1Im zehntenH6224 JahreH8141, im zehntenH6224 MonatH2320, am ZwölftenH6240 des Monats, geschah das WortH1697 JehovasH3068 zu mirH559 also: 2Menschensohn, richte dein AngesichtH6440 wider den PharaoH6547, den KönigH4428 von ÄgyptenH4714, undH7760 weissageH5012 wider ihn und wider ganz ÄgyptenH4714. 3Rede und sprichH559 : So sprichtH559 der HerrH136, Jehova: Siehe, ich will an dich, PharaoH6547, KönigH4428 von ÄgyptenH4714, duH559 großesH1419 Seeungeheuer, das inH8432 seinen Strömen liegtH7257, das da spricht: Mein StromH2975 gehört mir, und ich habeH1696 ihn mir gemachtH6213. 4Und ich werde Haken inH8432 deine KinnbackenH3895 legen und die FischeH1710 deiner Ströme anH1692 deine SchuppenH7193 sichH1692 hängen lassenH5414, und werde dich aus deinen Strömen heraufziehen samt allen Fischen deiner Ströme, die an deinen SchuppenH7193 hängen. 5Und ich werde dichH5203 in die WüsteH4057 werfen, dich und alle FischeH1710 deiner Ströme; aufH6440 des FeldesH7704 Fläche wirst du fallenH5307; du wirst nicht aufgelesen und nicht gesammelt werdenH622 : Den TierenH2416 der ErdeH776 und den VögelnH5775 des HimmelsH8064 habeH6908 ich dich zur SpeiseH402 gegebenH5414. 6Und alle Bewohner von ÄgyptenH4714 werden wissenH3045, daß ich JehovaH3068 bin. Weil sieH3427 dem HauseH1004 IsraelH3478 ein RohrstabH4938 gewesen sind - 7wenn sieH8610 dichH8172 mit der HandH3709 erfaßten, knicktest du undH3802 rissest ihnen die ganze Schulter auf; und wenn sieH7665 sich auf dich lehnten, zerbrachst du und machtest ihnen alle Hüften wanken 8darum, so sprichtH559 der HerrH136, Jehova: Siehe, ich bringeH935 das SchwertH2719 über dich und werde MenschenH120 und ViehH929 aus dir ausrottenH3772; 9undH2723 das LandH776 ÄgyptenH4714 wird zur WüsteH8077 und Einöde werden. Und sie werden wissenH3045, daß ich JehovaH3068 bin. Weil der Pharao sprichtH559 : Der StromH2975 ist mein, und ich habeH6213 ihn gemacht, 10darum, siehe, will ich an dich undH2723 an deine Ströme; und ich werdeH8077 das LandH776 ÄgyptenH4714 zu öden, wüsten Einöden machenH5414, von MigdolH4024 bis nach SyeneH5482, bis an die GrenzeH1366 von Äthiopien. 11Der FußH7272 des MenschenH120 wird es nicht durchwandern, und der FußH7272 des Tieres wird es nicht durchwandern, und es wird nicht bewohntH3427 sein, vierzigH705 JahreH8141. 12Und ich werdeH8077 dasH1471 LandH776 ÄgyptenH4714 zu einer Wüste machenH5414 inmitten verwüsteter LänderH776, und seine StädteH5892 werdenH8074 inmitten verödeter StädteH5892 eine Wüste seinH2717, vierzigH705 JahreH8141; und ich werdeH8077 die ÄgypterH4714 unterH8432 die Nationen versprengen und sieH2219 inH8432 die LänderH776 zerstreuenH6327. - 13Denn so sprichtH559 der HerrH136, Jehova: Am EndeH7093 von vierzigH705 JahrenH8141 werde ich die ÄgypterH4714 ausH6327 den VölkernH5971 sammelnH6908, wohin sie versprengt waren; 14und ich werde die Gefangenschaft der ÄgypterH4714 wendenH7725 und sie in das LandH776 PathrosH6624, in das LandH776 ihres Ursprungs, zurückbringen, und daselbst werdenH7725 sie ein niedriges KönigreichH4467 sein. 15Und es wird niedriger sein als die anderen KönigreicheH4467 und sich nicht mehr über die Nationen erhebenH5375; und ich will sie vermindern, daß sie nicht mehr über die Nationen herrschenH7287. 16Und nichtH2142 soll es ferner dem HauseH1004 IsraelH3478 zu einer ZuversichtH4009 sein, welche MissetatH5771 in Erinnerung bringt, indem sie sichH6437 nachH310 ihnenH2142 hinwenden. Und sie werden wissenH3045, daß ich der HerrH136, Jehova, bin. 17UndH559 es geschah im siebenundzwanzigsten H7651 H6242 H8141 Jahre, im erstenH7223 MonatH2320, am ErstenH259 des Monats, da geschah das WortH1697 JehovasH3068 zu mir also: 18Menschensohn, Nebukadrezar, der KönigH4428 von BabelH894, hatH1121 sein Heer eine schwere ArbeitH5656 tun lassenH5647 gegen TyrusH6865. Jedes HauptH7218 ist kahlH7139 geworden, undH2428 jede Schulter ist abgerieben; undH3802 von TyrusH6865 ist ihm undH2428 seinem Heere kein LohnH7939 geworden für dieH5647 ArbeitH5656, welche er wider dasselbe getan hat. 19Darum, so spricht der HerrH136, Jehova: Siehe, ich gebeH5414 Nebukadrezar, dem KönigH4428 von BabelH894, das LandH776 ÄgyptenH4714; undH5375 erH559 wird seinenH2428 ReichtumH1995 wegtragen undH962 seinen RaubH957 raubenH7997 und seine BeuteH7998 erbeuten, und das wird der LohnH7939 sein für sein Heer. 20Als seine Belohnung, um welche er gearbeitetH5647 hat, habeH6213 ich ihm das LandH776 ÄgyptenH4714 gegebenH5414, weil sie für mich gearbeitet haben, sprichtH5002 der HerrH136, Jehova. - 21An jenem TageH3117 werde ich dem HauseH1004 IsraelH3478 ein HornH7161 hervorsprossen lassenH6779, und dir werde ich den MundH6310 auftunH6610 inH8432 ihrer Mitte; und sieH5414 werden wissenH3045, daß ich JehovaH3068 bin.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 THE JUDGMENT ON EGYPT BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR; THOUGH ABOUT TO BE RESTORED AFTER FORTY YEARS, IT WAS STILL TO BE IN A STATE OF DEGRADATION. (Eze. 29:1-21)
Pharaoh--a common name of all the kings of Egypt, meaning "the sun"; or, as others say, a "crocodile," which was worshipped in parts of Egypt (compare
Ezek 29:3). Hophra or Apries was on the throne at this time. His reign began prosperously. He took Gaza (
Jer 47:1) and Zidon and made himself master of Phśnicia and Palestine, recovering much that was lost to Egypt by the victory of Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish (
2Kgs 24:7;
Jer 46:2), in the fourth year of Jehoiakim [WILKINSON, Ancient Egypt, 1.169]. So proudly secure because of his successes for twenty-five years did he feel, that he said not even a god could deprive him of his kingdom [HERODOTUS, 2.169]. Hence the appropriateness of the description of him in
Ezek 29:3. No mere human sagacity could have enabled Ezekiel to foresee Egypt's downfall in the height of its prosperity. There are four divisions of these prophecies; the first in the tenth year of Ezekiel's captivity; the last in the twelfth. Between the first and second comes one of much later date, not having been given till the twenty-seventh year (
Ezek 29:17;
Ezek 30:19), but placed there as appropriate to the subject matter. Pharaoh-hophra, or Apries, was dethroned and strangled, and Amasis substituted as king, by Nebuchadnezzar (compare
Jer 44:30). The Egyptian priests, from national vanity, made no mention to HERODOTUS of the Egyptian loss of territory in Syria through Nebuchadnezzar, of which JOSEPHUS tells us, but attributed the change in the succession from Apries to Amasis solely to the Egyptian soldiery. The civil war between the two rivals no doubt lasted several years, affording an opportunity to Nebuchadnezzar of interfering and of elevating the usurper Amasis, on condition of his becoming tributary to Babylon [WILKINSON]. Compare
Jer 43:10-
Jer 43:12, and see on
Jer 43:13, for another view of the grounds of interference of Nebuchadnezzar.
3 dragon--Hebrew, tanim, any large aquatic animal, here the crocodile, which on Roman coins is the emblem of Egypt.
lieth--restest proudly secure.
his rivers--the mouths, branches, and canals of the Nile, to which Egypt owed its fertility.
4 hooks in thy jaws-- (
Isa 37:29; compare
Job 41:1-
Job 41:2). Amasis was the "hook." In the Assyrian sculptures prisoners are represented with a hook in the underlip, and a cord from it held by the king.
cause . . . fish . . . stick unto . . . scales--Pharaoh, presuming on his power as if he were God (
Ezek 29:3, "I have made it"), wished to stand in the stead of God as defender of the covenant-people, his motive being, not love to them, but rivalry with Babylon. He raised the siege of Jerusalem, but it was only for a time (compare
Ezek 29:6;
Jer 37:5,
Jer 37:7-
Jer 37:10); ruin overtook not only them, but himself. As the fish that clung to the horny scales of the crocodile, the lord of the Nile, when he was caught, shared his fate, so the adherents of Pharaoh, lord of Egypt, when he was overthrown by Amasis, should share his fate.
5 wilderness--captivity beyond thy kingdom. The expression is used perhaps to imply retribution in kind. As Egypt pursued after Israel, saying, "The wilderness hath shut them in" (
Exod 14:3), so she herself shall be brought into a wilderness state.
open fields--literally "face of the field."
not be brought together--As the crocodile is not, when caught, restored to the river, so no remnant of thy routed army shall be brought together, and rallied, after its defeat in the wilderness. Pharaoh led an army against Cyrene in Africa, in support of Aricranes, who had been stripped of his kingdom by the Cyrenians. The army perished and Egypt rebelled against him [JUNIUS]. But the reference is mainly to the defeat by Nebuchadnezzar.
beasts . . . fowls--hostile and savage men.
6 staff of reed to . . . Israel--alluding to the reeds on the banks of the Nile, which broke if one leaned upon them (see on
Ezek 29:4;
Isa 36:6). All Israel's dependence on Egypt proved hurtful instead of beneficial (
Isa 30:1-
Isa 30:5).
7 hand--or handle of the reed.
rend . . . shoulder--by the splinters on which the shoulder or arm would fall, on the support failing the hand.
madest . . . loins . . . at a stand--that is, made them to be disabled. MAURER somewhat similarly (referring to a kindred Arabic form), "Thou hast stricken both their loins." FAIRBAIRN, not so well, "Thou lettest all their loins stand," that is, by themselves, bereft of the support which they looked for from thee.
8 a sword--Nebuchadnezzar's army (
Ezek 29:19). Also Amasis and the Egyptian revolters who after Pharaoh-hophra's discomfiture in Cyrene dethroned and strangled him, having defeated him in a battle fought at Memphis [JUNIUS].
9 I am the Lord--in antithesis to the blasphemous boast repeated here from
Ezek 29:3, "The river is mine, and I have made it."
10 from the tower of Syene--GROTIUS translates, "from Migdol (a fortress near Pelusium on the north of Suez) to Syene (in the farthest south)"; that is, from one end of Egypt to the other. So "from Migdol to Syene,"
Ezek 30:6, Margin. However, English Version rightly refers Syene to Seveneh, that is, Sebennytus, in the eastern delta of the Nile, the capital of the Lower Egyptian kings. The Sebennyte Pharaohs, with the help of the Canaanites, who, as shepherds or merchants, ranged the desert of Suez, extended their borders beyond the narrow province east of the delta, to which they had been confined by the Pharaohs of Upper Egypt. The defeated party, in derision, named the Sebennyte or Lower Egyptians foreigners and shepherd-kings (a shepherd being an abomination in Egypt,
Gen 46:34). They were really a native dynasty. Thus, in English Version, "Ethiopia" in the extreme south is rightly contrasted with Sebennytus or Syene in the north.
11 forty years--answering to the forty years in which the Israelites, their former bondsmen, wandered in "the wilderness" (compare Note, see on
Ezek 29:5). JEROME remarks the number forty is one often connected with affliction and judgment. The rains of the flood in forty days brought destruction on the world. Moses, Elias, and the Saviour fasted forty days. The interval between Egypt's overthrow by Nebuchadnezzar and the deliverance by Cyrus, was about forty years. The ideal forty years' wilderness state of social and political degradation, rather than a literal non-passing of man or beast for that term, is mainly intended (so
Ezek 4:6;
Isa 19:2,
Isa 19:11).
12 As Israel passed through a term of wilderness discipline (compare
Ezek 20:35, &c.), which was in its essential features to be repeated again, so it was to be with Egypt [FAIRBAIRN]. Some Egyptians were to be carried to Babylon, also many "scattered" in Arabia and Ethiopia through fear; but mainly the "scattering" was to be the dissipation of their power, even though the people still remained in their own land.
13 (
Jer 46:26).
14 Pathros--the Thehaiti, or Upper Egypt, which had been especially harassed by Nebuchadnezzar (
Nah 3:8,
Nah 3:10). The oldest part of Egypt as to civilization and art. The Thebaid was anciently called "Egypt" [ARISTOTLE]. Therefore it is called the "land of the Egyptians' birth" (Margin, for "habitation").
base kingdom--Under Amasis it was made dependent on Babylon; humbled still more under Cambyses; and though somewhat raised under the Ptolemies, never has it regained its ancient pre-eminence.
16 Egypt, when restored, shall be so circumscribed in power that it shall be no longer an object of confidence to Israel, as formerly; for example, as when, relying on it, Israel broke faith with Nebuchadnezzar (
Ezek 17:13,
Ezek 17:15-
Ezek 17:16).
which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them--rather, "while they (the Israelites) look to (or, turn after) them" [HENDERSON]. Israel's looking to Egypt, rather than to God, causes their iniquity (unfaithfulness to the covenant) to be remembered by God.
17 The departure from the chronological order occurs here only, among the prophecies as to foreign nations, in order to secure greater unity of subject.
18 every head . . . bald, . . . shoulder . . . peeled--with carrying baskets of earth and stones for the siege works.
no wages . . . for the service--that is, in proportion to it and the time and labor which he expended on the siege of Tyre. Not that he actually failed in the siege (JEROME expressly states, from Assyrian histories, that Nebuchadnezzar succeeded); but, so much of the Tyrian resources had been exhausted, or transported to her colonies in ships, that little was left to compensate Nebuchadnezzar for his thirteen year's siege.
19 multitude--not as FAIRBAIRN, "store"; but, he shall take away a multitude of captives out of Egypt. The success of Nebuchadnezzar is implied in Tyre's receiving a king from Babylon, probably one of her captives there, Merbal.
take her spoil . . . prey--literally, "spoil her spoil, prey her prey," that is, as she spoiled other nations, so shall she herself be a spoil to Babylon.
20 because they wrought for me--the Chaldeans, fulfilling My will as to Tyre (compare
Jer 25:9).
21 In the evil only, not in the good, was Egypt to be parallel to Israel. The very downfall of Egypt will be the signal for the rise of Israel, because of God's covenant with the latter.
I cause the horn of . . . Israel to bud-- (
Ps 132:17). I will cause its ancient glory to revive: an earnest of Israel's full glory under Messiah, the son of David (
Luke 1:69). Even in Babylon an earnest was given of this in Daniel (
Dan 6:2) and Jeconiah (
Jer 52:31).
I will give thee . . . opening of . . . mouth--When thy predictions shall have come to pass, thy words henceforth shall be more heeded (compare
Ezek 24:27).
Two distinct messages: (1) At
Ezek 30:1-
Ezek 30:9, a repetition of Eze. 29:1-16, with fuller details of lifelike distinctness. The date is probably not long after that mentioned in
Ezek 29:17, on the eve of Nebuchadnezzar's march against Egypt after subjugating Tyre. (2) A vision relating directly to Pharaoh and the overthrow of his kingdom; communicated at an earlier date, the seventh of the first month of the eleventh year. Not a year after the date in
Ezek 29:1, and three months before the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.