Chapter 29

1 The judgment of Pharaoh for his treachery to Israel. 8 The desolation of Egypt. 13 The restoration thereof after forty years. 17 Egypt the reward of Nebuchadrezzar. 21 Israel shall be restored.

1. In the tenth year. Of Jehoiachin’s captivity (see on ch. 1:2). The month date here given is Jan., 587 (see p. 572). The prophecy may have been delivered shortly after the time the Babylonians temporarily lifted the siege of Jerusalem because of the approach of the Egyptians under Hophra (Jer. 37:5, 11). Jeremiah had prophesied the failure of that attempt (ch. 37:6–10). The news of these events may have stimulated the exiles to fresh hope in the deliverance of Jerusalem, and Ezekiel’s prophecy against Egypt may have found its occasion in these circumstances.

3. Pharaoh. On the significance of this title see on Gen. 12:15. The Pharaoh now on the throne was Hophra, the Apries of the Greeks, 589–570 b.c. (Vol. II, p. 91).

The great dragon. Heb. tannim, “jackals.” However, a number of Hebrew manuscripts read tannin, “a dragon.” The latter reading would suggest the crocodile, a characteristic animal of Egypt.

My river. According to Herodotus (ii. 170), Apries boasted that he was so well established that not even a god could dispossess him of his power. The monuments of Egypt bear full testimony of the pompous pride of the Pharaohs.

4. Hooks in thy jaws. Herodotus (ii. 70) describes how the Egyptians caught the Nile crocodiles with baited hooks. God would break the stubborn pride of this boastful monarch.

Fish of thy rivers. Probably representing the Egyptian armies, or Egypt’s allies. Pharaoh was not to perish alone. He would involve others in a common ruin with him.

5. Open fields. Thrown into the open fields, they would be devoured by the birds and beasts of prey. Egypt was to be given over for a spoil.

6. A staff of reed. The figure is local. Reeds grew abundantly on the banks of the Nile (see Ex. 2:3). God had long since warned against placing trust in Egyptian aid (Isa. 30:6, 7; Isa. 31:3; Jer. 2:36; cf. 2 Kings 18:21; cf. Isa. 36:6). Zedekiah’s league with Egypt was doomed to dismal failure (Jer. 37:5–7).

8. Bring a sword. Israel suffered for trusting in Egypt against God’s direct command. Egypt too would suffer for her perfidious mischief.

10. Tower. Heb. Migdol, here a proper name and the phrase should read, “from Migdol to Syene.” Several sites on the eastern Delta seem to have borne this name. If the Migdol here is the one mentioned by Jeremiah it is probably the modern Tell elРHeir south of Pelusium (see Jer. 44:1; 46:14).

Syene. A town on the extreme southern border of Egypt, represented by the modern AswaЖn (sometimes spelled Assuan), which is situated near its ruins. The two towns, Migdol and Syene, represent the northern and southern extremities of the land.

11. Forty years. The state of desolation described in vs. 9–12 must be understood comparatively. The language is that of a poetic prophet who must not be denied the use of the powerful figure of hyperbole. History records no utter depopulation, and no such 40-year period is known.

13. Gather the Egyptians. Unlike Tyre, and other Canaanitish states and later Babylon, Egypt was to have a revival. It is difficult to determine what historical event is here forecast.

14. Pathros. A transliteration of the Hebrew form of the Egyptian PaХРtaХРresЊy and the Akkadian Paturisi, the region of Upper Egypt.

15. The basest. Meaning, “the lowliest.” Historically this has been fulfilled. Egypt came under foreign domination a little over half a century after this time, and though she has survived all her foreign rulers, she has never risen to her former greatness and prestige.

16. The confidence. God’s people had repeatedly transgressed by looking to Egypt for aid (2 Kings 17:4; 23:35; Isa. 30:2, 3; cf. ch. 36:4, 6). This temptation would be entirely removed.

17. The seven and twentieth year. Of Jehoiachin’s captivity (see on ch. 1:2); the month date falls in April, 571 or 570 (see p. 572). This is the latest date appearing in Ezekiel. The message of vs. 17–21 was evidently placed here in order that all the prophecies concerning Egypt might appear together.

18. Yet had he no wages. The 13-year siege of Tyre ended in 573. Nebuchadnezzar failed to conquer the island city (see on ch. 26:7). The siege of Tyre is here represented as a service to God for which Nebuchadnezzar had not been duly rewarded.

19. Unto Nebuchadrezzar. Cuneiform tablets of Nebuchadnezzar tell of a campaign against Egypt in the king’s 37th year (see J. B. Pritchard, editor, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, p. 308). The tablet is broken off, so that the complete account of the campaign is not known. This is believed to be the event here referred to by Ezekiel. For a more complete discussion of the historical aspects of the problem see on Jer. 46:13; see also Vol. III, p. 46. For a discussion of the variant spelling, “Nebuchadrezzar,” see on Dan. 1:1.

21. Horn. A symbol of power (see Deut. 33:17; Ps. 92:10). When Israel would learn to put her trust in God alone, rather than in an earthly power, such as Egypt, that horn that had been cut off would begin to sprout again.

Opening of the mouth. Probably not a reference to the enforced silence of ch. 24:27, but to the prophet’s work as teacher of the people.

Ellen G. White comments

3, 6     PK 454