Ezek 30.1-26 continues with the prophecy against Egypt in the form of a lamentation because of the calamity that is going to come upon them. Eschatologically, Babylon is a picture of the kings of the east as they move against Europe and the False Messiah at the end of the birth-pains.
v 1…The word of the Lord (Yehovah) came again to me saying,
v 2…”Son of man (mortal human being; Ezekiel represents the people), prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “Wail (howl), ‘Alas (or woe) for the day (of destruction)!’
3…For the day is near, to even the day of the Lord (when God reveals his power to overthrow his enemies and defend his kingdom; idiom for when the Messiah comes; a day appointed by him) is near (near is the Hebrew “karav” meaning now present); it will be a day of clouds (great calamity-Joel 2.2), a time of the nations (when the nations are judged, with Yehovah using Babylon).
v 4…And a sword (Babylon) will come upon Egypt and anguish (terror) will be in Ethiopia (Cush), when the slain will fall in Egypt, they (Babylon) take away her wealth (plundering their possessions), and her foundations are torn down (the regulations and laws of the government that gave the nation stability).
v 5…Ethiopia (Cush), Put (LIbya), Lud (Lydians), all the mixed peoples, Kuv (unknown in the Tanak), and the sons of the land of the covenant (unknown but in the vicinity of Egypt) will fall with them by the sword (share the same fate as Egypt).”
v 6…’Thus says the Lord (Yehovah), “Indeed, those who support Egypt (the idols and rulers) will fall, and the pride of her power will come down (the total of all the things they rely on); from Migdol to Syene they will fall within her by the sword,” declares the Lord God.
v 7…And they will be desolate in the midst of the desolated lands; and her cities will be in the midst of the devastated cities.
v 8…”And they will know that I am the Lord, when I set a fire (of war) in Egypt (they could have known Yehovah as a God of blessing, but now they will know him as a God of judgment).
v 9…”On that day (appointed by Yehovah) messengers will go forth from me in ships to frighten secure Ethiopia (traveling down the Nile); and anguish will be on them as on the day of Egypt (Exo 15.12 and the coming out of Egypt); for, behold (see for yourself), it comes!”
v 10…’Thus says the Lord God, “I will also make the multitude (Hebrew “hamon” meaning the people and their possession) of Egypt cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
v 11…He and his people with him, the most ruthless (no pity) of the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land; and they will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.
v 12…Moreover (in addition), I will make the Nile canals dry (remove their ability to provide) and sell the land into the hands of evil men (deliver into their power). And I will make the land desolate, and all that is in it, by the hand of strangers (Babylon); I, the Lord (Yehovah), have spoken.”
v 13…’Thus says the Lord God, “I will also destroy the idols and the images (“elilim” or vanities) cease from Noph (Memphis in lower Egypt). And there will no longer be a prince (a native prince) in the land of Egypt; and I will put fear in the land of Egypt (they will never feel secure again).
v 14…And I will make Pathros (upper Egypt) desolate, set a fire in Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes.
v 15…And I will pour out my wrath on Sin (Pelusium-a city dedicated to the sun and a border fort), the stronghold of Egypt; I will also cut off the multitude of Thebes.
v 16…And I will set a fire (judgment of war) in Egypt; Sin will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be breached, and Memphis will have distresses daily (the capital of upper Egypt).
v 17…The young men of On (“Aven” and the home of the wife of Joseph-Gen 41.45; the same as Heliopolis) and of Pi-beseth (house of the cat) will fall by the sword, and the women will go into captivity.
v 18…And in Tehaphnehes (the same as Hanes in Isa 30.4; Tahapanes in Jer 2.18) the day will be held back (in darkness) when I break there the yokes (how they controlled other nations) of Egypt. Then the pride of her power will cease from her; a cloud will cover her (Babylonian armies), and her daughters (surrounding cities) will go into captivity.
v 19…Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt, and they will know that I am the Lord (when this happens it will be proof that Yehovah foretold this).”
v 20…And it came about in the eleventh year (of Zedekiah’s reign), in the first month (Nisan), on the seventh of the month that the word of the Lord came to me saying,
v 21…”Son of man (mortal human being), I have broken the arm (power) of Pharaoh king of Egypt (Pharaoh Hophra was defeated by Babylonian forces when it tried to help a besieged Jerusalem); and, behold, it has not been bound up for healing or wrapped with a bandage, that it may be strong to hold the sword (can’t fight again; this will apply to the False Messiah eschatologically).
v 22…Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold (see), I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms (power), both the strong arm and the broken (all his power to hold a sword); and I will make the sword fall from his hands (can’t fight).
v 23…And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands (into exile and captivity).
v 24…For I will strengthen the arms (power) of the king of Babylon and put my sword into his hand (power from Yehovah; his success will come from God); and I will break the arms of Pharaoh, so that he will groan before him (Nebuchadnezzar) with the groanings of a wounded man (Eschatologically the False Messiah will have his power broken by the kings of the east and he will groan before Yeshua when he returns-Dan 11.45; Rev 19.11-21).
v 25…Thus I will strengthen the arms (power) of the king of Babylon (Yehovah commissioned him to go to war), but the arms of Pharaoh will fall. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword (Nebuchadnezzar is God’s instrument of war) into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.
v 26…When will I scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands, then they will know that I am the Lord (when this comes to pass it will be proof that Yehovah has spoken and is the one true God).”
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