Proclamation Against Egypt
September 12, 2022
Commentary
This prophecy includes three sections, each of which closes with the words seen so often in Ezekiel, “then they will know that I am the Lord” (vv. 6a, 9, 16). This first of seven prophecies against Egypt was given almost a year after the siege of Jerusalem began (24:1-2).The Pharaoh in Egypt at that time was Hophra who reigned from 589 to 570 b.c. His promises of assistance prompted Judah to break with Babylon (vv. 1-6a). Pharaoh was considered a god; therefore he thought of himself as having created the Nile (v. 9). Pharaoh, however, would soon learn he was no match for the true Creator-God. God would defeat Egypt despite her great strength.
The second section of this prophecy deals with Egypt’s basic sin: she had been a staff of reeds for the house of Israel (vv. 6b-9). Israel leaned on Egypt for support in her revolt against Babylon, but Egypt’s support was as fragile as the reeds which grew abundantly on the Nile River’s shores. Egypt let her down (like a reed, she splintered and broke). This portion of Ezekiel’s prophecy discusses the extent of God’s judgment on Egypt (vv. 10-16). The desolation would extend from Migdol to Aswan. The Egyptians returned to their land, but they never achieved the power they once held.
The next verses indicate who would bring the judgment (vv. 17-21). Nebuchadnezzar himself would attack Egypt. This prophecy would take place after Israel was restored from captivity. Ezekiel would have been 83 when Cyrus’ edict to let Israel return to her land was issued. None of the post-exiled records refer to Ezekiel returning to Israel. The best explanation is that Ezekiel’s spoken prophecies which had perplexed the people would become clear when they were fulfilled.
Application
When truly wise people get closer to God, they recognize the need to depend on Him for guidance. It is my desire to know Him better every day through His word, meditation and fellowship.
Ezekiel 29:1– 21 (NET)
1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn toward Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3 Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Look, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster lying in the midst of its waterways, who has said, “My Nile is my own, I made it for myself.”
4 I will put hooks in your jaws and stick the fish of your waterways to your scales. I will haul you up from the midst of your waterways, and all the fish of your waterways will stick to your scales.
5 I will leave you in the wilderness, you and all the fish of your waterways; you will fall in the open field and will not be gathered up or collected. I have given you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the skies.
6 Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the Lord because they were a reed staff for the house of Israel;
7 when they grasped you with their hand, you broke and tore their shoulders, and when they leaned on you, you splintered and caused their legs to be unsteady.
8 “‘Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will kill every person and every animal. 9 The land of Egypt will become a desolate ruin. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
10 I am against you and your waterways. I will turn the land of Egypt into an utter desolate ruin from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border with Ethiopia. 11 No human foot will pass through it, and no animal’s foot will pass through it; it will be uninhabited for forty years. 12 I will turn the land of Egypt into a desolation in the midst of desolate lands; for forty years her cities will lie desolate in the midst of ruined cities. I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them among foreign countries.
13 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt from the peoples where they were scattered. 14 I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and will bring them back to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin; there they will be an insignificant kingdom. 15 It will be the most insignificant of the kingdoms; it will never again exalt itself over the nations. I will make them so small that they will not rule over the nations. 16 It will never again be Israel’s source of confidence, but a reminder of how they sinned by turning to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’”
17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the Lord’s message came to me: 18 “Son of man, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was rubbed bald and every shoulder rubbed bare; yet he and his army received no wages from Tyre for the work he carried out against it. 19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to give the land of Egypt to King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon. He will carry off her wealth, capture her loot, and seize her plunder; it will be his army’s wages. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt as his compensation for attacking Tyre, because they did it for me, declares the Sovereign Lord. 21 On that day I will make Israel powerful, and I will give you the right to be heard among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Illustration: My Friend Why Are You Not Here
Hitler imprisoned a German pastor, Martin Niemoeller, for eight years. He spent some time in prisons and concentration camps, including Dachau. Hitler realized that if Niemoeller, a First World War hero, could be persuaded to join his cause then much opposition would collapse, so he sent a former friend of Niemoeller to visit him, a friend who now supported the Nazis. Seeing Niemoeller in his cell, the one time friend is reported as saying, “Martin, Martin! Why are you here?” To which he received from Niemoeller the response, “My friend! Why are you not here?” (Source Unknown).