|
Book of Ezekiel
Chapter 30
PROPHECIES (3) Ezekiel 30:1-19 AND (4) Ezekiel 30:20-26 AGAINST EGYPT
Chapter 30 framework:
A. Declaring the Day of the LORD (30:1-5)
B. Allies, dependents also destroyed (30:6-9)
C. Wealth of Egypt to be carried away (30:10-12)
D. Princes and Cities to be destroyed (30:13-19)
E. God breaks Pharaoh's arm (30:20-26)
In this chapter we have, a continuation of the prophecy against Egypt, which we had in the last part of Chapter 29. Just before the desolation of that once flourishing kingdom was completed by Nebuchadnezzar, in which is foretold the destruction of all her allies and confederates, all her interests and concerns, and the several steps which the king of Babylon would take in pushing on this. The former prophecy is repeated against Egypt, just before the desolation of it began by their own bad conduct, which had slowly weakened them and made possible the way for the king of Babylon. It is all much to the same importance with what we had before.
Chapter 30 continues the Prophecy Against Egypt, right before its desolation was completed by Nebuchadnezzar.
Declaring the Day of the LORD (30:1-5)
Ezekiel 30:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, (KJV)
The word of the LORD came again unto me . . . whether this prophecy was delivered about the time of that in the tenth year, tenth month, and twelfth day of it (29:1), or about the time that was which is recorded in the latter part of the chapter, in the seven and twentieth year of Jehoiachin's captivity (29:17), is not told to us.
Ezekiel 30:2 Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! (KJV)
Son of man, prophesy and say, thus saith the Lord GOD . . . son of man is found 94 times in the Book of Ezekiel. The prophet was to speak against Egypt's king and inhabitants, and in the Name of the LORD.
Howl ye . . . the Egyptians, the Ethiopians, and all others that will be named, which would share in the destruction of Egypt; this is said to give them notice of it, and prepare them for it.
Woe worth the day . . . great sorrow for the day! What a sad dismal day this is. O that we should ever live to see such wretched times!
Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. (KJV)
For the day is near . . . the time of Egypt's destruction is set.
Even the day of the LORD is near . . . the day would be a time of such distress, such as they had never seen, the day was appointed by the LORD, and in which He would make sure that they knew it was the LORD who executed the judgments. The same year this prophecy was spoken, Egypt was given into the hands of the king of Babylon.
A cloudy day . . . or a day of stormy clouds, which was seldom seen in Egypt, since they rarely have any rain, for their country is watered by the Nile . . . but now, in a symbolic sense, the clouds would gather thick and black, threatening with a horrible storm of GOD’S wrath, and of ruin and destruction.
It shall be the time of the Heathen . . . for the heathen nation of the Chaldeans would distress and conquer others; and too, heathen nations, as the Egyptians, Ethiopians and others, would be destroyed by heathens.
*****The time of the heathen . . . the judgment upon Egypt is only a single instance, BUT it symbolizes the general judgment upon ALL mere worldly power in the latter days. Egypt’s fall is just one step in the wide-ranging overthrow of anyone or anything that exalts and opposes itself to the Almighty Lord GOD! This is very similar to Eze.30:2-3, and the prophecies in Isa.13:6, 9; Joel 1:13, 15; 2:2; Oba.1:15; Zep.1:7, 14.
Ezekiel 30:4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. (KJV)
And the sword shall come upon Egypt . . . The sword (29:8), the sword of the Chaldeans shall come upon the Egyptians, by which they would be cut off; it having a commission from the LORD for that purpose.
And great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt . . . Ethiopia was a neighboring nation to Egypt, shall panic when they shall hear of the sword of the Chaldeans being in Egypt, and of the results made by it, of the multitudes slain with it; fearing it will be their turn next to fall into the same hands, and in the same way; and not only were they neighbors, but also allies.
And they shall take away her multitude . . . the Chaldeans shall carry captive vast numbers of the Egyptians; as Egypt was a very heavily populated country . . . those that did not fall by the sword would not escape the hand of the enemy, but be taken and carried into other lands. They are compared to the trees of a forest that cannot be searched, and to grasshoppers innumerable (Jer.46:23), but now their numbers would be far less.
And her foundations shall be broken down . . . either in a literal sense, the foundations of the cities, towers, and fortified places in Egypt, would be undermined and destroyed, and as a result the buildings on them would sink and fall; or in a symbolic way, her king, princes, magistrates, laws and government, which are the support of a state, would be removed, and be of no more service.
Ezekiel 30:5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword. (KJV)
Ethiopia, Lybia, and Lydia . . . Ethiopia, Cush, which are commonly thought to be the Ethiopians in Africa, but some think them originally in Arabia, which was either subject or ally to Egypt in its prosperity; and these were (30:4), in a panic that, lest the Babylonian should pass the sea, and take them in his way home. Libya, Phut, who afterwards were better known by Libyans, a part of whose country was close to Egypt. Lydia; Lydians, not the Asiatic, but the Africans, placed between some part of Cyrene and Egypt. Cush and Phut were both sons of Ham, from whom Egypt is sometimes called the land of Ham; and Lud or Ludim was the son of Mizraim, the son of Ham, the common name of Egypt in Scripture (Gen.10:6). Cush is by some rendered Ethiopia; and is thought by some to be a part of Arabia, which lay near Egypt. Phut and Lud are properly rendered Lybia; and both these, along with Ethiopia, are represented as the allies and confederates of Egypt (Jer.46:9).
And all the mingled people; the mingled people . . . the greedy troops of Egypt from various lands, mostly from the interior of Africa (Eze.27:10; Jer.25:20, 24; 46:9, 21).
And Chub . . . the people named Kufa, a people far north of Palestine; Coba or Chobat, a city of Mauritania. One version renders it, all Arabia, although others think they are the Carians, Ionians and other Greeks.
And the men of the land that is in league shall fall with them by the sword . . . all the nations above mentioned, with whomever would be found that were confederates with Egypt, would share the same fate as Egypt.
*****The announcement here that the Day of the LORD is near and it cannot be separated from the end times overtones concerning that final and Eternal Day of the LORD, when His righteous judgments shall be executed upon the fallen and rebellious race of Adam, that day of doom and destruction mentioned in Genesis, upon which God said, In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die! (Gen.2:17).
When GOD promised the death of Adam and Eve in the case of their eating of the forbidden tree, it was the seventh day of Creation, a day, which, according to Hebrews Chapter 4, is still going on and has not ended yet. The fallen race shall be totally destroyed, the redeemed of all dispensations and all ages in Christ Jesus being the sole exceptions to that universal destruction that shall at last terminate all evil on that Day of the LORD. . . . . . . . . . . . .http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_hebrews_ch4.htm
The Day of the LORD can be found especially in Joel, Amos and Zephaniah, etc.
http://www.godcannotlie.org/amos_intro.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_joel_intro.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/zephaniah_intro.htm
Many other sign judgments of God executed upon wicked nations, just like the one here prophesied for Egypt, are token judgments, which all point to that great and final Day when GOD shall judge before Him all the nations. We would be fools if we interpret this Chapter as if it were not related to the many other references in the Word of God to the Day of LORD!
The prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem given by Christ himself in Matthew 24 is an example of an earthly judgment against a wicked people that also promises an ultimate fulfillment in the Final Judgment.
Some interpreters divide this prophecy into four sub-divisions, each one beginning with, Thus saith the LORD, as in Ezekiel 30:2, 6, 10, 13. But, I think we should remember that GOD needed to destroy the pagan nations of that period because of their false idea that GOD'S punishment of Israel resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of her people.
Allies, dependents also destroyed (30:6-9)
Ezekiel 30:6 Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, they also that uphold Egypt shall fall . . . they [their allies and auxiliaries] that see Egypt fall by the sword, that supported the Egyptians with men and money; or their main people within, their nobles that supported their state with their estates, their counsellors with their wisdom, their soldiers with their valor and courage. They also that uphold Egypt is either the princes, counsellors and military men in Egypt, or those abroad, that approve of her and help her.
And the pride of her power shall come down . . . the power they were so proud of, the power and splendor they boasted of, the greatness of their king, the huge size of their empire, with the wealth and riches of it, shall come down . . . be trodden under foot. From the tower, from Magdalum in the north-east part of Egypt, on toward the Red Sea, to Syene in the most south-western part of Egypt.
From the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord God . . . tower of Syene (29:10), or maybe from Migdol to Syene . . . from one end of Egypt to the other; the sword would ravage, and multitudes would fall by it, in all cities and towns, which means the over-all slaughter that would be made.
Ezekiel 30:7 And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted. (KJV)
And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate . . . they, all those mentioned before, or were with them, shall be ranked with them, and be as desolate as Egypt was; just as Judea and other countries, ravaged by the same enemy were desolate.
And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted . . . shall suffer the same fate as they had done, as Jerusalem and others. The cities of Egypt were very many; some say that in ancient times Egypt had cities and villages of more than 18,000. One writer says that under King Amasis there were 20,000 cities in Egypt.
All Egypt’s cities shall be desolate . . . as much wasted as any of them that were wasted. Egypt’s cities were equally wasted as were other cities that have been sacked, such as Jerusalem, Tyre, Zidon, Rabbath, etc.
*****And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted. (Eze.29:12; 32:18-32; Jer.25:18-26; 46:1-51).
Ezekiel 30:8 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed. (KJV)
And they shall know that I am the LORD . . . the Egyptians shall know the LORD to be the one and only true GOD, and acknowledge Him to be all-knowing and all-powerful, the only ONE that could so exactly foretell their destruction, and accomplish it.
When I have set a fire in Egypt . . . a war, the heat of battle, devouring and consuming, as well as extremely severe and awful, as fire is. The Targum is, when I shall give (or set) people that are strong as fire against Egypt; meaning the army of the Chaldeans.
And when all her helpers shall be destroyed . . . her support from the neighboring nations who were in alliance with them, before mentioned.
Ezekiel 30:9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh. (KJV)
In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships . . . in that day, the day of God’s severe but just judgments, and Egypt’s fatal desolation; which also looks forward to the latter day judgment. Messengers such as having seen and escaped the sword, shall tell the miserable news. Ships going forth either by the Nile River, or by the Red Sea, to what some think is meant by Ethiopia. Cush or Ethiopia was surrounded by water, so that there was no coming to it except by ships (Gen.2:13; Isa.18:1). The messengers here it seems, were directed to go to Ethiopia, and tell them the news of the destruction of Egypt; or possibly these were messengers sent by the king of Babylon, to demand a surrender of their country to him.
To make the careless Ethiopians afraid . . . with the news of the fall of Egypt their confederate, and of a mighty army coming against them; the Ethiopians had dwelt securely and confidently, at ease and unconcerned, with no sense of danger, no fear of any enemy.
And great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt . . . either as of old, when the plagues were on Egypt (Ex. Ch.7-12), and especially when they were drowning in the Red Sea (Ex.14); or when the sword was in Egypt, and ravaging there.
For, lo, it cometh . . . the same day would come upon Ethiopia as came on Egypt, the day of the LORD, a black one . . . the time of the heathen; it was certain, was just at hand, and there was no escaping it (30:3-4).
Wealth of Egypt to be carried away (30:10-12)
Ezekiel 30:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. (KJV)
Thus saith the Lord GOD, I will make the multitude of Egypt to cease . . . the multitude is numerous families and tribes. To cease; to decline and shrink. There was an enormous number of people that lived in Egypt; some of its cities were very populated, but now the numbers would be greatly lessened, and the whole land was sadly depopulated. The instrument GOD would use to do all this is mentioned by name, as follows,
By the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon . . . this king was the greatest monarch in the world.
Ezekiel 30:11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain. (KJV)
He and his people with him . . . he is Nebuchadrezzar; His people are his own subjects, not hired soldiers. He and his army was made up of mainly of Chaldeans; although there were other nations among them, that were in his army when he besieged Jerusalem, as seems to be suggested in the next clause.
The terrible of the nations shall be brought to destroy the land . . . the Chaldeans were the most fierce, cruel, and terrible of all people, and the others were the most terrible that could be collected out of all nations under the yoke of the king of Babylon; and all of them terrible to the nations against whom they came, as now against Egypt to destroy it (Hab.1:6-7).
And they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain . . . go through the land with their drawn swords, and kill all they meet; and they would not put up their swords until they have to a great extent depopulated the land, and filled it with dead carcasses.
Ezekiel 30:12 And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it. (KJV)
And I will make the rivers dry . . . either by an astonishing drought, or by means of that mighty lake, which drew so much water from Nile River, that all their canals were afterwards shallow, and the lake, as the prophecy foretold, helped their enemy, and hurt their friends; or the Chaldeans might divert them, and so their fortified towns would want one great defense.
And sell the land into the hand of the wicked . . . the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar, were wicked idolaters, men of vicious, wicked lives, with cruel, merciless natures; who would show no favor to the inhabitants of the land, when delivered up to them, which is called a selling it; for, as things sold are delivered to the buyer, so should this land be to them; which although they had no right to it before, yet because of war, and the judgment of divine Providence, things changed. Sell the land, GOD gave it, but here He seems to pay wages (29:19-20). GOD would deliver Egypt into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, just as surely as if he had bought it . . . and we may conclude that the Chaldean as a buyer will make the most of all he buys.
And I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers . . . the Lord GOD, through the Babylonians, a people of a distant country, of another language, and with whom Egypt had no business dealings, no association, and no friendship . . . and so would not spare them, nor their land, when they took possession; and included all the others above mentioned, into whose hands they in turn fell.
I the Lord have spoken it . . . the Lord GOD determined it, prophesied of it; and it would come to pass, as it did as a result. I the LORD have spoken it, is the ruling and proclamation of Heaven, which CANNOT be broken.
Ezekiel 30:13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. (KJV)
Thus saith the Lord GOD . . . this phrase is found 1772 times in the Old Testament, 127 times it is found in the Book of Ezekiel. I will also destroy the idols . . . Egypt abounded in all kinds of idols, of all sorts of creatures, rational and ridiculous, living and non-living, and in which they trusted, these being destroyed, so they had nothing to put their confidence in. Idolatry was/is one of the main things for which God visits the infidel nations [nonbeliever, agnostic, atheist], He takes specific vengeance upon the idols, and in so doing, shows how much more He is superior to them in power. I will also destroy, God destroyed the idols by the Babylonians; the proud and sinful nations did triumph over the gods of the conquered, and out of contempt of them burnt them or broke them, as is well known; so Sennacherib threatened (2 Chron.32:19; Isa.37:19, 24), against the TRUE God, as he did to idol gods. The idols were dunghill gods, fit only to be trod under foot . . . NOT to be decked and respected.
I will cause their images to cease out of Noph . . . their images; these NOTHINGS were destroyed. The Catholic Church is full of images that are absolutely NOTHING but an image of what maker thought to be what someone supposedly looked like. How ridiculous! No one really knows what anyone looked like centuries ago, and besides the fact that we are NOT to bend our knee or worship anyone except Almighty GOD!
Exodus 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (KJV) . . . To me, this is perfectly clear! Any image is IDOLATRY!!! BEWARE!!!
http://www.letusreason.org/RC2.htm
https://carm.org/roman-catholicism-mary-idolatry
https://www.gotquestions.org/Catholic-idolatry.html
http://www.lovethetruth.com/false_religion/catholicism/idol_worship.htm
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/catholic_idols.htm
Noph is called Moph and Memphis in some versions of Hosea 9:6. This place was very famous for idolatry: here stood the temple of Serapis, and the temple of other idols; here Isis and Osiris were worshipped; and was the city of the Egyptian superstition. It was built by Menes, the first king of Egypt; although one says Uchoreus was the founder of it. http://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/M/memphis.html
http://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=40&sub=638&cat_name=Bible+Cities&subcat_name=Noph
And there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt . . . that is, a native of that country; or that should rule over the whole of it, in that splendor the kings of Egypt had before; or not dwell in Memphis, which was the seat of the kings of Egypt, but now would be no more, when Egypt was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, it was under the Babylonians; and then under the Persians; and then under the Greeks; and afterwards under the Romans.
And I will put a fear in all the land of Egypt . . . put a panic in all the people of it; as soon as they hear of the king of Babylon entering into Egypt, their bravery, courage and strength, shall leave them all at once. They would be sad, depressed, having no heart to defend themselves, and no strength to oppose the enemy.
Princes and Cities to be destroyed (30:13-19)
A wide range of cities in Egypt are mentioned to show the widespread nature of the devastation. Far and wide would be affected (Isa.10:27-32; Mic.1:10-15; Zep.2:4). There is no special order to the names, they are simply selected, unplanned. The many gods of Egypt would be demolished and ruined, the authority in the land would come to an end. There would be over-all fear over the whole land. The great cities would be desolated and many set on fire. Anguish and suffering would be everywhere. This invasion would be on a large scale. Enemies in the day reveals this. The city gates would normally be open during the day, but closed at nights. At this time they all would be closed day and night.
GOD would break the yokes of Egypt, and the pride of her power will utterly cease. A dark cloud will cover her, and her people will go into captivity. Tahpanhes was a frontier city (Jer. 43:7-9) and would receive the first attack, becoming the first to be freed from the Egyptian yoke. But it would be as though there was no more day, as though they were under a permanent cloud. They would be the first whose people were taken away as spoil.
Noph is better known as Memphis, modern Mit Raneh, and used to be the capital of Lower Egypt. Pathros was in Upper Egypt, between modern Cairo and Aswan, (Eze.29:14). Zoan was a chief city in the northeastern delta. No (Greek Thebes) is modern Karnak and Luxor, Egypt's southern capital, and often capital of all Egypt. It was the cultic centre of the sun god Amon. All the towns mentioned in these verses were important religious centres as well as large cities. Sin (Greek Pelusium), modern Tel Farama on the Mediterranean coast, was one of the northernmost strongholds of Egypt. Aven (also known as On, Greek Heliopolis), was a major religious center in Lower Egypt, and Pi-beseth (Greek Bubastis), modern Basta, was another capital city sixty five kilometers (40 miles) northeast of modern Cairo. Tehaphnehes (Tahpanes, Greek Daphnai) is modern Tel Defenneh, and was a fortress town and residence of the Pharaohs (Isa.30:4; Jer.2:16; 43:7, 9; 44:1).
Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt, and they will know that I am Yahweh, once again the mocking world would be made aware of WHO the Lord GOD is; this also applies to the latter days.
I personally believe that the LORD Jesus could come in the clouds to take home the TRUE children of GOD, at any time, although NO one knows when He will come.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (KJV) http://www.godcannotlie.org/1_thes_ch4.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/true_children_of_god.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/saving_faith.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/gospel_of_jesus_christ.htm
Are you ready for this day to come? Are you looking forward to it? I hope you are, for if you are not ready, you shall go through the Great Tribulation Period!
http://www.hisservants.org/books_the_great_tribulation.html
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_scheduled_end_times_events.htm
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation_what.htm
http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation,_why.htm
Ezekiel 30:14 And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No. (KJV)
And I will make Pathros desolate . . . Pathros (29:14), a country in Egypt, Tanis (modern San). This city commanded the northern highway to Syria, and was a royal city, possibly the Raamses of the Bible (Ex.1:11), filled with monuments which even yet remain covered with inscriptions in which the kings call themselves givers of all stability, and reducing every foreign land to nonexistence. Perhaps it was the first place that Nebuchadnezzar entered, and so went from place to place in the order mentioned afterwards.
www.bible-history.com/faussets/P/Pathros/
And I will set fire in Zoan . . . Zoan (Num.13:22; Ps.78:43; Isa.19:11), it may be literally understood, that Zoan, Tanis, for that is its name, that would be burnt to ashes; or symbolically of war and civil dissensions. This city was burnt by the king of Babylon: the place now built on the spot is called Mansourah.
http://bibleatlas.org/zoan.htm
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15276-zoan
And I will execute judgment in No . . . No; a very great and populous city, situate on one of the mouths of Nilus, and on the sea (Jer.46:25; Nahum 3:8). But it was greater in sin than in people, and it was visited with very great and dreadful judgments (Nahum 3:8-11). Alexandria now stands where No did. Hundreds of the mighty pillars of Thebes can be seen to-day lying in ruins, as if smitten by the wrath of the Almighty GOD. One rightly states that nowhere else in Egypt was the solid masonry of the temples been thus destroyed.
Ezekiel 30:15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No. (KJV)
And I will pour out my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt . . . will pour my fury . . . (21:31), either the city Sais, as the Greek Old Testament or Pelusium, as another version, so called from pelos which means clay in the Greek language. It had a very good harbor, and could be called the strength of Egypt, it lying at the entrance of it; and having a strong fortified tower. It was difficult to enter into it; but it could not stand before the wrath and fury of the LORD of hosts, when He sent the Chaldeans to it. It is thought by some to be the same as Pithom, built by the first of the kings of Egypt, and fortified by him (Ex.1:11).
And I will pour my fury upon Sin . . . called afterwards Pelusium, and now Damiata.
And I will cut off the multitude of No . . . the many inhabitants of it; therefore called populous No (Nah.3:8). Some versions renders it Memphis. Some take it to be the Egyptian Thebes, where was a temple dedicated to Jupiter Hammon; and which city was reduced to nothing.
http://www.bible-history.com/maps/romanempire/Pelusium.html
www.bible-history.com/maps/egypt_biblical.html
Ezekiel 30:16 And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily. (KJV)
And I will set fire in Egypt . . . will set fire (20:47; 30:14), kindle a war there, which shall consume it (30:8).
Sin shall have great pain . . . as a woman in travail, seeing its destruction is about to come; Sin is the same as Pelusium.
And No shall be rent asunder . . . the walls of it shall be broken down by the enemy, or a breach shall be made in it, like the breach of waters which were about it (Nah.3:8).
And Noph shall have distresses daily . . . Noph (30:13) is the same as Memphis, as before. Enemies shall surround it daily, and shall besiege and distress it, until it is taken. Their enemies would not come as thieves in the night, but in broad daylight! Distresses were in the chief city where king and councils sat, where orders would be given, whither all intelligences were brought, all would be so bad abroad, that nothing but fears and sorrows fill their ears, mouths and hearts, beside the needs that would increase daily on them.
Ezekiel 30:17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity. (KJV)
The young men of Aven and of Phibeseth shall fall by the sword . . . the young men, could be a select army of valiant youths in one body, collected out of these two cities, that were determined to break the Chaldean army, or fall in the event. Aven, Bethshemesh and Heliopolis, an idolatrous city, that worshipped the sun, and in which was a majestic temple built to the sun. Its size was one hundred and fifty furlongs, six miles and three quarters, in compass, a very vain and sinful city, as its name Aven intimates. Aven could be the same as On (Gen. 41:45), or Heliopolis. The word Aven also means transgression (Hos.10:8).
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/aven/
Phibeseth, Pi-beseth, Bubastus and sometimes called Haephestus, was no small place, maybe not far from Aven. It seems to be some convenient pass. The road from Pelusium to Memphis lay through Bubastis and On. In the days of Herodotus Bubastis was the seat of one of the chief annual festivals of the Egyptians. The Persians took the town and razed the walls. The ruins bear the modern name Tel-Basta.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/pi-beseth/
And these cities shall go into captivity . . . the remaining inhabitants of the cities of Aven and Pibeseth, that did not fall by the sword, would be carried captive into other lands.
Ezekiel 30:18 At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity. (KJV)
At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened . . . Tehaphnehes is also called Tahpanhes (Jer.2:16; 43:7-9; 44:1; 46:14.). Tehaphnehes was a frontier town near Pelusium, strongly fortified. It may be especially mentioned, because the Jews who fled from Palestine through fear of Nebuchadnezzar had taken refuge there (Jer. Ch. 43 - 44). Isaiah calls it Hanes (Isa.30:4). It was a royal seat of the kings of Egypt: there was in Solomon's time a queen of Egypt of this name, and perhaps it might be so called from her (1 Ki.11:19). It is thought to be the Daphne of Pelusium, it being near that city; although it could be a place in another part of Egypt, at a great distance, which some call Tahcompso, an island encompassed by the Nile; and by Ptolemy. The day shall be darkened . . . this is a common way for prophets to describe a coming calamity (30:3; 32:8), also see (Isa.13:10; Joel 2:10, 15; 3:15; Amos 8:9; Mat.24:29). It would be a dreadful and mournful time for the inhabitants of it.
When I shall break there the yokes of Egypt . . . the Lord GOD shall break the yokes that Egypt put upon the necks of others, who now would be free from them.
And the pomp of her strength shall cease in her . . . all that splendor and magnificence which appeared in the courts of the kings of Egypt in this place would be no more.
As for her, a cloud shall cover her . . . as for Tehaphnehes, a dark cloud of disaster shall cover it, so that its glory shall not be seen. A cloud, sorrow at the success of the Chaldeans against her, often compared to a cloud.
And her daughters shall go into captivity . . . the citizens may be taken either in a literal sense for the daughters of the inhabitants of this place, which would be a great sorrow to their parents, to have them forced away by cruel soldiers, and carried captive into distant lands; or in a symbolic way, for the villages and the inhabitants of them round about this city; for it is common to represent a city as a mother, and its villages as daughters. Her daughters may be mentioned here because her sons were destroyed and slain.
Ezekiel 30:19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD. (KJV)
Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt . . . in the several outlying areas, and in the many cities before mentioned, and in all other places in Egypt; terrible judgments of fire, famine, sword and captivity.
And they shall know that I am the LORD . . . this phrase is found 566 times in the Old Testament, 38 0f those times in the Book of Ezekiel. The people will know that the One and Only all-knowing and all-powerful Lord GOD, by the judgments carried out, and will know that only He could have done such a thing: first telling the people what would happen, and then performing it to the letter as stated in the prophecy! This also looked forward to the days of the New Testament, when the Gospel was preached among them, and many were converted by it in the times of the apostles, and also looks to the Great Tribulation Period (Rev.7). One day, ALL people shall bow their knee and profess that JESUS is LORD!
Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (KJV)
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (KJV)
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (KJV) . . . You have a choice! You can do it NOW, or you can wait until Judgment Day. http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_judgment_day_are_you_ready.htm You shall do it!
*****Many do not comment on this verse. No place in the land of Egypt shall be exempt from the fury of the Chaldean army, not even the most strong, nor the most isolated! The sword shall go through ALL the land. Many different places are named: Pathros, Zoan, and No (30:14), Sin and Noph (30:15-16), Aven and Pi-beseth (30:17) and Tehaphnehes (30:18). ALL these shall be made desolate, shall be burned, and God's judgments shall be performed upon them, exactly as told! GOD’S furious wrath shall be poured out upon them. Their strength and multitude shall be cut off; they shall have great pain, shall terrified with fear, and shall have daily sorrows. Their day shall be darkened; their honor, comfort and hope, shall be snuffed out.
Their yokes on others shall be broken, they shall no more oppress and tyrannize as they had done. The show of power shall end, and a thick cloud shall cover them, snuffing out any hopes, and their glory will not be seen, or shine any more. And, last but not least, the Ethiopians, who were at a distance from them, as well as those who mingled with them, shall also share in their pain and terror. The careless Ethiopians shall be made afraid (30:9). One thing to consider, GOD can strike terror in the most secure places, causing fear whenever He pleases, surprising the most arrogant hypocrites.
The close of this prophecy shows TWO things: (1). The entire land of Egypt mortified. (2). The GOD of Israel glorified, because they shall know that I am the LORD. The Egyptians shall be made to know it and the people of God shall be made to know it better. The LORD is known by the judgments that He executes, both good and bad! BEWARE!!! GOD hates sin, and He shall punish it if you do not repent.
GOD breaks Pharaoh's arm (30:20-26)
This short prophecy about the weakening of the power of Egypt was delivered about the time that the army of the Egypt attempted to raise the siege of Jerusalem . . . Egypt was frustrated in its readiness, and returned without accomplishing their purpose; at which point the king of Babylon renewed the siege and carried out his job. The sizable kingdom of Egypt was ancient, and had been for many ages very significant. The kingdom of Babylon had just lately reached its great splendor and power, being built upon the ruins of the kingdom of Assyria. It is with nations as it is with families and states, some grow, while others decline and go back; one must increase and the others must decrease. It is here predicted that the king of Egypt would grow weaker and weaker. The extent of his territories shall be reduced, his wealth and power would be weakened, and he would not be able to help either himself or his friends.
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, (KJV)
And it came to pass in the eleventh year . . . of Zedekiah's reign, and Jehoiachin's captivity; a little after the prophecy in Ezekiel 19:1. Here the prophecies come into their order again, being interrupted by those of a much later date, at the end of the Chapter 29, and the first part of this Chapter. The eleventh year of Jeconiah’s captivity, three months and two days before Jerusalem was taken (Jer.52:4-5).
In the first month; the fourth day of our April . . . this was three months before the fall of Jerusalem and three months later than the prophecy of Ezekiel 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. Clearly Nebuchadnezzar inflicted a humiliating defeat on Egypt that prevented any ample relief of Jerusalem and resulted in Nebuchadnezzar's renewal of the siege almost immediately. Nebuchadnezzar's defeat of Pharaoh-Hophra seems in this paragraph to be the breaking of Pharaoh's arm (30:21), which greatly weakened Pharaoh, but more defeats were promised in this prophecy. Note in verse 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.
In the first month, in the seventh day of the month . . . the month Nisan, is part of March, and part of April; the seventh day must be about the twenty ninth of March according to some.
That the word of the Lord came unto me, saying . . . again, remember that Ezekiel does not bring his words, he brings the Words of Almighty GOD! GOD tells the prophet what to say, and the prophet obeys!
Ezekiel 30:21 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. (KJV)
Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt . . . Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, whose army was overthrown at Carchemish by the king of Babylon, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim; when the latter took from the former all that belonged to him between the river of Egypt and the river Euphrates; by which he was so weakened and dispirited, that he could not stir any more out of his own land (Jer.46:2) and of him who was defeated by the Cyreneans, and saved himself by flight (29:4).
And, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it . . . suggesting that Egypt would receive such a blow that it would be incurable (Jer.46:11). Egypt’s arm shall never again be strong enough to encounter a potent enemy, as once it was.
To make it strong to hold the sword . . . which it would not be able to do, nor to make war any more, nor to defend itself.
Ezekiel 30:22 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. (KJV)
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt . . . the then present king of Egypt, whose name was Hophra or Apries (Jer.44:30).
And I will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken . . . the Lord GOD would break both his arms, the good one and the broken one, his whole power, strength and dominion; meaning that that part of his kingdom which lay between the two rivers of Egypt and Euphrates, that had been taken away by the king of Babylon, would remain so; and the other part of his kingdom would fall a prey to him also.
And I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand . . . so that he would be so far from being so able to make use of the sword, that he would not be able to hold it; nor would he be able to take it up again, and make war.
*****In verse 21, GOD had broken the arm, in this verse He will break both the arms of Pharaoh, He will clearly show that He is still against Pharaoh, and will weaken him more and more.
Ezekiel 30:23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. (KJV)
And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations . . . among the several provinces of Babylon, and other places, where the Chaldeans would carry or send them.
And will disperse them through the countries . . . the same thing repeated in different words to confirm it. Eze.20:23; 29:12, say about the same thing.
Ezekiel 30:24 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. (KJV)
And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon . . . GOD gives Babylon a commission to make war; as He sends the sword (14:17), musters the men (Isa.13:4), orders the ammunition (Jer.50:25), renders the weapons prosperous (Isa.54:17), so GOD can strengthen or weaken the arm of either party.
And put my sword in his hand . . . which confirms the above, that Babylon would have power and authority from the LORD to attack the king of Egypt, and would gain a victory over him; since it was not his own sword he drew, but the sword of the LORD of hosts; which coming from Him, and having His commission, cannot fail.
But I will break Pharaoh's arms . . . Verses 21, 22.
And he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man . . . that is, the Pharaoh shall groan before the king of Babylon; by whom, as an instrument, his arms shall be broken, his power destroyed; and he would be like a man in the agony of death, not able to speak, but groaning out his inexpressible anguish of broken bones, and none to set them.
Ezekiel 30:25 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. 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. (KJV)
But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon . . . will strengthen, give strength and continue it with new supplies, so that with strength from GOD, Babylon shall proceed. This is repeated to confirm it.
And the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down . . . when a man's arms are broken, he shall not be able to lift them up and defend himself.
And they shall know that I am the LORD . . . namely, the Egyptians (30:19).
When I shall have put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out on the land of Egypt . . . that is, when Babylon shall have a commission, from GOD, to carry the war into Egypt; and he shall spread desolation over all the land, cutting off the inhabitants of it everywhere, as before described in this chapter.
*****The two previous verses are a repetition of GOD’S threats against Pharaoh, and of His Promises to assist Nebuchadnezzar in the war.
Ezekiel 30:26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD. (KJV)
And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries . . . of which they might assure themselves, since the LORD had before spoken it (verse 23), and here again repeats it.
And they shall know that I am the Lord . . . whose Name alone is Jehovah (Ex.6:3; Ps.83:18; Isa.12:2; 26:4) and does whatsoever HE pleases . . . He sets up kings, and puts them down; He strengthens or weakens kingdoms as is good in His sight; and NO one has any power except what is given by GOD, and which He can take away any time that He sees right to do so. When GOD’S glory is the object to be attained, Egypt's destruction or Israel's deliverance, was 100% right. Again I say, Shall not the Judge of the earth do right?
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)
Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (KJV)
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (KJV)
Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (KJV)
CONSIDER: As we read this Chapter, we can easily connect it with the previous one, and see from both the sure and certain purposes of the LORD in their success. When we see the Lord GOD punishing the nations, for the injuries done to His people, we see a sincere side of the authority of GOD. Dear one, shouldn’t we learn to be more humble, as to accept the just and all-wise decisions of the LORD? We should consider that His privileges and His judgments, both of men and things, are based on His tremendous love and compassion for those that truly love and obey Him.
We as mere mortals should never try to estimate the right and wrong to what comes our way, for the end result shall always prove that GOD is never wrong, and that He is the LORD! Only a fool would go against the Lord GOD in any way!
In this chapter, as well as several others, we see the LORD'S jealousy for His people in the punishment of the nations . . . so if we are wise, we should readily and willingly admit His Almighty sovereignty, and to bow down whole-heartedly before it. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Gen.18:25). Shouldn’t we accept and believe that whatever He sends our way, is always rightly directed?
WHY was CHRIST, the Father’s Great Gift to humanity, held for one group of people with a full, free, and extended hand, while others know not GOD, nor the manner of His Hand? Who is it that shall ask Him why? We must accept the FACT that HE is the LORD, and no matter what we think. The Bible clearly states that JESUS came that we might be saved from the penalty of our sin, which is eternal death in Hell. IF we believe that JESUS paid OUR penalty on the cross at Calvary, we have eternal live in Heaven one day . . . IF we refuse to believe this, we call GOD a ‘liar’ and shall be condemned to the lake of fire in HELL! BEWARE!!!
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (KJV)
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (KJV)
John 3:16-19 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (KJV)
2 Thes.1:8-12 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)
1 John 5:10-13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (KJV)
ETERNAL Punishment in HELL: (Isa.34:8-10; Dan.12:2; Mat.3:12; 10:28; 18:8; 25:41, 46; Mark 3:29; Luke 3:17; John 5:29; Heb.6:2; 10:28-31; Rev.14:10-11; 19:3; 20:10)
Second Death: (Rev.2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8)
WHAT will it be for YOU? Eternal life in the beauty and bliss of Heaven with GOD? OR Eternal death in the lake of fire with the devil? It is YOUR choice!
http://www.godcannotlie.org/what_we_believe.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/truth_about_salvation.htm
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)
Is YOUR name in the book of life?
Special Comments
A Prophecy against Egypt
Those who take sides with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction against Egypt. God often makes one wicked man or nation to be a plague to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The LORD is known by the judgments that He executes. BUT, these are only present effects of the GOD’S displeasure, not to be compared with the wrath to come, from which only CHRIST Jesus can deliver His people from! (Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12).
Another prophecy
Egypt would grow weaker and weaker. Something that we all should consider: IF the LORD’S lesser judgments do not succeed to humble and reform sinners, He will send greater ones! God can rightly break any power that is abused, that wrongs people or cheats them. Babylon shall grow stronger . . . Egypt would weaken! In vain do people try to bind up the Arm the LORD . . . which He is pleased to break the arms of those against Him. Those who disregard and disrespect GOD’S truth and mercy, shall clearly know His power and justice, as the punishment for their sins.
Six Predictions -- Fulfilled:
#1. I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword (30:21).
#2. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them among the countries (30:23).
#3. I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put a sword in his hand (30:24-25).
#4. I will break Pharaoh's arm (30:24).
#5. He will groan with the groanings of a deadly wounded man dying.
#6. They will know that I am the LORD when I have done this (30:25-26).
Book of Ezekiel
Eze.Ch.1 . . Eze.Ch.2 . . Eze.Ch.3. . Eze.Ch.4 . . Eze.Ch.5 . . Eze.Ch.6 . . Eze.Ch.7 . . Eze.Ch.8 . . Eze.Ch.9 . . Eze.Ch.10 . . Eze.Ch.11 . . Eze.Ch.12 . . Eze.Ch.13 . . Eze.Ch.14. . Eze.Ch.15 . . Eze.Ch.16 . . Eze.Ch.17 . . Eze.Ch.18 . . Eze.Ch.19 . . Eze.Ch.20 . . Eze.Ch.21 . . Eze.Ch.22 . . Eze.Ch.23 . . Eze.Ch.24 . . Eze.Ch.25 . . Eze.Ch.26 . . Eze.27 . . Eze.28 . . Eze.29 . . Eze.30 . . Eze.31 . . Eze.32 . . Eze.33 . . Eze.34 . . Eze.35 . . Eze.36 . . Eze.37 . . Eze.38 . . Eze.39 . . Eze.40 . . Eze.41 . . Eze.42 . . Eze.43 . . Eze.44 . . Eze.45 . . . Eze.46 . . . Eze.47 . . . Eze.48 . . . Eze. Millennial Temple . . . Eze.Special Comments . . . Eze.What is Shekinah Glory? . . . Home Page
|