Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 30:20
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [month], in the seventh [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
20 26. A new prophecy against Egypt, four months before the fall of Jerusalem
Pharaoh seems to have quite recently suffered a defeat ( Eze 30:21), and a complete disaster to his power is threatened ( Eze 30:22). This idea is expressed in a figure: one of his arms has been irremediably broken, it cannot be healed so as again to grasp the sword ( Eze 30:21). But both arms shall be broken, the strong one as well as the disabled one, and the sword shall fall out of his hand ( Eze 30:22). But Jehovah will make strong the arms of Nebuchadnezzar, and put his own sword into his hand, which he shall stretch out over Egypt. It is Jehovah’s sword that Neb: wields, and Egypt shall be scattered among the nations.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Fourth prophecy against Egypt spoken three months before the capture of Jerusalem Eze 26:1, and three months after the prophecy of Eze 29:1. Meantime, Pharaoh-Hophras attempt on Jerusalem had been foiled, and the Egyptians driven back into their own country (Jer 37:5 note).
Eze 30:21
I have broken – Especially by the defeat at Carchemish.
A roller – Or, a bandage.
Eze 30:22
The strong – Such power as Egypt yet retained at home and abroad.
That which was broken – The power which Egypt aimed at ineffectually, the conquest of Palestine and Syria.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. In the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day] This was the eleventh year of the captivity of Jeconiah, and the date here answers to April 26, A.M. 3416; a prophecy anterior by several years to that already delivered. In collecting the writings of Ezekiel, more care was taken to put all that related to one subject together, than to attend to chronological arrangement.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The eleventh year of Jeconiahs captivity, three months and two days before Jerusalem was taken, Jer 52:4.
In the first month; the fourth day of our April.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. Here begins the earliervision, not long after that in the twenty-ninth chapter, about threemonths before the taking of Jerusalem, as to Pharaoh and his kingdom.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass in the eleventh year,…. Of Zedekiah’s reign, and Jehoiachin’s captivity; some little time after the prophecy in Eze 19:1, here the prophecies come into their order again, being interrupted by those of a much later date, at the end of the preceding chapter, and the former part of this:
in the first month, in the seventh day of the month; the month Nisan, which answers to part of March, and part of April; the seventh day must be about the twenty ninth of March; but, according to Bishop Usher m, it was on the twenty sixth of April, on the third day of the week (Tuesday), in 3416 A.M. or before Christ 588: this was given out three months and two days before Jerusalem was taken:
that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying; as follows:
m Annales Vet. Test. A. M. 3416.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Destruction of the Might of Pharaoh by Nebuchadnezzar
According to the heading in Eze 30:20, “In the eleventh year, in the first (month), on the seventh of the month, the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,” this short word of threatening against Egypt falls in the second year of the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, and, as Eze 30:21 clearly shows, after the army of Pharaoh Hophra, which marched to the relief of Jerusalem, had been defeated by the Chaldeans who turned to meet it (Jer 37:5, Jer 37:7). If we compare with this the date of the first prophecy against Egypt in Eze 29:1, the prophecy before us was separated from the former by an interval of three months. But as there is no allusion whatever in Ezekiel 29 to Pharaoh’s attempt to come to the relief of the besieged city of Jerusalem, or to his repulse, the arrival of the Egyptian army in Palestine, its defeat, and its repulse by the Chaldeans, seems to have occurred in the interval between these two prophecies, towards the close of the tenth year.
Eze 30:21-26 Eze 30:21. son of man, the arm of Pharaoh the king of Egypt have I broken; and, behold, it will no more be bound up, to apply remedies, to put on a bandage to bind it up, that it may grow strong to grasp the sword. Eze 30:22. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will deal with Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and will break both his arms, the strong one and the broken one, and will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. Eze 30:23. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them in the lands, Eze 30:24. And will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and give my sword into his hand, and will break the arms of Pharaoh, so that he shall groan the groanings of a pierced one before him. Eze 30:25. I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh will fall; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I give my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, that he may stretch it against the land of Egypt. Eze 30:26. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them in the lands; and they shall know that I am Jehovah. – The perfect in Eze 30:21 is not a prophetic utterance of the certainty of the future, but a pure preterite. This may be seen “both from the allusion in Eze 30:21 to the condition resulting from the shbr , and also to the obviously antithetical relation of Eze 30:22, in which future events are predicted” (Hitzig). The arm is a figurative expression for power, here for military power, as it wields the sword. God broke the arm of Pharaoh by the defeat which the Chaldeans inflicted upon Pharaoh Hophra, when he was marching to the relief of besieged Jerusalem. is a present, as is apparent from the infinitive clauses (‘ ) which follow, altogether apart from ; and signifies to bind up, for the purpose of healing a broken limb, that remedies may be applied and a bandage put on. , that it may become strong or sound, is subordinate to the preceding clause, and governs the infinitive which follows. The fact that the further judgment which is to fall upon Pharaoh is introduced with (therefore) here (Eze 30:22), notwithstanding the fact that it has not been preceded by any enumeration of the guilt which occasioned it, may be accounted for on the ground that the causal forms a link with the concluding clause of Eze 30:21: the arm shall not be healed, so as to be able to grasp or hold the sword. Because Pharaoh is not to attain any more to victorious power, therefore God will shatter both of his arms, the strong, i.e., the sound one and the broken one, that is to say, will smite it so completely, that the sword will fall from his hand. The Egyptians are to be scattered among the nations, as is repeated in Eze 30:23 verbatim from Eze 29:12. God will give the sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and equip and strengthen him to destroy the might of Pharaoh, that the latter may groan before him like one who is pierced with the sword. This thought is repeated in Eze 30:25 and Eze 30:26 with an intimation of the purpose of this divine procedure. That purpose it: that men may come to recognise Jehovah as God the Lord. The subject to is indefinite; and the rendering of the lxx is a very good one, .
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Destruction of Egypt Foretold. | B. C. 572. |
20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword. 22 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. 25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt. 26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
This short prophecy of the weakening of the power of Egypt was delivered about the time that the army of the Egyptians, which attempted to raise the siege of Jerusalem, was frustrated in its enterprises, and returned re infect–without accomplishing their purpose; whereupon the king of Babylon renewed the siege and carried his point. The kingdom of Egypt was very ancient, and had been for many ages considerable. That of Babylon had but lately arrived at its great pomp and power, being built upon the ruins of the kingdom of Assyria. Now it is with them as it is with families and states, some are growing up, others are declining and going back; one must increase and the others must of course decrease.
I. It is here foretold that the king of Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. The extent of his territories shall be abridged, his wealth and power shall be diminished, and he shall become less able than ever to help either himself or his friend. 1. This was in part done already (v. 21): I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, some time ago. One arm of that kingdom might well be reckoned broken when the king of Babylon routed the forces of Pharaoh-Necho at Carchemish (Jer. xlvi. 2), and made himself master of all that pertained to Egypt from the river of Egypt to Euphrates, 2 Kings xxiv. 7. Egypt had been long in gathering strength and extending its dominions, and therefore, that there may be a proportion observed in providence, it loses its strength slowly and by degrees. It was soon after the king of Egypt slew good king Josiah, and in the same reign, that its arm was thus broken, and it received that fatal blow which it never recovered. Before Egypt’s heart and neck were broken its arm was. God’s judgments come upon a people by steps, that they may meet him repenting. When the arm of Egypt is broken it shall not be bound up to be healed, for none can heal the wounds that God gives but he himself. Those whom he disarms, whom he disables, cannot again hold the sword. 2. This was to be done again. One arm was broken before, and something was done towards the setting of it, towards the healing of the deadly wound that was given to the beast. But now (v. 22), I am against Pharaoh, and will break both his arms, both the strong and that which was broken and set again. Note, If less judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. Now God will cause the sword to fall out of his hand, which he caught hold of as thinking himself strong enough to hold it. It is repeated (v. 24), I will break Pharaoh’s arms. He had been a cruel oppressor to the people of God formerly, and of late the staff of a broken rod to them; and now God by breaking his arms reckons with him for both. God justly breaks that power which is abused either to put wrongs upon people or to put cheats upon them. But this is not all; (1.) The king of Egypt shall be dispirited when he finds himself in danger of the king of Babylon’s forces: he shall groan before him with the groaning of a deadly wounded man. Note, It is common for those that are most elated in their prosperity to be most dejected and disheartened in their adversity. Pharaoh, even before the sword touches him, shall groan as if he had received his death’s wound. (2.) The people of Egypt shall be dispersed (Eze 30:23; Eze 30:26): I will scatter them among the nations. Other nations had mingled with them (v. 5); now they shall be mingled with other nations, and seek shelter in them, and so be made to know that the Lord is righteous.
II. It is here foretold that the king of Babylon shall grow stronger and stronger, Eze 30:24; Eze 30:25. Put strength into the king of Babylon’s arms, that he may be able to go through the service he is designed for. 2. That he will put a sword, his sword, into the king of Babylon’s hand, which signified his giving him a commission and furnishing him with arms for carrying on a war, particularly against Egypt. Note, As judges on the bench, like Pilate (John xix. 11), so generals in the field, like Nebuchadnezzar, have no power but what is given them from above.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
THE HUMBLING OF A PROUD MONARCH
Verses 20-26:
PHARAOH TO FALL IN THE WAR WITH BABYLON
Verses 20, 21 describe the word of the Lord given to Ezekiel concerning the coming defeat of Pharaoh-Hophra, king of Egypt, a proud, former warring ruler of Egypt who had conquered Cyprus, Phoenicia, and Palestine, and went into Libyia where his total conquest ended and from where defeats followed his armies, until the fall of Egypt was total. It was the Lord who broke the arm (limb of strength) of Pharaoh so badly that he could no longer lift a sword. What is more the Lord certified that his broken arm would not be bound up to be healed; Psa 10:15; Psa 37:17; Psa 75:6-7; Jer 48:25; Dan 2:12; Jer 30:13; Jer 46:11; Nah 3:12; Rev 18:21.
Verse 22 restates for certain emphasis that it was the Lord who would break the arms of Pharaoh of Egypt, causing the sword, instrument of death to fall out of his hand. The Lord said, “Behold, (take note) I am against Pharaoh, king of Egypt,” Is He against you and me? Woe be to us should we pursue sin so long, Isa 59:2; Psa 37:17; Hab 1:6-7; 2Ki 24:7; Jer 37:7.
Verse 23 again warns, “I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations,” worse than heathen, dispersing them through captivity, as slaves through the countries about them, v. 26; Eze 29:12; Eze 32:18; Eze 32:32. No human power can successfully resist the will and purpose of God, for a life or a nation.
Verse 24 explains that Almighty God would strengthen the arm, or might of Babylon and her king, putting His sword into her hand to do His work of judgment, in bringing Pharaoh to groan and to moan as one wounded and dying on the battlefield of defeat, Psa 7:11-13. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was an instrument of Divine vengeance against Egypt and Pharaoh.
Verse 25 certifies that the Lord God will Himself strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and keep .them strong, putting His sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, to cause the arms of Pharaoh to fall down, until all Egypt and her allies should know that the Lord was God, Psa 9:16. For the hand of the king of Babylon was to be stretched out upon all the land of Egypt, to destroy the land, Eze 29:16; Eze 29:21; Eze 32:15; Eze 38:16; Eze 38:23; Eze 39:21-22; Jer 44:30.
Verse 26 confirms that it was the Lord who would scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them as captives among the countries, so that they would know that He was the Lord, existed as the Living God, 1Co 8:5-6; Exo 20:1-5.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
IV. THE FALL OF PHARAOH 30:2026
TRANSLATION
(20) And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (21) Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and behold, it has not been bound up to be healed, to put a bandage that it be bound up to become strong that it hold a sword. (22) Therefore, thus says the Lord (;01): Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and I will break his arms, the strong, that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. (23) And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through countries. (24) And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and I will put My sword in his hand; but I will shatter the arms of Pharaoh, and he shall groan with the groanings of the slain before him. (25) And I will uphold the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the LORD when I put My sword in the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out against the land of Egypt. (26) And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the lands; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
COMMENTS
About four months before the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar, (April 30, 587 B.C.) Ezekiel received another revelation against Egypt (Eze. 30:20). Pharaohs arm had been broken. The allusion is probably to the defeat of Pharaoh Hophra when he tried to come to the aid of beleaguered Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 37:1-10). Nebuchadnezzar had inflicted irreparable damage upon the military machine cf Egypt (cf. 2Ki. 24:7). Pharaohs arm, symbol of his military might, would not and could not be mended. Never again would he attempt to launch a military offensive against Nebuchadnezzar (Eze. 30:21).
This defeat at the borders of Judah indicated that God was opposing Pharaoh. That setback signaled the beginning of a succession of defeats. Both of Pharaohs arms, the good one and the bad one, would be broken. The sword would drop from his hand. Egypt would be rendered completely powerless (Eze. 30:22). Egyptians would be scattered among the nations (Eze. 30:23; cf. Eze. 29:12; Eze. 30:26). The king of Egypt would decrease, while the king of Babylon would increase in power. Before the advancing army of Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh would appear as helpless as a mortally wounded soldier (Eze. 30:24). The king of Babylon would wield the sword of divine judgment against the helpless land of Egypt (Eze. 30:25). The dispersement of the Egyptians would establish the sole divinity of Israels God (Eze. 30:26).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(20) The eleventh year.This was the year of the fall of Jerusalem, and the present prophecy (Eze. 30:20-26) was uttered a little more than three months and a half before its destruction. Very likely this prophecy had its occasion in the temporary raising of the siege of Jerusalem by Pharaoh-Hophra, and Nebuchadnezzars driving him away, the news of which would have been some months in reaching Chalda.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And so it was in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and lo, it has not been bound up to apply healing medicines, to put a roller to bind it that it be strong to hold the sword.” ’
The attempt by Pharaoh Hophra to raise the siege of Jerusalem, while bringing a short relief, finally failed, and Pharaoh and his army were repulsed. This is described here as the breaking of his arm, and it was broken in such a way that it could not be healed or repaired to enable him to make another attack. He had proved a vain hope. And this was so because Yahweh Himself was against it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Fourth Oracle Against Egypt ( Eze 30:20-26 ). The Breaking of Pharaoh’s Arm.
The date of this oracle is April 587/6 BC and it opens by referring back to the futile attempt by Pharaoh Hophra in the previous year to finally break the siege on Jerusalem (Jer 37:5-10), in terms of the breaking of Pharaoh’s arm. The strength of Pharaoh’s arm was proverbial in Egypt. It then goes on to declare that Yahweh will render him totally powerless and instead give strength to Nebuchadnezzar to enable him to defeat him. Again the emphasis is on the fact that all history is in Yahweh’s hands and conforms to His will.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Power of Pharaoh Destroyed
v. 20. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, v. 21. Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, v. 22. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken, v. 23. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, v. 24. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, v. 25. But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, v. 26. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
The subject of Egypt takes up another sermon of the Prophet, and at a distant period from the former; which may serve to teach us how sure the word of the Lord is, and that no word gone out of his mouth can fall to the ground. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Num 23:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 30:20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [month], in the seventh [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ver. 20. In the eleventh year. ] The year wherein Jerusalem was destroyed, notwithstanding Pharaoh’s fair promises and proffers to relieve her.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 30:20-26
20In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh of the month, the word of the LORD came to me saying, 21Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, behold, it has not been bound up for healing or wrapped with a bandage, that it may be strong to hold the sword. 22Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong and the broken; and I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands. 24For I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; and I will break the arms of Pharaoh, so that he will groan before him with the groanings of a wounded man. 25Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26When I scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands, then they will know that I am the LORD.’
Eze 30:20-26 This is a new revelation about YHWH’s judgment on Egypt, which uses the idiom of arm in several ways. Arm is a metaphor for ability.
1. I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, Eze 30:21-22. Pharaoh Hophra gave himself the title of The Strong-Armed One. This is, therefore, powerful irony.
2. It has not been bound up for healing, Eze 30:21
3. Or wrapped with a bandage that it may be strong to hold the sword, Eze 30:21
4. I will make the sword fall from his hands, Eze 30:22
5. I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, Eze 30:24-25
6. I will put My sword in his hand, Eze 30:24-25
7. I will break the arms of Pharaoh
8. The arms of Pharaoh will fall
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the eleventh year. About four months before the fall of Jerusalem. See table on p. 1106.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Eze 30:20-26
Eze 30:20-26
“And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and lo it hath not been bound up, to apply healing medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it be strong to hold the sword. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and I will break his arms, the strong arm, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. And I will hold up the arms of the king of Babylon; and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall put my sword in the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.”
GOD HAS ALREADY BROKEN PHARAOH’S ARM
“Eleventh year, first month, seventh day …” (Eze 30:20). “This was April 29,587 B.C.” “This was three months before the fall of Jerusalem and three months later than the prophecy of Eze 29:3. In the meanwhile Pharaoh-Hophra’s attempt to aid Jerusalem had collapsed (Jer 37:5), a fact that history is strangely silent about. Evidently Nebuchadnezzar inflicted a humiliating defeat upon Egypt that prevented any substantial relief of Jerusalem and resulted in Nebuchadnezzar’s renewal of the siege almost immediately.
“Nebuchadnezzar’s defeat of Pharaoh-Hophra appears in this paragraph as `the breaking of Pharaoh’s arm.’ This greatly weakened Pharaoh (Eze 30:21); but further defeats were promised in this prophecy. Note in Eze 30:22 that there is a distinction between what has already been broken and that which will be broken later. “I will break his arms, the strong arm, and that which was broken.”
“The flexed arm was a common symbol for the strength of Pharaoh. Statues and images of Pharaoh showed the flexed arm, wielding a sword in battle. A king with a great biceps was a popular conception during the Saites Dynasty in the times of Ezekiel. Also another title taken by Pharaoh-Hophra was, `The Strong armed.’ Thus the defeat of Pharaoh-Hophra was most appropriately described by the expression `breaking his arm.’
“I will strengthen the arm of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand …” (Eze 30:24). God commissioned Nebuchadnezzar as the destroyer of nations; and here the sword of Nebuchadnezzar is understood to be the very sword of God Himself.
“The groanings of a deadly wounded man …” (Eze 30:24). “Figuratively, when Ezekiel wrote this, Egypt is represented as a man mortally wounded in battle standing before the Lord who will destroy him.
The dispersion of the Egyptians among the nations and countries is again mentioned here, that being the almost invariable result of any conquest of one nation by another in those times. Also, the reason and purpose of God’s punitive judgment upon the pagan nations of that era was focused in the divine intention of teaching them, by the hard way, who was really God. “And they shall know that I am Jehovah.”
Prophecies against Egypt – Eze 29:1 to Eze 32:32
Open It
1. What is one of the most grandiose and self-important statements youve heard anyone make?
2. What are the various traumatic events of life that we can buy insurance to try to soften?
Explore It
3. What attitude or belief on the part of Pharaoh king of Egypt brought him under Gods judgment? (Eze 29:3)
4. What figure of speech is used to describe the power and extent of Gods judgment on Egypt? (Eze 29:4-5)
5. How had Egypt hurt Gods people Israel most recently? (Eze 29:6-7)
6. Over what crucial resource did God want to demonstrate that He had power? (Eze 29:10)
7. How long was the devastation of the land going to last? (Eze 29:11-12)
8. Following the initial punishment, what would be the fate of the kingdom of Egypt? (Eze 29:13-15)
9. What false promise of assistance did God want to eliminate for Israel? (Eze 29:16)
10. About what foreign war did God inform Ezekiel because of its bearing on Egypt? (Eze 29:17-20)
11. What did Ezekiel prophesy about the greatness and wealth of Egypt? (Eze 30:1-4)
12. What great cites, along with their idols, were doomed to destruction? (Eze 30:13-19)
13. In the third word to Ezekiel concerning Egypt, what physical image was used to illustrate how unreliable she was to become as an ally for Israel? (Eze 30:20-26)
14. What formerly great nation is described as a comparison for Egypt? (Eze 31:1-9)
15. Why was Assyria judged like a huge tree that is cut down and abandoned? (Eze 31:10-13)
16. According to the allegory, how did the smaller nations fare who had allied themselves with Assyria? (Eze 31:15-17)
17. To what powerful animals did Ezekiel liken Egypt in his lament? (Eze 32:1-8)
18. What reaction to Egypts downfall was predicted for other peoples and nations? (Eze 32:9-10)
19. What was the consistent complaint against the nations God had already consigned to “the pit”? (Eze 32:22-30)
Get It
20. Why would it be a temptation for Israel to be drawn to Egypt as a source of protection?
21. Why would Pharaoh want to claim that he owned (indeed had made) the Nile River?
22. In what ways do we tend to take credit for things that only God can do?
23. What do Ezekiels prophecies make clear about the rise of Babylon as a conquering power?
24. How might the exiled Jews, who hoped to be rescued by Egypt, have responded to Ezekiels lament for Egypt?
25. How does God feel about great civilizations that are brought low by pride?
26. Why didnt God want His people to rely on Egypt as their salvation from the Babylonian threat?
27. How should Gods sweeping judgments of nations in the Old Testament shape our responses to Him today?
Apply It
28. In what great person, idea, tradition, etc., might you be placing too much of your hope, rather than relying solely on the Lord?
29. For what accomplishment or role do you want to give God credit and glory today?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
first month
i.e. April.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
am 3416, bc 588, Eze 1:2, Eze 26:1, Eze 29:1, Eze 29:17
Reciprocal: Eze 20:1 – in the seventh Eze 31:1 – in the eleventh Eze 32:1 – in the twelfth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 30:20. Another date is given for the message that God was giving to Ezekiel. The eleventh year is dated from the time the prophet was taken to Babylon.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 30:20-26. It came to pass in the eleventh year, &c. It seems this prophecy was delivered soon after the Egyptian army had marched out of Egypt to relieve Jerusalem when besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, but had returned without effecting any thing, (see notes on Jer 37:5; Jer 37:7,) and some months before that city was taken, that is, more than sixteen years before the preceding prophecies. I have broken the arm of Pharaoh I have begun to break, or will break, Pharaohs strength, so that he shall not be able to recover his former power. Calmets interpretation is, I will break Pharaoh by the revolt of his subjects, by the war which Amasis shall bring upon him, and afterward by that of Nebuchadnezzar; and this in the space of fourteen or fifteen years. It is usual for the prophets to speak of a thing future as if it was already accomplished. It shall not be bound up to be healed His calamity shall be so far from being lessened, that it shall increase more and more every day. And will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken Or, rather, the firm one, as well as the broken, or infirm one. The king of Babylon had before dispossessed the king of Egypt of all his new conquests, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates, 2Ki 24:7. So that this part of his strength was already taken away, and never to be recovered; and now God threatens to destroy the remainder of his power, namely, the kingdom of Egypt itself. And I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand He shall have no more strength to defend himself than a man hath to use his sword when his arm is broken. And he shall groan with the groanings of a deadly-wounded man His strength and power shall fail, and he shall groan with anguish as a man who is dying of his wounds. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations See note on Eze 29:12-13.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
30:20 And it came to pass in the {e} eleventh year, in the first [month], in the seventh [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
(e) Of the captivity of Jeconiah, or of Zedekiah’s reign.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
4. Pharaoh’s broken arm 30:20-26
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Ezekiel received this oracle against Egypt on April, 29, 587 B.C., less than four months after the Lord gave him the first oracle (Eze 29:1-16). [Note: See Parker and Dubberstein, p. 28.]