Announcing Egypt's approaching destruction, the Lord speaks through the prophet Ezekiel first of all about the unreliability of the pharaohs, in whose military and political alliances the politicians of Judah placed such hope. In reality, for many centuries Egypt sought to use both Israel and the other peoples of Palestine, now as a bridgehead, now as a buffer between itself and...
Announcing Egypt's approaching destruction, the Lord speaks through the prophet Ezekiel first of all about the unreliability of the pharaohs, in whose military and political alliances the politicians of Judah placed such hope. In reality, for many centuries Egypt sought to use both Israel and the other peoples of Palestine, now as a bridgehead, now as a buffer between itself and the aggressive Middle Eastern empires that successively replaced one another—the Hittites, Assyrians, and Babylonians.
The leaders of Israel, who relied more on Egypt's military power than on God's mercy, have already received their due. Ezekiel and his predecessors in prophetic ministry said everything necessary about their fate. Many of them showed vividly the spiritual and political destructiveness of such hopes. But the fact that Israel should not have relied on Egypt does not cancel the pharaohs' duty to behave honorably and avoid treachery. This is one of the most important aspects of the prophet's word addressed to the Egyptian ruler.
Moreover, the Lord points out that Pharaoh, like the king of Tyre discussed in the previous chapter, acknowledges no one above himself. He is, as the saying goes, “king and god and commander,” and recognizes neither political nor moral accountability to anyone. His actions therefore become a vivid example of how the moral character of a person degenerates without faith, without reverence for the One God, the Lord of heaven and earth.
For the Jews in Babylonian captivity who heard Ezekiel's prophecy, it was also extremely important to hear what God says about Egypt's future restoration. It turns out that it is not only the chosen people whom God will restore and save: His designs extend even to those whom the Jews were accustomed to regard as opponents of God. This universal dimension of Revelation is only beginning to emerge in the Old Testament, while God's plan for the salvation of all people will be fully revealed only in the coming of Christ. It is remarkable that just as the destruction and restoration of Jerusalem take place in order to cleanse the chosen people from sin, so Egypt's restoration will free it from its most essential sin—pride.
Finally, the prophecy that Egypt's wealth will be Nebuchadnezzar's reward is also very important for understanding the biblical view of history. Nebuchadnezzar receives a reward because, apart from his own will, his activity helps fulfill the Creator's designs. But this reward is entirely earthly, precisely because he serves those designs involuntarily and unconsciously.
29 A prediction of the destruction of Pharaoh, for his treacherous dealing with Israel, Eze 29:1-7.
A prediction of the desolation of Egypt, Eze 29:8-12.
A promise of the restoration thereof in part, Eze 29:13-16.
A prediction of Nebuchadrezzar's passing it, Eze 29:17-20.
A promise of mercy to Israel, Eze 29:21.
29:1 The tenth year - Of Jeconiah's captivity.
29:3 The great dragon - The crocodile; our prophet, as well as Isaiah, compares the Egyptian king to that devouring serpent, or dragon. That lieth - Not only at rest, but waiting for prey.My river - My kingdom, power, riches, and forces, all the strength and glory of Egypt.
29:4 Put hooks - The Allegory is continued.The fish - The people of Egypt.To stick - To adhere to their king.
29:5 Leave thee - When thus brought out, I will leave thee.The wilderness - The deserts of Libya and Syene.All the fish - The whole army of the Egyptians.The open fields - There was this king and his army ruined.Gathered - These were not buried, but left in the wilderness, a prey to wild beasts, and birds.
29:7 Rent - Didst them much mischief instead of benefiting them, as thou hast promised, Jer 37:7.
29:10 Syene - Boundary between Ethiopia and Egypt; that is, all Egypt from north - east to south - west.
29:11 Forty years - These forty years began about the thirtieth year of Jeconiah's captivity, and end with the seventieth year of the captivity, which was the first of Cyrus.
29:14 Pathros - The southern part of Egypt, in which was the famous city Thebae, known for its hundred gates. Their habitation - The ancient habitation of their fathers. A base - A low, tributary, dependent kingdom.
29:15 No more rule - Though in the times of the Ptolemeys, it was considerable, yet then, even then it did not rule the nations about her.
29:16 Which - Which sinful reliance on the arm of flesh provoked God to call to mind their other iniquities. When - When they forgot God, and respected Egypt. They - The house of Israel.
29:17 In the seven and twentieth year - Of Jeconiah's captivity, the year after the conquest of Tyre.
29:18 Caused - The army, and commanders were weary of the siege, but the immovable resolution of the king kept them on. A great service - It was service to the justice of God. It was great service both for hardness of work, heaviness of burdens, and length of the siege, thirteen years together. Made bald - Through age, or sicknesses, or continued wearing of helmets. Peeled - Galled with carrying burdens. No wages - For though Tyre was very rich, when first besieged, much wealth was carried away during the siege, much spent and wasted in the siege, and what was left, preserved by articles of surrender.
29:19 Her multitude - Common people, who shall be made captives, and servants or slaves. Her prey - What she had before taken from others.The wages - God will be behind - hand with none, who do any service for him; one way or other he will recompence them. None shall kindle a fire at his altar for nought.
29:20 They - The Babylonians. For me - God's work was doing by them, tho' they thought nothing less.
29:21 The horn - Jehoiakim, who was then advanced by Evil - Merodach. The opening of the mouth - Thou shalt have liberty, to open thy mouth in comforting the good among them, and to give praise to God.