Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Ezekiel-Chapter 29

Ezek 29.1-21 contains a prophecy about a judgment coming upon Egypt and Pharaoh by Babylon, and its after some time. The reason Pharaoh and Egypt are judged is because of their treacherous treatment of the Jewish people and the arrogance of Pharaoh. This prophecy also has an eschatological aspect to it concerning Europe, pictured by Egypt, and the False Messiah, portrayed by Pharaoh.

v 1…In the tenth year (of Zedekiah’s reign and Yehoiachin’s exile) in the tenth month (Tevet), on the twelfth of the month, the word of the Lord (Yehovah) came to me saying,

v 2…”Son of man (mortal human being; Ezekiel represents the people), set your face (turn and be determined) against Pharaoh (probably Hophra, a type of the False Messiah), king of Egypt (a type of Europe), and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

v 3…Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “Behold (see), I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the great monster (Hebrew “tannim ha gadol” or dragon) that lies in the midst of the rivers (the canals of the Nile), that has said, ‘My Nile is mine, and I myself have made it (pride as creator, and this was his great sin, just like the king of Tyre).’

v 4…”And I shall put hooks (to control this dragon monster) into your jaws, and I shall make the fish of your rivers (canals) cling to your scales (his army, his people, princes will go to war with him as allies), and I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers (like a captured crocodile), and all the fish of your rivers will cling to your scales (share the same fate).

v 5…And I shall abandon you to the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers (allies); you will fall on the open field (his army); you will not be brought together or gathered (the Babylonians will destroy Egypt to the point they will not attain to their former glory and status). I have given you for food to the beast of the earth and the birds of the sky (this is an idiom for an impending slaughter-a banquet. This alludes to the False Messiah who is also called Leviathan and Azazel in Jewish literature-Job 40.30, 41.1-6; 2 Kings 11.15; Matt 24.28; Rev 19.21; Ezek 32.4; Dan 7.25; Isa 22.171-8).

v 6…Then all the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the Lord (Yehovah), because they have been only a staff of reed to the house of Israel (no help-Isa 36.6, 42.3)

v 7…When they took hold of you with the hand (Israel entered into an alliance with Egypt but were of no help, and as they fell), you broke and tore all their hands (Egypt failed them); and when they leaned on you (for help), you (Egypt) broke and made all their loins quake (in fear of the enemy).”

v 8…Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold (take note), I shall bring upon you a sword, and I shall cut off from you man and beast (the desolation of Egypt is foretold in v 9-16).

v 9…And the land of Egypt will become a desolation and waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord (when it comes true it will be proof he is Yehovah). Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I have made it (he is the creator, he said too much),’

v 10…therefore, behold (see, take note), I am against you and against your rivers (canals, armies, people), and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol (in the north) to Syene (the southern point) and even to the border of Ethiopia (Cush).

v 11…A man’s foot will not pass through it, and the foot of a beast will not pass through it, and it will not be inhabited for forty years (meaning an appointed time of God’s judgment).

v 12…So I shall make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated lands (like Judah and other lands by Babylon). And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste (by Babylon), will be desolate forty years (meaning an appointed time of God’s judgment), and I shall scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands (taken captive and dispersed like Israel was).”

v 13…For thus says the Lord God, “At the end of forty years (God’s period of judgment) I shall gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered.

v 14…And I shall turn the fortunes of Egypt (return the exiles) and shall make them return to the land of Pathros (Thebes-upper Egypt) to the land of their origin (where they were born), and there they will be a lowly kingdom.

v 15…It will be the lowest of the kingdoms (will never attain to their former glory); and it will never again lift itself up above the nations. And I shall make them so small that they will not rule over the nations (and no nation will look to it for assistance again).

v 16…And it will never again be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing to mind the iniquity of their having turned to Egypt (in an alliance). Then they will know that I am the Lord God (it is always foolish for believers to turn to our enemies for help. Eschatologically, Israel will turn to Europe, a type of Egypt, and the False Messiah, a type of Pharaoh, for help in Dan 9.27 and the same thing is going to happen again).”

v 17…Now in the twenty-seventh year (of Yehoiachin’s exile and seventeen years after the first part of this prophecy was given), in the first month (Nisan), on the first day of the month (a new moon beginning the religious calendar year); the word of the Lord came to me saying,

v 18…”Son of man (mortal human being, Ezekiel represented the people), Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre (thirteen years), every head was made bald (due to wearing their battle helmets so long), and every shoulder was rubbed bare (by carrying wood and dirt). But he and his army had no wages from Tyre for the labor that he had performed against it (Tyre removed the silver, gold, precious jewels and valuables before it fell. It cost Babylon a great sum of money to support his army and maintain a thirteen year siege).”

v 19…Therefore (since they were disappointed in obtaining spoil and for payment for obeying me), thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I shall give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And he will be carrying off her wealth, and capture her spoil and seize her plunder; and it will be wages for his army.

v 20…I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor which he performed, because they acted to me (obeyed his will),” declares the Lord God.

v 21…”On that day I shall make a horn (power) sprout for the house of Israel (when the end of Israel’s exile began with Cyrus as king of Persia as seen in Daniel), and I shall open your mouth in their midst (Ezekiel’s prophecies will be confirmed and the people will listen to him). Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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