him better every day through His word, meditation and fellowship.
Ezekiel 29:1-21 (English Standard Version)
In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt; speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, 'My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.' I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales. And I will cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your streams; you shall fall on the open field, and not be brought together or gathered. To the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens I give you as food. Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD. "Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel, when they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins to shake. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast, and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD. "Because you said, 'The Nile is mine, and I made it,' therefore, behold, I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush. No foot of man shall pass through it, and no foot of beast shall pass through it; it shall be uninhabited forty years. And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries. "For thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations. And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD." In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare, yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had performed against her. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord GOD. "On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
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