Teks -- Ezekiel 32:1-32 (NET)

Lamentation over Pharaoh and Egypt

32:1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 32:2 “Son of man, sing a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him: “‘You were like a lion among the nations, but you are a monster in the seas; you thrash about in your streams, stir up the water with your feet, and muddy your streams. 32:3 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘I will throw my net over you in the assembly of many peoples; and they will haul you up in my dragnet. 32:4 I will leave you on the ground, I will fling you on the open field, I will allow all the birds of the sky to settle on you, and I will permit all the wild animals to gorge themselves on you. 32:5 I will put your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your maggot-infested carcass. 32:6 I will drench the land with the flow of your blood up to the mountains, and the ravines will be full of your blood. 32:7 When I extinguish you, I will cover the sky; I will darken its stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not shine. 32:8 I will darken all the lights in the sky over you, and I will darken your land, declares the sovereign Lord. 32:9 I will disturb many peoples, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among countries you do not know. 32:10 I will shock many peoples with you, and their kings will shiver with horror because of you. When I brandish my sword before them, every moment each one will tremble for his life, on the day of your fall. 32:11 “‘For this is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘The sword of the king of Babylon will attack you. 32:12 By the swords of the mighty warriors I will cause your hordes to fall– all of them are the most terrifying among the nations. They will devastate the pride of Egypt, and all its hordes will be destroyed. 32:13 I will destroy all its cattle beside the plentiful waters; and no human foot will disturb the waters again, nor will the hooves of cattle disturb them. 32:14 Then I will make their waters calm, and will make their streams flow like olive oil, declares the sovereign Lord. 32:15 When I turn the land of Egypt into desolation and the land is destitute of everything that fills it, when I strike all those who live in it, then they will know that I am the Lord.’ 32:16 This is a lament; they will chant it. The daughters of the nations will chant it. They will chant it over Egypt and over all her hordes, declares the sovereign Lord.” 32:17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 32:18 “Son of man, wail over the horde of Egypt. Bring it down; bring her and the daughters of powerful nations down to the lower parts of the earth, along with those who descend to the pit. 32:19 Say to them, ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!’ 32:20 They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; they carry her and all her hordes away. 32:21 The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol along with his allies, saying: ‘The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.’ 32:22 “Assyria is there with all her assembly around her grave, all of them struck down by the sword. 32:23 Their graves are located in the remote slopes of the pit. Her assembly is around her grave, all of them struck down by the sword, those who spread terror in the land of the living. 32:24 “Elam is there with all her hordes around her grave; all of them struck down by the sword. They went down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth, those who spread terror in the land of the living. Now they will bear their shame with those who descend to the pit. 32:25 Among the dead they have made a bed for her, along with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword, for their terror had spread in the land of the living. They bear their shame along with those who descend to the pit; they are placed among the dead. 32:26 “Meshech-Tubal is there, along with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword, for they spread their terror in the land of the living. 32:27 They do not lie with the fallen warriors of ancient times, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, having their swords placed under their heads and their shields on their bones, when the terror of these warriors was in the land of the living. 32:28 “But as for you, in the midst of the uncircumcised you will be broken, and you will lie with those killed by the sword. 32:29 “Edom is there with her kings and all her princes. Despite their might they are laid with those killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised and those who descend to the pit. 32:30 “All the leaders of the north are there, along with all the Sidonians; despite their might they have gone down in shameful terror with the dead. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword, and bear their shame with those who descend to the pit. 32:31 “Pharaoh will see them and be consoled over all his hordes who were killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his army, declares the sovereign Lord. 32:32 Indeed, I terrified him in the land of the living, yet he will lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with those killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the sovereign Lord.”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Eze 32:1 - Twelfth year

Of the captivity of Jeconiah.

Wesley: Eze 32:2 - Like a young lion

Spoiling all thou canst.

Wesley: Eze 32:2 - Crocodile

The crocodiles lay in the rivers, though sometimes they went down the river to the sea.

Wesley: Eze 32:2 - With thy rivers

Raisedst mighty armies, and didst lead them out against thy neighbours.

Wesley: Eze 32:2 - The waters

The people, and kings near thee.

Wesley: Eze 32:2 - Thy feet

With thy soldiers.

Wesley: Eze 32:2 - Fouledst

Didst spoil all the conveniences of thy neighbours.

Wesley: Eze 32:3 - With a company

In the countries, where these creatures were hunted, they went in mighty companies.

Wesley: Eze 32:4 - Leave thee

This was literally fulfilled in the deserts of Lybia, where the slain of Hophra's army, were left to be devoured by fowls and beasts.

Wesley: Eze 32:5 - With thy height

With the carcasses of thy princes.

Wesley: Eze 32:6 - Even to the mountains

Blood shall be poured forth, as if it were to rise to the very mountains.

Wesley: Eze 32:6 - Full of thee

O thy blood, and of thy carcasses cast into them.

Wesley: Eze 32:7 - Put thee out

As a torch is extinguished.

Wesley: Eze 32:7 - Cover the sun

Probably some unusual darkness was seen in the heavens, and on the earth, about that time.

Wesley: Eze 32:9 - Thy destruction

The fame of it.

Wesley: Eze 32:9 - Not known

Such as were strangers to Egypt, shall be troubled with apprehension of what mischief may come upon the world from so mighty a conqueror.

Wesley: Eze 32:10 - Shall tremble

Be greatly afraid, lest Nebuchadnezzar, who is God's sword, should smite them.

Wesley: Eze 32:10 - Every man

Every one of the kings, whose kingdoms are near to Egypt.

Wesley: Eze 32:13 - All the beasts

The sheep, and oxen devoured, or driven away: the horses taken up to mount the horsemen, whose own horses were tired, or spoiled.

Wesley: Eze 32:13 - Great waters

The pasture lying along the river side.

Wesley: Eze 32:13 - Trouble them

There shall be so few men left in Egypt, that they shall not as formerly, disturb the waters by digging, swimming, or rowing on them.

Wesley: Eze 32:13 - Nor the hoofs

So few horses or cows, that they shall not at watering - times, or in the heat of the day, foul the waters.

Wesley: Eze 32:14 - Like oil

A figurative expression, signifying, there shall be such an universal sadness and heaviness upon the whole nation, that the very rivers which used to flow briskly, shall grow deep, and slow, and heavy.

Wesley: Eze 32:15 - Of that

Men and women, cattle, wealth, and peace.

Wesley: Eze 32:16 - This is the lamentation

This mournful account, which the prophet has given of Egypt.

Wesley: Eze 32:18 - Wail

Prepare the funeral ceremonies at the burial of Egypt.

Wesley: Eze 32:18 - The daughters

And celebrate the funerals of other cities and kingdoms that lie buried in their own ruins.

Wesley: Eze 32:18 - The nether parts of the earth

A well known description of the state of the dead.

Wesley: Eze 32:18 - The pit

The Egyptians affected to be buried in the Pyramids, and their kings, and great ones, would be laid by themselves; but Ezekiel provides them their grave among common people, being buried just where they fall.

Wesley: Eze 32:19 - Whom

Art thou better than others that thou shouldest not die, and be laid in the dust, as well as they.

Wesley: Eze 32:19 - Go

Go down like others.

Wesley: Eze 32:19 - With the uncircumcised

Among profane and loathed carcasses, such the uncircumcised were in the opinion of the circumcised, as were the Egyptians.

Wesley: Eze 32:20 - They

The Egyptians.

Wesley: Eze 32:20 - She

The whole Egyptian kingdom.

Wesley: Eze 32:20 - Draw

And throw them together into the pit.

Wesley: Eze 32:21 - Him

The king of Egypt.

Wesley: Eze 32:21 - The grave

Where they lie without strength, as dead mortals, tho' while they lived, they bore themselves, as gods.

Wesley: Eze 32:21 - That help

His helpers, dead before him, shall speak to him.

Wesley: Eze 32:21 - Gone down

To the grave.

Wesley: Eze 32:21 - They lie

Neglected, and forgotten.

Wesley: Eze 32:22 - Ashur

The famous, warlike, king of Assyria.

Wesley: Eze 32:22 - Is there

In the state of the dead, in the land of darkness and oblivion.

Wesley: Eze 32:22 - Her company

Princes, soldiers, subjects, and confederates.

Wesley: Eze 32:22 - Are about him

They are about him, who were slain with him.

Wesley: Eze 32:23 - Whose graves

Here is supposed a spacious vault, in the midst whereof the king of Ashur lies, and round the vault, his familiar captains and commanders.

Wesley: Eze 32:23 - Her company

The common subjects of the Assyrian empire, all buried undistinguished about her.

Wesley: Eze 32:23 - Her grave

The ruins of an empire are its grave.

Wesley: Eze 32:23 - In the land

While they were in the land of the living.

Wesley: Eze 32:24 - Elam

The Persians, and their famous kings, who lived in former days.

Wesley: Eze 32:24 - Their shame

God, and man poured contempt upon them, and turned their glory into shame.

Wesley: Eze 32:25 - A bed

The Persians had their coffins, in which with balms and spices, the dead were kept, in the midst of places provided for them; in such is the king of Elam here placed with his slaughtered captains about him. All the honour he can now pretend to, is to be buried in the chief sepulchre.

Wesley: Eze 32:26 - Her multitude

With the Cappadocians and Albanians, the Scythians may be included, many of whom were next neighbors to them.

Wesley: Eze 32:27 - They

The leaders of these Scythians were not buried with a pomp like that of Ashur, or Elan, but surprised by Halyattes and Cyaxares, were cut off with all their multitude, and tumbled into pits with the rabble.

Wesley: Eze 32:27 - With their weapons

A ceremony observed in pompous funerals of great captains, to have their weapons, and their armour carried before the hearse.

Wesley: Eze 32:27 - Laid their swords

In their graves, as if they could sleep the sweeter there, when they laid their heads on such a pillow: These barbarous Scythians were not so buried.

Wesley: Eze 32:27 - Their iniquity

The exemplary punishment of their iniquity shall be seen upon their bones unburied.

Wesley: Eze 32:28 - Thou

Chief of Mesech, and Tubal.

Wesley: Eze 32:28 - Shalt be broken

Shalt be killed with the rest of thy wicked followers.

Wesley: Eze 32:28 - Shalt lie

Without regard, hurled into the pit with common soldiers.

Wesley: Eze 32:29 - With the uncircumcised

The Edomites retained circumcision, being of the seed of Abraham. But that shall stand them in no stead: they shall lie with the uncircumcised.

Wesley: Eze 32:30 - Of the north

Tyrians, Assyrians, and Syrians, who lay northward from Judea, now swallowed up by the Babylonian.

Wesley: Eze 32:30 - Of their might

When it appeared too weak to resist the enemy.

Wesley: Eze 32:30 - Uncircumcised

Scorned, and cast out as profane and loathsome.

Wesley: Eze 32:31 - Comforted

Poor comfort! Yet all that he will find!

Wesley: Eze 32:32 - My terror

These tyrants were a terror to the world by their cruelty; and God hath made them a terror by his just punishments; and so, saith God, will I do with Pharaoh. Come and see the calamitous state of human life! See what a dying world this is! The strong die, the mighty die; Pharaoh and all his multitude! But here is likewise an allusion to the final and everlasting death of impenitent sinners. Those that are uncircumcised in heart, are slain by the sword of Divine Justice. Their iniquity is upon them, and they bear their shame for ever.

JFB: Eze 32:2 - Pharaoh

"Phra" in Burmah, signifies the king, high priest, and idol.

JFB: Eze 32:2 - whale

Rather, any monster of the waters; here, the crocodile of the Nile. Pharaoh is as a lion on dry land, a crocodile in the waters; that is, an object of terror everywhere.

JFB: Eze 32:2 - camest forth with thy rivers

"breakest forth" [FAIRBAIRN]. The antithesis of "seas" and "rivers" favors GROTIUS rendering, "Thou camest forth from the sea into the rivers"; that is, from thy own empire into other states. However, English Version is favored by the "thy": thou camest forth with thy rivers (that is, with thy forces) and with thy feet didst fall irrecoverably; so Israel, once desolate, troubles the waters (that is, neighboring states).

JFB: Eze 32:3 - with a company of many people

Namely, the Chaldeans (Eze 29:3-4; Hos 7:12).

JFB: Eze 32:3 - my net

For they are My instrument.

JFB: Eze 32:4 - leave thee upon the land

As a fish drawn out of the water loses all its strength, so Pharaoh (in Eze 32:3, compared to a water monster) shall be (Eze 29:5).

JFB: Eze 32:5 - thy height

Thy hugeness [FAIRBAIRN]. The great heap of corpses of thy forces, on which thou pridest thyself. "Height" may refer to mental elevation, as well as bodily [VATABLUS].

JFB: Eze 32:6 - land wherein thou swimmest

Egypt: the land watered by the Nile, the the source of its fertility, wherein thou swimmest (carrying on the image of the crocodile, that is, wherein thou dost exercise thy wanton power at will). Irony. The land shall still afford seas to swim in, but they shall be seas of blood. Alluding to the plague (Exo 7:19; Rev 8:8). HAVERNICK translates, "I will water the land with what flows from thee, even thy blood, reaching to the mountains": "with thy blood overflowing even to the mountains." Perhaps this is better.

JFB: Eze 32:7 - put thee out

Extinguish thy light (Job 18:5). Pharaoh is represented as a bright star, at the extinguishing of whose light in the political sky the whole heavenly host is shrouded in sympathetic darkness. Here, too, as in Eze 32:6, there is an allusion to the supernatural darkness sent formerly (Exo 10:21-23). The heavenly bodies are often made images of earthly dynasties (Isa 13:10; Mat 24:29).

JFB: Eze 32:9 - thy destruction

That is tidings of thy destruction (literally, "thy breakage") carried by captive and dispersed Egyptians "among the nations" [GROTIUS]; or, thy broken people, resembling one great fracture, the ruins of what they had been [FAIRBAIRN].

JFB: Eze 32:10 - brandish my sword before them

Literally, "in their faces," or sight.

JFB: Eze 32:13

(See on Eze 29:11). The picture is ideally true, not to be interpreted by the letter. The political ascendency of Egypt was to cease with the Chaldean conquest [FAIRBAIRN]. Henceforth Pharaoh must figuratively no longer trouble the waters by man or beast, that is, no longer was he to flood other peoples with his overwhelming forces.

JFB: Eze 32:14 - make their waters deep

Rather, "make . . . to subside"; literally, "sink" [FAIRBAIRN].

JFB: Eze 32:14 - like oil

Emblem of quietness. No longer shall they descend violently on other countries as the overflowing Nile, but shall be still and sluggish in political action.

JFB: Eze 32:16

As in Eze 19:14. This is a prophetical lamentation; yet so it shall come to pass [GROTIUS].

JFB: Eze 32:17

The second lamentation for Pharaoh. This funeral dirge in imagination accompanies him to the unseen world. Egypt personified in its political head is ideally represented as undergoing the change by death to which man is liable. Expressing that Egypt's supremacy is no more, a thing of the past, never to be again.

JFB: Eze 32:17 - the month

The twelfth month (Eze 32:1); fourteen days after the former vision.

JFB: Eze 32:18 - cast them down

That is predict that they shall be cast down (so Jer 1:10). The prophet's word was God's, and carried with it its own fulfilment.

JFB: Eze 32:18 - daughters of . . . nations

That is the nations with their peoples. Egypt is to share the fate of other ancient nations once famous, now consigned to oblivion: Elam (Eze 32:24), Meshech, &c. (Eze 32:26), Edom (Eze 32:29), Zidon (Eze 32:30).

JFB: Eze 32:19 - Whom dost thou pass in beauty?

Beautiful as thou art, thou art not more so than other nations, which nevertheless have perished.

JFB: Eze 32:19 - go down, &c.

To the nether world, where all "beauty" is speedily marred.

JFB: Eze 32:20 - she is delivered to the sword

Namely, by God.

JFB: Eze 32:20 - draw her

As if addressing her executioners: drag her forth to death.

JFB: Eze 32:21

(Eze 31:16). Ezekiel has before his eyes Isa 14:9, &c.

JFB: Eze 32:21 - shall speak to him

With "him" join "with them that help him"; shall speak to him and his helpers with a taunting welcome, as now one of themselves.

JFB: Eze 32:22 - her . . . his

The abrupt change of gender is, because Ezekiel has in view at one time the kingdom (feminine), at another the monarch. "Asshur," or Assyria, is placed first in punishment, as being first in guilt.

JFB: Eze 32:23 - in the sides of the pit

Sepulchres in the East were caves hollowed out of the rock, and the bodies were laid in niches formed at the sides. MAURER needlessly departs from the ordinary meaning, and translates, "extremities" (compare Isa 14:13, Isa 14:15).

JFB: Eze 32:23 - which caused terror

They, who alive were a terror to others, are now, in the nether world, themselves a terrible object to behold.

JFB: Eze 32:24 - Elam

Placed next, as having been an auxiliary to Assyria. Its territory lay in Persia. In Abraham's time an independent kingdom (Gen 14:1). Famous for its bowmen (Isa 22:6).

JFB: Eze 32:24 - borne their shame

The just retribution of their lawless pride. Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 49:34-38).

JFB: Eze 32:25 - a bed

A sepulchral niche.

JFB: Eze 32:25 - all . . . slain by . . . sword, &c.

(Eze 32:21, Eze 32:23-24). The very monotony of the phraseology gives to the dirge an awe-inspiring effect.

JFB: Eze 32:26 - Meshech, Tubal

Northern nations: the Moschi and Tibareni, between the Black and Caspian Seas. HERODOTUS [3.94], mentions them as a subjugated people, tributaries to Darius Hystaspes (see Eze 27:13).

JFB: Eze 32:27 - they shall not lie with the mighty

That is, they shall not have separate tombs such as mighty conquerors have: but shall all be heaped together in one pit, as is the case with the vanquished [GROTIUS]. HAVERNICK reads it interrogatively, "Shall they not lie with the mighty that are fallen?" But English Version is supported by the parallel (Isa 14:18-19), to which Ezekiel refers, and which represents them as not lying as mighty kings lie in a grave, but cast out of one, as a carcass trodden under foot.

JFB: Eze 32:27 - with . . . weapons of war

Alluding to the custom of burying warriors with their arms (1 Maccabees 13:29). Though honored by the laying of "their swords under their heads," yet the punishment of "their iniquities shall be upon their bones." Their swords shall thus attest their shame, not their glory (Mat 26:52), being the instruments of their violence, the penalty of which they are paying.

JFB: Eze 32:28 - Yea, thou

Thou, too, Egypt, like them, shalt lie as one vanquished.

JFB: Eze 32:29 - princes

Edom was not only governed by kings, but by subordinate "princes" ox "dukes" (Gen 36:40).

JFB: Eze 32:29 - with their might

Notwithstanding their might, they shall be brought down (Isa 34:5, Isa 34:10-17; Jer 49:7, Jer 49:13-18).

JFB: Eze 32:29 - lie with the uncircumcised

Though Edom was circumcised, being descended from Isaac, he shall lie with the uncircumcised; much more shall Egypt, who had no hereditary right to circumcision.

JFB: Eze 32:30 - princes of the north

Syria, which is still called by the Arabs the north; or the Tyrians, north of Palestine, conquered by Nebuchadnezzar (Eze. 26:1-28:26), [GROTIUS].

JFB: Eze 32:30 - Zidonians

Who shared the fate of Tyre (Eze 28:21).

JFB: Eze 32:30 - with their terror they are ashamed of their might

That is, notwithstanding the terror which they inspired in their contemporaries. "Might" is connected by MAURER thus, "Notwithstanding the terror which resulted from their might."

JFB: Eze 32:31 - comforted

With the melancholy satisfaction of not being alone, but of having other kingdoms companions in his downfall. This shall be his only comfort--a very poor one!

JFB: Eze 32:32 - my terror

The Margin or Keri. The Hebrew text or Chetib is "his terror," which gives good sense (Eze 32:25, Eze 32:30). "My terror" implies that God puts His terror on Pharaoh's multitude, as they put "their terror" on others, for example, under Pharaoh-necho on Judea. As "the land of the living" was the scene of "their terror," so it shall be God's; especially in Judea, He will display His glory to the terror of Israel's foes (Eze 26:20). In Israel's case the judgment is temporary, ending in their future restoration under Messiah. In the case of the world kingdoms which flourished for a time, they fall to rise no more.

Heretofore his functions had been chiefly threatening; from this point, after the evil had got to its worst in the overthrow of Jerusalem, the consolatory element preponderates.

Clarke: Eze 32:1 - In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month

In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month - On Wednesday, March 22, the twelfth year of the captivity of Jeconiah, A.M. 3417

Instead of the twelfth year, five of Kennicott’ s MSS., and eight of De Rossi’ s, read בעשתי עשרה in the eleventh year. This reading is supported by the Syriac; and is confirmed by an excellent MS. of my own, about four hundred years old.

Clarke: Eze 32:2 - Thou art like a young lion - and thou art as a whale in the seas

Thou art like a young lion - and thou art as a whale in the seas - Thou mayest be likened to two of the fiercest animals in the creation; to a lion, the fiercest on the land; to a crocodile, תנים tannim , (see Eze 29:3), the fiercest in the waters. It may, however, point out the hippopotamus, as there seems to be a reference to his mode of feeding. He walks deliberately into the water over head, and pursues his way in the same manner; still keeping on his feet, and feeding on the plants, etc., that grow at the bottom. Thus he fouls the water with his feet.

Clarke: Eze 32:5 - And fill the valleys with thy height

And fill the valleys with thy height - Some translate, with the worms, which should proceed from the putrefaction of his flesh.

Clarke: Eze 32:6 - The land wherein thou swimmest

The land wherein thou swimmest - Egypt; so called, because intersected with canals, and overflowed annually by the Nile.

Clarke: Eze 32:7 - I will cover the heaven

I will cover the heaven - Destroy the empire

Clarke: Eze 32:7 - Make the stars thereof dark

Make the stars thereof dark - Overwhelm all the dependent states

Clarke: Eze 32:7 - I will cover the sun

I will cover the sun - The king himself

Clarke: Eze 32:7 - And the moon shall not give her light

And the moon shall not give her light - The queen may be meant, or some state less than the kingdom.

Clarke: Eze 32:8 - And set darkness upon thy land

And set darkness upon thy land - As I did when a former king refused to let my people go to the wilderness to worship me. I will involve thee, and thy house, and thy people, and the whole land, in desolation and wo.

Clarke: Eze 32:9 - I will also vex the hearts

I will also vex the hearts - Even the remote nations, who had no connection with thee, shall be amazed at the judgments which have fallen upon thee.

Clarke: Eze 32:14 - Cause their rivers to run like oil

Cause their rivers to run like oil - Bring the whole state into quietness, there being no longer a political hippopotamus to foul the waters - to disturb the peace of the country.

Clarke: Eze 32:15 - Shall be destitute of that whereof it was full

Shall be destitute of that whereof it was full - Of corn, and all other necessaries of life.

Clarke: Eze 32:17 - In the twelfth year

In the twelfth year - Two of Kennicott’ s MSS., one of De Rossi’ s, and one of my own, (that mentioned Eze 32:1), have, in the Eleventh year; and so has the Syriac, as before. This prophecy concerns the people of Egypt.

Clarke: Eze 32:18 - Cast them down

Cast them down - Show them that they shall be cast down. Proclaim to them a casting down prophecy.

Clarke: Eze 32:19 - Whom dost thou pass in beauty?

Whom dost thou pass in beauty? - How little does it signify, whether a mummy be well embalmed, wrapped round with rich stuff, and beautifully painted on the outside, or not. Go down into the tombs, examine the niches, and see whether one dead carcass be preferable to another.

Clarke: Eze 32:21 - Out of the midst of hell

Out of the midst of hell - שאול sheol , the catacombs, the place of burial. There is something here similar to Isa 14:9, where the descent of the king of Babylon to the state of the dead is described.

Clarke: Eze 32:22 - Asshur is there

Asshur is there - The mightiest conquerors of the earth have gone down to the grave before thee; there they and their soldiers lie together, all slain by the sword.

Clarke: Eze 32:23 - Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit

Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit - Alluding to the niches in the sides of the subterranean caves or burying-places, where the bodies are laid. These are numerous in Egypt.

Clarke: Eze 32:24 - There is Elam

There is Elam - The Elamites, not far from the Assyrians; others think that Persia is meant. It was invaded by the joint forces of Cyaxares and Nebuchadnezzar.

Clarke: Eze 32:26 - There is Meshech, Tubal

There is Meshech, Tubal - See on Eze 27:13 (note).

Clarke: Eze 32:27 - Gone down to hell with their weapons of war

Gone down to hell with their weapons of war - Are buried in their armor and with their weapons lying by their sides. It was a very ancient practice, in different nations, to bury a warrior’ s weapons in the same grave with himself.

Clarke: Eze 32:29 - There is Edom

There is Edom - All the glory and pomp of the Idumean kings, who also helped to oppress the Israelites, are gone down into the grave. Their kings, princes, and all their mighty men lie mingled with the uncircumcised, not distinguished from the common dead

"Where they an equal honor share

Who buried or unburied are

Where Agamemnon knows no mor

Than Irus, he condemned before

Where fair Achilles and Thersites lie

Equally naked, poor, and dry."

Clarke: Eze 32:30 - There be the princes of the north

There be the princes of the north - The kings of Media and Assyria, and all the Zidonians - the kings of Tyre, Sodom, and Damascus. See Calmet.

Clarke: Eze 32:31 - Pharaoh shall see them

Pharaoh shall see them - Pharaoh also, who said he was a god, shall be found among the vulgar dead

Clarke: Eze 32:31 - And shalt be comforted

And shalt be comforted - Shall console himself, on finding that all other proud boasters are in the same circumstances with himself. Here is a reference to a consciousness after death.

Clarke: Eze 32:32 - I have caused my terror in the land of the living

I have caused my terror in the land of the living - I have spread dismay through Judea, the land of the living God, where the living oracles were delivered, and where the upright live by faith. When Pharaoh-necho came against Josiah, defeated, and slew him at Megiddo, fear and terror were spread through all the land of Judea; and the allusion here is probably to that circumstance. But even he is now laid with the uncircumcised, and is no more to be distinguished from the common dead

Much of the phraseology of this chapter may be illustrated by comparing it with Isaiah 14 (note), where see the notes, which the intelligent reader will do well to consult.

Defender: Eze 32:21 - the midst of hell

When he descended into hell, Pharaoh encountered multitudes of lost souls that had preceded him. As examples, this remarkable chapter lists a catalog of some of the "forefathers" - such men as Asshur, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom and Zidon - representatives from all three branches of Noah's descendants - with all their multitudes. All of these, including the Egyptians, had come from a godly ancestor but had long ago become apostate. This passage is important in its confirmation that "broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Mat 7:13). It is a serious and dangerous thing to reject our Creator."

TSK: Eze 32:1 - in the twelfth

am 3417, bc 587

in the twelfth : On Wednesday, March 22, am 3417, the twelfth year of Jeconiah’ s captivity, about a year and half after the destruction of Jerusalem, and at a time when Pharaoh was in power and prosperity. Eze 32:17, Eze 1:2, Eze 29:1, Eze 29:17, Eze 30:20

TSK: Eze 32:2 - take up // Thou art like // and thou art as // whale // and troubledst

take up : Eze 32:16, Eze 32:18, Eze 19:1, Eze 27:2, Eze 27:32, Eze 28:12; Jer 9:18

Thou art like : Eze 19:2-6, Eze 38:13; Gen 49:9; Num 24:9; Pro 28:15; Jer 4:7; Nah 2:11-13

and thou art as : Eze 29:3; Psa 74:13, Psa 74:14; Isa 27:1, Isa 51:9

whale : or, dragon

and troubledst : Eze 34:18

TSK: Eze 32:3

Eze 12:13, Eze 17:20; Ecc 9:12; Jer 16:16; Lam 1:13; Hos 7:12; Hab 1:14-17

TSK: Eze 32:4

Eze 29:5, Eze 31:12, Eze 31:13, Eze 39:4, Eze 39:5, Eze 39:17-20; 1Sa 17:44-46; Psa 63:10, Psa 74:14; Psa 79:2, Psa 79:3, Psa 83:9, Psa 83:10, Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6; Isa 14:19, Isa 18:6, Isa 34:2-7, Isa 66:24; Jer 8:2; Jer 25:33; Joe 3:19; Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18

TSK: Eze 32:5 - And I

And I : To represent the power, rapaciousness, and cruelty of Pharaoh, he had been compared to a fierce young lion, and also to an immense, overgrown sea-monster, or crocodile; and here it is predicted that God would cast a net over him, by which many companies of people should drag him out of his rivers, and cast him into the open field, mountains, valleys, etc., to be devoured by birds and beasts of prey; that is, his ruin would be complete, and attended with terrible miseries to the Egyptians, and afford a large booty to their enemies.

TSK: Eze 32:6 - water // the land // wherein thou swimmest

water : Exo 7:17; Isa 34:3, Isa 34:7; Rev 14:20, Rev 16:6

the land : Egypt, so called because interspersed by numerous canals, and overflowed annually by the Nile.

wherein thou swimmest : or, of thy swimming

TSK: Eze 32:7 - put thee out // I will cover the heaven // make // the sun // the moon

put thee out : or, extinguish thee, Job 18:5, Job 18:6; Pro 13:9

I will cover the heaven : Destroy the empire. Eze 30:3, Eze 30:18; Exo 10:21-23; Isa 13:10, Isa 34:4; Jer 13:16; Joe 2:2, Joe 2:31, Joe 3:15; Amo 8:9; Mat 24:29; Rev 6:12, Rev 6:13

make : Overwhelm the dependent states.

the sun : The king.

the moon : The queen, or some state less than the kingdom.

TSK: Eze 32:8 - bright lights of heaven // dark // set darkness upon

bright lights of heaven : Heb. lights of the light in heaven, Gen 1:14

dark : Heb. them dark, Pro 20:20

set darkness upon : Involve the whole land in desolation and woe.

TSK: Eze 32:9 - vex // when

vex : Heb. provoke to anger, or grief, Rev 11:18, Rev 18:10-15

when : Eze 29:12, Eze 30:23, Eze 30:26; Jer 25:15-25

TSK: Eze 32:10 - amazed // my sword // and they

amazed : Eze 27:35; Deu 29:24; 1Ki 9:8

my sword : Deu 32:41

and they : Eze 26:16, Eze 30:9; Exo 15:14-16; Jer 51:9; Zec 11:2; Rev 18:10

TSK: Eze 32:11 - The sword

The sword : Eze 26:7, Eze 30:4, Eze 30:22-25; Jer 43:10, Jer 46:13, Jer 46:24-26

TSK: Eze 32:12 - the terrible // they shall

the terrible : Eze 28:7, Eze 30:11, Eze 31:11; Deu 28:49, Deu 28:50; Hab 1:6, Hab 1:7

they shall : Eze 29:19; Isa 25:2, Isa 25:3

TSK: Eze 32:13 - destroy // neither

destroy : Eze 29:8, Eze 30:12

neither : Eze 32:2, Eze 29:11, Eze 34:18

TSK: Eze 32:14 - and cause

and cause : The neighbouring countries shall be in a state of quietness, like a river that smoothly glides along, having no longer a political crocodile to foul their waters, or to disturb their peace.

TSK: Eze 32:15 - destitute of that whereof // then

destitute of that whereof : Heb. desolate from the fulness thereof, Eze 29:12, Eze 29:19, Eze 29:20; Psa 24:1, Psa 107:34

then : Eze 6:7, Eze 30:26; Exo 7:5, Exo 14:4, Exo 14:18; Psa 9:16, Psa 83:17, Psa 83:18

TSK: Eze 32:16

Eze 32:2, Eze 26:17; 2Sa 1:17, 2Sa 3:33, 2Sa 3:34; 2Ch 35:25; Jer 9:17

TSK: Eze 32:17 - in the twelfth // the fifteenth

in the twelfth : Eze 32:1, Eze 1:2

the fifteenth : That is, of the twelfth month, just a fortnight after the preceding prophecy.

TSK: Eze 32:18 - wail // cast // the daughters // unto the

wail : Eze 32:2, Eze 32:16, Eze 21:6, Eze 21:7; Isa 16:9; Mic 1:8; Luk 19:41; Rom 12:15

cast : That is, predict that they shall be cast down. Eze 43:3; Jer 1:10; Hos 6:5

the daughters : The cities and colonies of the celebrated nations afterwards enumerated.

unto the : Eze 32:21, Eze 32:24-32, Eze 26:20, Eze 31:14; Psa 30:9, Psa 63:9; Isa 14:15

TSK: Eze 32:19 - dost // go // with

dost : Eze 27:3, Eze 27:4, Eze 28:12-17, Eze 31:2, Eze 31:18

go : Isa 14:9-15

with : Eze 32:21, Eze 32:24, Eze 32:29, Eze 32:30, Eze 28:10; 1Sa 17:26, 1Sa 17:36; Jer 9:25, Jer 9:26

TSK: Eze 32:20 - fall // she is delivered to the sword // draw

fall : Eze 32:23-26, Eze 32:29, Eze 32:30, Eze 29:8-12

she is delivered to the sword : or, the sword is laid

draw : Psa 28:3; Pro 24:11; Jer 22:19

TSK: Eze 32:21 - strong // gone

strong : Pharaoh is here represented as descending into the regions of the dead, whither many mighty warriors and potentates had gone before him, who welcome him to their dreary mansion. Eze 32:27; Isa 1:31, Isa 14:9, Isa 14:10; Luk 16:23, Luk 16:24

gone : Eze 32:19, Eze 32:24, Eze 32:25; Num 16:30-34; Psa 9:17, Psa 55:15; Pro 14:32

TSK: Eze 32:22 - Asshur

Eze 32:24, Eze 32:26, Eze 32:29, Eze 32:30, 31:3-18; Num 24:24; Psa 83:8-10

Asshur : Isa 30:33, Isa 37:36-38; Nah 1:7-12, 3:1-19

TSK: Eze 32:23 - graves // which // terror // the land

graves : The niches in the sides of the subterranean burying places. Eze 26:20; Isa 14:15

which : Eze 32:24-27, Eze 32:32, Eze 26:17, Eze 26:20; Isa 14:16, Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13

terror : or, dismaying

the land : Eze 26:20; Job 28:13; Psa 27:13, Psa 116:9, Psa 142:5; Isa 38:11; Jer 11:19

TSK: Eze 32:24 - Elam // which are // which caused // borne

Elam : Gen 10:22, Gen 14:1; 1Ch 1:17; Jer 25:25, Jer 49:34-39; Dan 8:2

which are : Eze 32:18, Eze 32:21, Eze 26:20

which caused : Eze 32:23

borne : Eze 32:25, Eze 32:30, Eze 16:52, Eze 16:54, Eze 34:29, Eze 36:6, Eze 36:7, Eze 36:15, Eze 39:26, Eze 44:13; Jer 3:24, Jer 3:25; Hab 2:16

TSK: Eze 32:25 - set her // a bed // all of them // though

set her : Psa 139:8; Rev 2:22

a bed : A cell, or bier, in the sepulchral vault, in which the corpse was deposited.

all of them : Eze 32:19, Eze 32:21, Eze 44:7, Eze 44:9; 2Sa 1:20; 1Ch 10:4; Act 7:51

though : Luk 12:4, Luk 12:5

TSK: Eze 32:26 - Meshech // Tubal // all of // caused

Meshech : Supposed to be the Moschi, a people between Iberia and Armenia, from whom, probably the Muscovites are descended. Eze 27:13, Eze 38:2, Eze 38:3, Eze 39:1; Gen 10:2, Gen 10:12; 1Ch 1:5

Tubal : Probably the Tibarenians, a people of Pontus, west of the Moschians.

all of : Eze 32:19, Eze 32:20,Eze 32:24

caused : Eze 32:23, Eze 32:27, Eze 32:32

TSK: Eze 32:27 - shall not // to hell // their weapons of war // but

shall not : Eze 32:21; Job 3:13-15; Isa 14:18, Isa 14:19

to hell : That is, to the grave; and are buried in their armour, with their weapons lying by their sides, as was a very ancient practice in various nations.

their weapons of war : Heb. weapons of their war, Isa 54:17; 2Co 10:4

but : Eze 18:20; Job 20:11; Psa 49:14, Psa 92:7, Psa 92:9, Psa 109:18; Pro 14:32; Joh 8:24

TSK: Eze 32:28

Dan 2:34, Dan 2:35

TSK: Eze 32:29 - Edom // laid

Edom : Ezek. 25:1-17, Eze 35:1-15; Gen 25:30, 36:1-19; Isa. 34:1-17, Isa 63:1-6; Jer. 49:7-22; Amo 1:11, Amo 1:12; Oba 1:1, Oba 1:2-9; Mal 1:3, Mal 1:4

laid : Heb. given, or put

TSK: Eze 32:30 - the princes // and bear

the princes : The kings of Media, Armenia, and other nations north of Chaldea, or of the Syrians and others north of Judah, with ""all the Zidonians,""kings of Zidon, Tyre, and other cities of Phoenicia. Eze 38:6, Eze 38:15, Eze 39:2, Jer 25:22

and bear : Eze 32:24, Eze 32:25

TSK: Eze 32:31 - Pharaoh shall // shall be

Pharaoh shall : Pharaoh, who said he was a god, shall be found among the dead.

shall be : Shall console himself, when he sees all these mighty nations and proud conquerors in the same condition as himself. Eze 14:22, Eze 31:16; Lam 2:13

TSK: Eze 32:32

Eze 32:27; Gen 35:5; Job 31:23; Jer. 25:15-38; Zep 3:6-8; 2Co 5:11; Heb 10:31; Rev 6:15-17

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Eze 32:1 - In the twelfth year // In the twelfth month

In the twelfth year of the captivity of Jeconiah.

In the twelfth month answering to part of our February and part of March, and called Sabat. In the first day ; and was the 15th of February old style, and the 5th new style.

Poole: Eze 32:2 - Take a lamentation // Pharaoh // Like a young lion // Of the nations // A whale // In the seas // Camest forth // The waters // With thy feet // Fouledst their rivers

Take a lamentation: see Eze 19:1 27:2 .

Pharaoh Hophra.

Like a young lion: of this hieroglyphic see Eze 19:3,6 .

Of the nations among, or to, the nations round about thee, spoiling all thou canst, a cruel devourer abroad.

A whale a crocodile, a devouring dragon in thy rivers at home, for there the crocodiles lay and did mischief, though sometimes they went down the river to the sea.

In the seas that comes forth to seek prey and devour, so a lion at land, a whale, or crocodile rather, at sea, ravenous every where.

Camest forth with thy rivers; raisedst mighty armies, and didst lead them out against thy neighbours, as in particular, Eze 29:3,4 .

The waters the people, kingdoms, and kings near thee.

With thy feet with thy soldiers.

Fouledst their rivers disturbed and muddied their pleasant clearness, and made them unfit to drink, i.e. did spoil all the pleasant and useful conveniences of thy neighbours.

Poole: Eze 32:3 - My net // Over thee // With a company of many people // Bring thee up in my net

My net a large, long, and wide net, drawn out to full extent.

Over thee with which both lions and crocodiles might be taken, and in which this lion and crocodile should certainly be taken; for God, whose hand never erreth, will spread the net.

With a company of many people: in the countries where these creatures were hunted, they went in mighty companies to the game, as they accounted it.

Bring thee up in my net drag thee along to destroy thee, pull thee up out of the pit, in which the net was laid to take the lion to kill him, and draw this crocodile up out of the water for the same end; in brief, war by land and sea by a confederacy of many people against Hophra shall be God’ s net, wherein he shall be taken, kept a prisoner, as he was, and at last strangled: see Eze 29:4 .

Poole: Eze 32:4 - Leave thee upon the land // To remain upon thee // The beasts of the whole earth

Leave thee upon the land thy beaten army shall be slain: see Eze 29:5 : it was literally fulfilled in the deserts of Libya, where the slain of Hophra’ s army were left to be devoured by fowls and beasts. Metaphorically it is gathering a mixture of people, soldiers, like ravenous birds and beasts. from all parts to spoil Egypt.

To remain upon thee they should not be removed till filled with the spoils of Egypt.

The beasts of the whole earth the foreign and mercenary soldiers shall be enriched by the slaughter and plunder of the Egyptians.

Poole: Eze 32:5 - Will lay // Thy flesh // Upon the mountains // With thy height

Will lay throw or cast.

Thy flesh the carcasses of thy slain men and soldiers.

Upon the mountains whither they retired for safety. Fill the valleys ; not so fill them as to equal them in height with hills, but we say a man fills a place who scatters much or many things though but on the surface; so here valleys filled.

With thy height with the carcasses of thy princes, as the Chaldee paraphrast I think hits right; and so the French, et remplirai les vallies de tee glorieux qu’ on aura abbatus .

Poole: Eze 32:6 - Water with thy blood // Wherein thou swimmest // Full of thee

Water with thy blood most plentifully pour out thy blood, as water is poured out to water land, when men float their grounds.

Wherein thou swimmest either because of the plenty thereof, wherein they swimmed, as we say; or else because this king was a whale or crocodile, his dwelling must be the waters, and in them he swimmeth. To the mountains; an hyperbole; blood shall be poured forth, as if it were to rise to the very mountains and cover them; or thy blood shall be shed through all thy plain country, to the very mountains, which I think are toward the south-west parts toward Ethiopia; so they should be slain from Migdol or Magdalum to Syene, as Eze 29:10 .

Full of thee of thy blood, and of thy carcasses cast into the rivers by thine enemies, or drowned in attempting flight by water from the drawn sword.

Poole: Eze 32:7 - Put thee out // Cover the heaven

Put thee out as a torch is extinguished, Isa 43:17 , so I will put out thy light, and turn thee into darkness.

Cover the heaven either by dark vapours that arise from blood and putrefying carcasses, which darken the heavens; or it is a description of great sorrows, fears, troubles, and perplexities; or else it may intimate particularly the total ruin of the whole kingdom, in which the best, greatest, and noblest parts are; as heaven suppose the government, the sun the king, the moon the queen, the stars the princes and nobles, bright lights the most eminent of the subjects for wisdom and understanding, and then the land the common people: all shall be covered with clouds, and darkness of misery first, and sorrow next. Or it is possible that some unusual darknesses might be seen in the heavens and on the earth about that time.

Poole: Eze 32:8

These two foregoing verses contain the same thing four times with a little variation, repeated to affect the hearers, and to impress it the more deeply on their minds.

Poole: Eze 32:9 - Vex // Many people // Thy destruction

Vex it speaks a passion mixed and made up with grief for what is done, fear of the consequence of it, anger against him that did it, and an astonishment at the report, and it seizeth the heart and spirits of the hearers.

Many people and great nations.

Thy destruction either the fame of it, or the remainders that fled timely from thy destruction, or thy captives who after thou art destroyed are carried away, and the news of thy fall with them, or when the like ruin and destruction shall fall upon them. Which thou hast not known ; such as were strangers to Egypt, and which Egypt had no commerce with, shall be troubled with apprehension what mischief may come upon the world from so mighty a conqueror, and by the accession of so great a kingdom and power as that of Egypt.

Poole: Eze 32:10 - Many people // Amazed // Brandish my sword // Every man // For his own life // In the day of thy fall

Many people and mighty people too.

Amazed astonished and puzzled, not knowing what resolutions to take, what advices to follow, or what to do. Their kings , who usually are, and in reason should be, undaunted, and discover no signs of fear, shall discover mighty disorders of fear and doubt, both for Egypt and themselves. Horribly afraid : see Eze 27:35 .

Brandish my sword or, make my sword pass with such speed, as if it did fly along their borders, or hover near them, and so threaten them. They shall tremble ; be greatly afraid, lest Nebuchadnezzar, who here is God’ s sword, should smite them.

Every man every one of the kings, whose kingdoms are near to Egypt, and by whose borders the Babylonish army must pass in their marches.

For his own life they should be solicitous, not for the outmost parts of their kingdoms, or for their subjects, but for their own life.

In the day of thy fall when they shall hear of Hophra beaten, taken, imprisoned, his kingdom taken from him, and he dead by a shameful death, and all his people slain, captivated, spoiled, or fled.

Poole: Eze 32:11 - Upon thee

See Eze 30:24,25 .

Upon thee both king and kingdom of Egypt.

Poole: Eze 32:12 - By the swords of the mighty // The multitude // The terrible of the nations // Spoil the pomp // All the multitude thereof

By the swords of the mighty the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, helped also by Amasis, and the rebellious Egyptians that joined with Amasis and Nebuchadnezzar against their own king.

The multitude the people of the land, which were numerous before they were wasted by these wars.

The terrible of the nations: see Eze 31:12 .

Spoil the pomp break her strength, rob her treasures, sack her cities, captivate her people, and make the kingdom tributary, and so stain all her glory.

All the multitude thereof from high to low, the great and the mean promiscuously, shall perish.

Poole: Eze 32:13 - All the beasts thereof // Beside the great waters // Neither shall the foot of man throttle them // Nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them

All the beasts thereof the sheep and oxen devoured by hungry Chaldean soldiers, or else driven away; the horses taken up to mount the horsemen of the Chaldee army, whose own horses were tired or spoiled.

Beside the great waters the pastures lying along the river’ s side, and along their canals, should be emptied of all cattle, with which once they were full.

Neither shall the foot of man throttle them there should be so few men left in Egypt, that they should not, as formerly, disturb the waters by digging, swimming, or rowing on them; or, no more trouble the waters with the passing of mighty armies over them to invade their neighbours.

Nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them so few horses or cows, that they should not at watering times, or in the heat of the day, foul the waters by running into them, and stamping or trampling in them; but the waters shall continue pure and undisturbed.

Poole: Eze 32:14 - Make their waters deep // To run like oil

Make their waters deep: the sense literally this, the waters undisturbed shall be clear, the mud settled at the bottom, and the waters above it of good depth.

To run like oil smooth and softly, as oil glides along, which will be when neither men nor cattle disturb the rivers: but figuratively, waters and rivers are people and nations, and those near to, and once disturbed, and put into confusion by Egypt, at whose fall all those troubles shall cease, the people shall settle in quiet state, and affairs shall, like a quieted river, run smoothly and in great peace.

Poole: Eze 32:15 - Shall be destitute // That whereof it was full // Then shall they know that I am the Lord

The former verse assures us of what it foretold, and the assurance is the word and truth of God; this verse tells us when this shall be.

Shall be destitute: this phrase is Eze 12:19 .

That whereof it was full men and women, cattle, food, wealth, and peace. When I shall smite by the sword , the destroying sword of the Chaldeans.

Then shall they know that I am the Lord then shall they confess it to the glory of God’ s power and justice.

Poole: Eze 32:16 - This // is the lamentation // They shall lament // The daughters of the nations // Even for Egypt // All her multitude

This heavy, mournful, and sad account, which the prophet hath given of the state of Egypt,

is the lamentation the funeral speech of this kingdom; for this, as a funeral oration, tells us what was their ancient glory, and what is now their miserable reproach and loss.

They shall lament her friends, or the Egyptians themselves rather.

The daughters of the nations: this may be expository of the former, and tell us who they are that shall lament Egypt, the provinces and cities of their neighbouring nations; or literally, the daughters, the tender-hearted virgins and women abroad.

Even for Egypt ruined Egypt.

All her multitude the common people, many of whom suffered for what they could not prevent; a sort of people that were fitter to be pitied and spared, than to be robbed and slain, a sort of people none but unrelenting hearts could be harsh to or hasty with.

Poole: Eze 32:17 - In the twelfth year // The fifteenth day

In the twelfth year: see Eze 32:1 .

The fifteenth day about the 19th of February new style, or the 1st of March old style.

Poole: Eze 32:18 - Cast them down // The daughters of the famous nations // The nether parts of the earth // Go down into the pit

Prepare the funeral ceremonies at the burial of Egypt, compose a suitable song or speech, utter it with a like suitableness to the sad occasion. Jer 9:17-19 , and Amo 5:16 , use the word, and the places read will explain this.

Cast them down either declare that they shall be cast down from their height and glory; or rather, because this was done already, lay them down as dead in the grave, bring him to his grave, as the word is used, with addition of sheol, 1Ki 2:9 , and much like are Eze 26:20 31:16 .

The daughters of the famous nations and celebrate the funerals of other cities and kingdoms, that lie buried in their own ruins and other men’ s oblivion.

The nether parts of the earth a well-known description of the state of the dead and the grave.

Go down into the pit: usually this is no more than a common description of men’ s going to the dust in their burial, but here it includes more. The Egyptians affected to be buried either in the isle Chemnis, or in the pyramids, their kings and great ones thus would be laid by themselves; but Ezekiel provides them their grave among common people, buries them where they fall; for they shall not have what they account so much of in their funeral.

Poole: Eze 32:19 - Whom dost thou pass in beauty? // Go down // Be thou laid // With the uncircumcised

The whole, from this verse, is a most elegant personating of the dead, as if sensible, and acquainted, and discoursing with, and rejoicing at the fall of proud tyrants, who took not warning by their fall. Such a prosopopoeia you have Isa 14 . In this chapter the actors are the prophet, the king of Egypt and his people, and their auxiliaries.

Whom dost thou pass in beauty? the prophet begins with this question dialogue-wise, Art thou better than others, that thou shouldst not die and be laid in dust, as well as all others? speak, Hophra, if thou hast any privilege to plead, what hast thou to say why thou shouldst not go down to the pit as a despised mortal?

Go down: the prophet, hearing no plea of privilege, adjudgeth him to the grave, or lays him own with somewhat a sarcasm, Go down like others.

Be thou laid take up thy lodging, thy long, dark, and dismal recess, where thy dust and bones shall never be known by any royal figure.

With the uncircumcised among profane and loathed carcasses; such the uncircumcised were in the opinion of the circumcised, and Herodotus in Euterpe saith the Egyptians were circumcised. However, in Scripture, a burial with the uncircumcised is a note of dishonour and contempt; thus for the king and princes.

Poole: Eze 32:20 - They // By the sword // She is delivered // To the sword // All her multitudes

Now the prophet determines concerning the people, which die as others, fall undistinguished, and. as undistinguished, must be laid in the pit.

They the Egyptians. In the midst; in battle shall die.

By the sword either of one another in civil war, or of their neighbours they invaded, or of Babylonians that invaded them.

She is delivered the whole Egyptian kingdom is given up of God.

To the sword of wasting enemies, especially of the Chaldean. Draw her; make no ceremony more than usually is made, when common soldiers, slain in the field where the battle is fought, are dragged by scores into mighty pits, and thrown into them promiscuously; or, as the interlude will bear it, suppose any of them unwilling to stoop, draw them to it against their will.

All her multitudes of soldiers and people, subjects, allies, and helpers of Egypt.

Poole: Eze 32:21 - The strong // Among the mighty // Shall speak to him // Hell // Them that help him // Gone down

The prophet seems in this verse to introduce the next speakers in this parley, and bringing them in, gives their character.

The strong the powerful, the valiant, whose natural strength of body was great, and their courage greater, those that were strongest.

Among the mighty for feats they did, by which it appeared they might compared with others, pass for giants, mighty warriors. conquerors, and riders.

Shall speak to him the king of Egypt.

Hell or rather, the grave, where they lie without strength, as dead mortals, though while they lived they bore themselves as if gods and immortal.

Them that help him either these great ones shall speak to Hophra’ s helpers, or else these his friends, slain in his quarrel and dead before him, shall speak to him.

Gone down to the grave: see Eze 32:18 . Uncircumcised; neglected and forgotten, or remembered with contempt: see Eze 32:19 .

Poole: Eze 32:22 - Asshur // and all her company // His graves are about him // All of them slain

Asshur the famous, warlike, victorious kings of Assyria, is there; in the state of the dead, in the land of darkness and oblivion;

and all her company princes, captains, soldiers, subjects, and confederates.

His graves are about him perhaps his the greater, yet a grave, and they about him who were slain with him.

All of them slain some in wars, whilst the kingdom began, grew, and flourished; others, when the kingdom was destroyed; these fell by the sword. Awhile their sword was longest; at last a longer sword, that of Arbaces the Mede, with his accomplices, wounds Asshur to the heart, and he is brought to the grave.

Poole: Eze 32:23 - Her company // Her grave // Caused terror

At least for decorum here is supposed a spacious vault, or pit, in midst whereof the king of Asshur in a stately tomb lies buried, and round about the vault are places to lay others dead with him, and in his cause, some of his more famous captains and commanders.

Her company the common subjects and soldiers of the Assyrian empire, all buried undistinguished about her: see Eze 32:22 .

Her grave: the ruins of an empire are its grave; and so all the subjects of this empire lie buried with it.

Caused terror were a terror to all they would be enemies to, and proudly boasted of and inhumanly used their power, now lie quiet, their dust little regarded, less feared, and least of all pitied. In the land of the living; while they were in the land of the living, a periphrasis of life.

Poole: Eze 32:24 - Elam // All of them slain // Gone down // Uncircumcised // The nether parts of the earth // Their terror // Their shame

Elam the Persians, and their great, famous kings, who lived in former days. All her multitude : see Eze 32:22,23 .

All of them slain: see Eze 32:22 .

Gone down: Eze 32:21 .

Uncircumcised: see Eze 32:21 .

The nether parts of the earth: see Eze 32:18 .

Their terror: see Eze 32:23 .

Their shame God and man poured contempt upon them, and punished them for their pride, and turned their glory into shame, whose vices and miscarriages are more remembered than their noble facts and glorious achievements.

Poole: Eze 32:25

Some conceive the prophet may allude to the manner of burying with the Persians who had their coffins, or sepulchral chests, in which with balms and spices the dead were kept, and these chests placed in midst of places provided for them; in such is the king of Elam here placed with his slaughtered captains about him: see Eze 32:23 .

Poole: Eze 32:26 - Meshech // Tubal

Meshech: see Eze 27:13 .

Tubal: see Eze 27:13 ; to which interpretation I still adhere, adding that in the full extent of these Moschi and Tibareni, these Cappadocians and Albanians, the Scythians may be included, many of which were next neighbours to them. Junius is of opinion that the Scythians are here meant, and so am I. But it will be said they never had such a settled kingdom worth noting. It is true of that barbarous people, there is no account that ever they were lords of the world; yet they caused their terror in the land of the living , and were slain by the sword under the command and in the expeditions of their kings into Asia, who were accompanied with her multitudes. Velleius reports they wasted Asia 350 years before Rome was thought of, and that is about 1082 years before Christ’ s birth. Again, we find them in arms, (no doubt in numbers much like what they appeared in when Tomvris their queen destroyed Cyrus, or when they have moved against their neighbours in later days,) and with those arms wasted the Cimmerii, a people seated near them on the Euxine Sea and the Maeotis Palus; and about that time they did under their chieftains waste Asia, they forced Cyaxares from the siege of Nineveh, such considerable strength they had then; this was 634 before Christ’ s’ birth, were lords of Asia for twenty-eight years, and it seems that their power was such, Cyaxares was glad to decline plain dealing, and to overthrow them by a wile, as Calvisius tells us, ad A.M. 3344, and the help of Halyattes, king of the Lydians. These things were fresh in memory when Ezekiel prophesied thus against Egypt, for they fell out about the eighth or ninth year of Pharaoh-necho, some fourteen years before Pharaoh-hophra came to the crown; now about the sixth year of his reign came this word of the Lord to Ezekiel; so that the prophet might well mention these as instances of God’ s power abating the pride and destroying the kingdoms of the mighty, and these are with reason brought in among the Persians and Assyrians.

Poole: Eze 32:27 - They shall not lie with the mighty // Laid their swords under their heads // Their iniquity // Though they were the terror // The mighty

They shall not lie with the mighty the leaders of these Scythians were not buried with a pomp like that of Asshur or Elam, but, surprised by the fraud of Halyattes and Cyaxares, were cut off with all their multitude, and tumbled into pits with the rabble. With their weapons ; a ceremony observed in pompous funerals of great captains, to have their weapons and their armour carried before the hearse.

Laid their swords under their heads either when carried out to be buried, or laid under their head in their graves; or perhaps under the statues of them placed on the tops of their tombs: these barbarous Scythians were not so buried.

Their iniquity the exemplary punishment of their iniquity,

shall be upon their bones shall be seen upon their bones unburied, and cast out on the earth by the just judgment of God.

Though they were the terror because they were Cruel, bloody, ravenous, and mischievously tyrannical while they lived.

The mighty Cyaxares and the Persians, that durst not again attempt Nineveh, till the Scythians were fallen.

Poole: Eze 32:28 - Thou // Shalt be broken // Shalt lie with them // That are slain // With the sword

Thou chief of Meshech and Tubal, though not named.

Shalt be broken shalt be killed with the rest of wicked followers.

Shalt lie with them without regard hurled into the pit with the common soldiers, as thou fallest with them.

That are slain whose throats were cut after they were taken.

With the sword of Halyattes and his Lydians, in revenge it is like of the spoil done to Sardis; and by Cyaxares, in revenge of the-affront they gave him, forcing him to quit the siege of Nineveh, and by giving him child’ s flesh to eat, pretending it was venison taken by them in hunting.

Poole: Eze 32:29 - Edom // Her kings // Her princes // With their might // Are laid by them // With the uncircumcised

Edom the posterity of Esau, the name of the country too in which they dwelt.

Her kings which had been many, and some great warriors.

Her princes or dukes, as Gen 36:20,21 .

With their might showed in the assistance they gave the Assyrians.

Are laid by them are slain, and laid aside to be buried, as commanders are usually after their death regarded, and their bodies kept for a funeral.

With the uncircumcised yet, as the uncircumcised, so these must to the pit, though no mention is made of their being a terror to the nations.

Poole: Eze 32:30 - Of the north // With their terror // Ashamed of their might // Uncircumcised // By the sword // Bear their shame

Of the north of all those countries, Tyrians, Zidonia Assyrians, and Syrians, &c., which lay northward from Judea, now swallowed up by the Babylonian. With the slain conquered and slain.

With their terror their terror buried with them.

Ashamed of their might when it appeared a vain confidence, and too weak to resist the enemy and save themselves.

Uncircumcised scorned and cast out, as profane and loathsome.

By the sword of their conquering enemy.

Bear their shame they lie under shameful fall, from a seeming glory to a real ignominy.

Poole: Eze 32:31

Hophra shall go to them by a like destruction, and, as he saw them all ruined as he was, should be comforted, rejoice that others before him met with the same fatal end and whatever comfort this might be, it is all he shall ever have, did he know all those things and persons that are here represented and personated to us.

Poole: Eze 32:32 - he shall be laid

It is God that speaketh, who had punished former tyrants and by a retaliation, that the world might see his just judgments. They were a terror to the world by their cruel oppression, and continued violence, by their covetousness ambition, and pride; and God hath made them a terror his just severities in their punishments. And so, saith God will I do with Pharaoh;

he shall be laid that is, Pharaoh-hophra shall suffer as they did; since he sinned as thye, he made himself like them by choice of their vices, I will make him like them by like miseries and just recompences and these shall be to his subjects as well as to himself. Hophra, who was strangled, and likely cast out without burial; to Amasis, who was taken out of his tomb and burnt to ashes: so unlike the condition of the dead, which usually is rest to the body, was their condition after death, who in life made it unlike, and imagined it was above, the condition of mortal men.

Haydock: Eze 32:1 - Down

Down: announce this catastrophe. (Calmet) ---

Apries was slain by order of Amasis. (Diodorus 1.) (Jeremias xliv. 30.)

Haydock: Eze 32:1 - Twelfth

Twelfth. He counts from the captivity of Jechonias, as Sedecias reigned only eleven years. (Worthington)

Haydock: Eze 32:2 - Dragon // With the horn

Dragon, or crocodile; two of the most terrible creatures. ---

With the horn is not expressed in Hebrew and the crocodile has nothing like a horn. It has four feet, with which it makes the water muddy. (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 32:3 - Net

Net. Septuagint, "hook," chap. xxix. 4. (Calmet) ---

Some take the crocodile with a net, ver. 3. (Elian. Hist. x. 21.)

Haydock: Eze 32:5 - Corruption

Corruption. Septuagint, "blood." But romuth (Haydock) means rather "worms." (Syriac) (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 32:7-8 - Out // When

Out, like a candle, by death; extinctus. (Haydock) ---

The glory of Egypt was so great, that at its fall the light of heaven seemed diminished. (Worthington) ---

Great desolation is thus intimated. ---

When, &c., is not is some Latin copies, nor in Hebrew, &c. (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 32:9 - Anger

Anger, as they will not know why I have treated thee so severely: or rather, they shall be afraid for themselves, ver. 10. (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 32:12 - Invincible

Invincible, when they wield God's sword. Cyrus easily conquered them. (Haydock) ---

Hebrew, "strong,." Septuagint, "pestiferous."

Haydock: Eze 32:14 - Oil

Oil. It is very transparent. It seems the Nile was rendered muddy by cattle, &c.

Haydock: Eze 32:15 - Fulness

Fulness, or all of it shall be desolate.

Haydock: Eze 32:17 - Month

Month: probably the twelfth, ver. 1.

Haydock: Eze 32:21 - Most // Helpers

Most. Septuagint, "giants shall say to thee: Remain in the depth of the pit. Whom dost thou excel? descend," &c. (Haydock) ---

They vary much in this chapter from the Hebrew. (St. Jerome) ---

Helpers; Lybians, &c., chap. xxx. 5. These shall come to compliment the king. (Calmet) ---

After a battle, those of the same nation were buried together, ver. 22. (Theodoret) ---

The Egyptians had tombs like houses, in which there were separate holes or apartments (Calmet) as in large vaults. (Haydock)

Haydock: Eze 32:24 - Shame

Shame. They are buried without any distinction.

Haydock: Eze 32:27 - Not

Not. Some copies of Septuagint omit the negation. Others render the Hebrew, "Have they not slept?" &c. These nations were deprived of military honours, dying like cowards; and therefore their swords were not placed with them in the grave. (Calmet) ---

It was customary to inter such things as the deceased had like the most. (Serv. in Virgil's ֶneid x. Arma quibus lזtatus habe tus, &c. Simon (1 Machabees xiii. 29.) placed arms and representations of ships on the pillars at Modin, in honour of his kindred. If Elam, &c., had not received such distinction, why should the Egyptian repine? Were they any better? (Calmet) ---

The country and king of the Elamites, Assyrians, and other infidels, shall be destroyed. (Worthington)

Haydock: Eze 32:28 - Midst

Midst. This threat would make great impression on the Egyptians, who were particularly solicitous to be buried with their fathers.

Haydock: Eze 32:29 - Edom

Edom. Septuagint add, "and all the Assyrian princes." Some copies omit Edom. (Haydock) ---

This nation had laid aside circumcision, which Hircan forced them to resume. They had been present at the siege of Jerusalem, chap. xxxv. (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 32:30 - Hunters

Hunters of men, like Nimrod, the first king of Assyria. (Haydock)

Haydock: Eze 32:32 - My

My. Hebrew, Septuagint, "his," (Calmet) alluding to the ravages of Nechao; (Grotius) though the Hebrew may also signify my, as the Jews read Egypt, and Palestine, the land of the living, were filled with terror. After the latter had been chastised, Pharao might dread (Calmet) a worse fate; (Haydock) and the multitudes slain before him, might afford him some (Calmet) wretched consolation. (Haydock) ---

It is evident that those nations believed the existence of separate spirits, and had not given in to the errors of the Sadducees, or of the Metempsychosis. (Calmet)

Gill: Eze 32:1 - And it came to pass in the twelfth year // in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month // that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying

And it came to pass in the twelfth year,.... Of Jeconiah's captivity, above a year and a half after the taking of Jerusalem; the Syriac version reads in the eleventh year:

in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month; the month Adar, which answers to part of our February, and part of March; the Septuagint version reads it the tenth month: according to Bishop Usher ^t, this was on the twenty second of March, on the fourth day of the week (Wednesday), 3417 A.M.or 587 years before Christ:

that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying; as follows:

Gill: Eze 32:2 - Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt // and say unto him, thou art like a young lion of the nations // and thou art as a whale in the seas // and thou camest forth with thy rivers // and thou troublest the waters with thy feet, and foulest their rivers

Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt,.... Pharaohhophra, or Apries; say a funeral dirge for him; this is ordered, not out of honour and respect to him, or in compassion for his misery and ruin, but to assure him of it:

and say unto him, thou art like a young lion of the nations; for strength and fierceness, for cruelty and tyranny, which he exercised, not in one nation only, but in many; a lively emblem of the beast of Rome, spiritually called Egypt and Sodom, compared to a leopard, bear, and lion, Rev 11:8,

and thou art as a whale in the seas; or rather "like a crocodile" ^u, which was common in the rivers of Egypt, but not the whale; which also has not scales, nor does it go upon land, nor is it taken in a net; all which is said of this creature here, and in Eze 29:3 and to the crocodile there is an allusion in the name of Pharaoh, in the Arabic language, as Noldius from Camius observes ^w; see Eze 29:3,

and thou camest forth with thy rivers; or, "by thy rivers" ^x; as the crocodile in the river Nile, by the arms of it, or canals made out of it, sometimes went out from thence to other parts: or, "out of thy rivers" ^y upon the land, as the crocodile does; so the king of Egypt went forth with his armies out of his own land, into other countries, to disturb them, as follows: or rather, "camest forth in thy rivers" ^z; as the crocodile puts forth its head out of the water for respiration:

and thou troublest the waters with thy feet, and foulest their rivers; just as the feet of men or beasts, in shallow waters, raise up the mud or clay at the bottom, and so foul them; this best agrees with the crocodile, which has feet; Grotius thinks, for this reason, the sea horse is intended; the meaning is, that Pharaoh with his soldiers entered other nations, made war upon them, and disturbed their peace and tranquillity. The Targum is,

"thou hast been strong among the people, as a whale in the seas, thou hast fought with thine army; and thou hast moved the people with thine auxiliaries, and thou hast wasted their provinces.''

Gill: Eze 32:3 - Thus saith the Lord God // I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people // and they shall bring thee up in my net

Thus saith the Lord God,.... The Lord God Almighty, who is able to manage this fierce and turbulent creature, this mighty monarch and disturber of the nations:

I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; meaning the Chaldean army, which the Lord would instigate, and by his providence bring against the king of Egypt, and surround him as fishes in a net, and take him and his people; see Eze 12:13,

and they shall bring thee up in my net; out of his rivers, out of his fortresses, out of his own land, and carry him captive, or destroy him.

Gill: Eze 32:4 - Then will I leave thee upon the land // I will cast thee forth on the open field // and will cause all the fowls of the heavens to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee

Then will I leave thee upon the land,.... Like a fish that is drawn out of the waters with a net or hook, and laid on dry land, and left gasping and expiring, where it cannot long live:

I will cast thee forth on the open field; the same in different words, signifying that his army should fall in battle by the sword of the Cyreneans, or Chaldeans, or both, and be left on the surface of the earth unburied:

and will cause all the fowls of the heavens to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee; which may be understood either literally of the fowls of the air, that should light upon the slain carcasses, and rest on them till they had satisfied themselves with their flesh; and of the beasts of the field that should gather about them from all parts, and fill themselves with them; see Rev 19:17 or figuratively of the soldiers of the enemy's army, that should plunder them, and enrich themselves with the spoil.

Gill: Eze 32:5 - And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains // And fill the valleys with thy height

And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains,.... The remainder of it, left by the birds and beasts of prey, and who might carry it thither; or it intends such of the Egyptians who should flee to the mountains for safety, but should fall by the hands of the enemy there. So the Targum,

"and I will give the flesh of thy slain upon the mountains.''

And fill the valleys with thy height; his huge army, and with which he prided and lifted up himself, and thought himself safe in; which should fall in such great numbers as to cover the plains and valleys where the battle was fought. Jarchi observes, that the word for "height" has with some the signification of "worms"; and so the Syriac version renders it, "and the valleys shall be filled with thy worms"; bred in the carcasses of the slain: and so the Vulgate Latin version, "with corrupt matter"; such as issues out of putrefied wounds. The Targum very rightly paraphrases it,

"the valleys shall be filled with the carcasses of thine army.''

Gill: Eze 32:6 - And I will also water with thy blood the land wherewith thou swimmest // even to the mountains // and the rivers shall be full of them

And I will also water with thy blood the land wherewith thou swimmest,.... Where he resided, over which he ruled; alluding to his being compared to a fish, a whale, or a crocodile; and which land abounded with all good things, and he with them; instead of being watered with the waters of the Nile, by which it became fruitful, it should now be flooded with the blood of his army:

even to the mountains; an hyperbolical expression, signifying the vast quantity of blood that should be shed; see the like in Rev 14:20,

and the rivers shall be full of them; of the carcasses of his army, and of the blood of them; they should lie about everywhere, on mountains and valleys, on the land and in the rivers; and which should now be turned into blood, as the rivers of Egypt of old were; and which figure is used to express the destruction of the antichristian states; see Exo 7:20.

Gill: Eze 32:7 - And when I shall put thee out // I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark // I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light

And when I shall put thee out,.... As a candle is put out, or some great light or blazing torch is extinguished; such was the king of Egypt in his splendour and glory; but now should be like a lamp put out in obscure darkness, and all his brightness and glory removed from him, Job 18:5,

I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; with the smoke that should arise at the extinguishing of this lamp; or they should be covered with mourning, or clad in black, at the destruction of this monarch and his monarchy:

I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light; all which figures are sometimes made use of to denote the dissolution of kingdoms and states: the "heaven" being an emblem of a kingdom itself; the "sun" of an emperor or king, or kingly power; the "moon" of the queen, or of the priesthood; the "stars" of nobles, princes, counsellors, and such like eminent persons, useful in government; who being destroyed or removed, the light and glory, the prosperity and happiness of a kingdom, are gone; see Isa 13:10. The Targum is,

"tribulation shall cover thee when I shall extinguish the splendour of the glory of thy kingdom from heaven; and the people of thine army shall be lessened, who are many as the stars; a king with his army shall cover thee as a cloud that ascends and covers the sun, and as the moon, whose light does not shine in the day.''

Gill: Eze 32:8 - All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee // and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God

All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee,.... Or, "all the lights of the light" ^a; the rest of the luminaries of heaven; the other five planets, as Kimchi, besides the sun and moon:

and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God; as there must needs be, the sun, moon, and stars, and all the lights of heaven, being darkened above: there seems to be an allusion to the thick darkness that was formerly over the land of Egypt; and this is a figure and representation of that darkness that shall be in the kingdom of the beast, or spiritual Egypt, yet to come; see Exo 10:21. The Targum is,

"tribulation as darkness shall cover thy land.''

Gill: Eze 32:9 - I will also vex the hearts of many people // when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations // into countries, which thou hast not known

I will also vex the hearts of many people,.... With anger and grief, with fear and dread, with consternation and amazement:

when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations; or, "thy breach" ^b; the news of it, the tidings of their destruction; which by one means or another should come to their ears, and fill them with concern and great anxiety of mind, so rich and powerful a kingdom being subdued, and the king of Babylon made so great thereby, and fearing they fall a prey unto him also. The Targum renders it,

"when I shall bring the broken of thy war;''

that is, the soldiers that should be wounded in battle, their limbs broke, and they taken captive, and brought among the nations, dismal spectacles to look at; and which should be brought

into countries, which thou hast not known; at a distance from Egypt, and which had no commerce nor communication with them, nor were their friends and allies; yet as their destruction would reach their ears, so it would affect their hearts, and fill them with vexation and grief; not so much on account of Egypt, as the growing power of Nebuchadnezzar, and the danger they were in of falling into his hands.

Gill: Eze 32:10 - Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee // when I shall brandish my sword before them // And they shall tremble at every moment // every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall

Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee,.... That so potent a state, and such a flourishing kingdom, should at once be so easily subdued and conquered: and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee; because of her destruction, lest their turn should be next; so the kings of the earth will be afraid when God's judgments are executed on mystical Egypt; see Rev 18:9,

when I shall brandish my sword before them; the sword of the king of Babylon after mentioned, called the Lord's, because it was by his appointment and permission, and came by the direction of his providence, and was succeeded by his power: this glittering sword being brandished over Egypt, in the sight of the nations round about, was terrible to them; dreading that it would not be put up until it was sheathed in them, or they felt the effects of it:, or, "when I shall cause it to fly before them" ^c; in their sight, and upon the borders of their countries; expressive of the swiftness of its motion, the sudden destruction it brought on Egypt, and its nearness to them. The Targum is,

"when I shall bring upon thee those that kill with the sword.''

And they shall tremble at every moment; from moment to moment, or continually; they shall never be free from fear:

every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall; not kings for their subjects, or subjects for their kings, but every man for himself; expecting every moment that the sword which flew and ravaged through Egypt, and now hovered over them, would be instantly plunged in them.

Gill: Eze 32:11 - For thus saith the Lord God, the sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.

For thus saith the Lord God, the sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. Upon Pharaoh and his kingdom; having a commission and a direction from the Lord, and which would be the instrument of the destruction before threatened. The Targum is,

"those that slay with the sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon or against thee;''

his army, sword in hand.

Gill: Eze 32:12 - By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall // the terrible of the nations all of them // and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt // and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed

By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall,.... Pharaoh's numerous subjects; or his army, as the Targum; the vast number of soldiers in it, whose carcasses should fall in battle by the sword of the Chaldeans, the mighty men of Nebuchadnezzar's army:

the terrible of the nations all of them; which army consisted of men of several nations, and those the most terrible, fierce, and cruel, by whose swords this slaughter should be made:

and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt; cut off the king, the princes of the blood, the nobility and gentry, the prime of the nation; plunder the king's palace of all the wealth and riches in it, the treasury of the kingdom; destroy the metropolis of it; demolish its cities and fortified places, and take away all its strength and glory:

and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed: all the people of the land, high and low, rich and poor; the destruction shall be general, all ranks and degrees of men shall share in it.

Gill: Eze 32:13 - I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters // neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them

I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters,.... Which used to graze beside the river Nile, and the canal, of it, in the plains and meadows, valley, and hills, which these ran by; meaning both horses, which Egypt abounded with, and would be good booty for the Chaldeans, and oxen and sheep, which they would kill for present use, or drive away for future service:

neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them; there should so few remain of men and beasts, that the waters of the rivers would not be disturbed, either by men passing over them, and doing any business upon them, or by beasts drinking at them.

Gill: Eze 32:14 - Then will l make their waters deep // and cause their, rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord God

Then will l make their waters deep,.... Either the water, of Egypt literally, the waters of the Nile: no canals being cut from it, to carry the water to the several parts of the land, the land being depopulated, and no business done: or, figuratively, other nations, compared to waters for their numbers, who before had been disturbed by the Egyptians; but now they being destroyed, these would be at ease, like troubled waters, which subside, and: become deep and clear, when there is none to trouble them:

and cause their, rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord God; very slowly, as if, they were mourning the unhappy condition of the land; or smoothly, clearly, undisturbed, as before. The Targum is,

"there will I cause the people to rest, and I will lead their kings quietly, saith the Lord God.''

Gill: Eze 32:15 - When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate // and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full // when I shall smite all them that dwell therein // then shall they know that I am the Lord

When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate,.... The cities being demolished, the inhabitants destroyed with the sword, or carried captive:

and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full; men and cattle, corn and other fruits of the earth, wealth and riches, pomp and grandeur:

when I shall smite all them that dwell therein; with the sword of the Chaldeans:

then shall they know that I am the Lord for God is known in the perfections of his nature, omnipotence, omniscience, holiness, justice, &c. by the judgments he executes; for this is not to be understood of a spiritual knowledge of him, but of a terrible conviction of the truth of his being and attributes, by the awful dispensations of his providence.

Gill: Eze 32:16 - This is the lamentation with which they shall lament her // the daughters of the nations shall lament for her // they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude // saith the Lord God

This is the lamentation with which they shall lament her,.... The Egyptians themselves, or rather they that are after mentioned. The Targum is,

"the prophet said, a lamentation is this prophecy, and it shall be for a lamentation;''

he was bid at the beginning of it to take up a lamentation, and now at the end of it he pronounces it to be one, and that it should be sung as such:

the daughters of the nations shall lament for her; either literally understood, it being the business and custom of women to say or sing the funeral dirge, or the lamentation at the interment of the deceased; or figuratively, the inhabitants of other nations. So Ben Melech and the Targum,

"the villages of the people shall lament her'';

that is, the inhabitants of them, who were in alliance with Egypt, and under its protection:

they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude; for the desolation of the land, and for the vast numbers of people that should be slain with the sword, or carried captive:

saith the Lord God; which is added for the confirmation of it; for what he has spoken shall be done.

Gill: Eze 32:17 - It came to pass also the twelfth year // in the fifteenth day of the month

It came to pass also the twelfth year,.... Another prophecy of the like kind was delivered out the same year as before:

in the fifteenth day of the month; of the twelfth month, the month Adar, which is not here expressed, because mentioned before, Eze 32:1, it was about a fortnight after the other prophecy. The Septuagint and Arabic versions read it,

"it came to pass in the twelfth year, the first month, the fifteenth day of the month;''

according to which this prophecy was before the other, which is not to be supposed.

Gill: Eze 32:18 - Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt // and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations // unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down to the pit

Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt,.... Sing a funeral song or dirge, or compose one, to be sung by the mourning women, on account of the vast numbers of the inhabitants of Egypt that shall be slain; for the prophet himself would not mourn, but rejoice, on this occasion; but this is said to show the certainty of the destruction, and the lamentation that would be made on that account:

and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations; Egypt, and all those countries, and the inhabitants of them, that were in alliance and friendship with her; that is, declare by prophecy that they shall be cast down and destroyed, or be brought down from the height of grandeur and prosperity in which they now were:

unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down to the pit; not unto stately sepulchres built on high, such as were made for the kings of Egypt; but unto common pits or graves, dug in the lower parts of the earth, where the meaner and common sort of people were buried; there should be no distinction between them and others, they should have one common burial. The Targum is,

"son of man, prophesy concerning the multitude of Egypt, and break her, even her, and the villages of the mighty people; prophesy that they shall be delivered unto the lowest earth, with those that go down to the pit of the house of perdition.''

Gill: Eze 32:19 - Whom dost thou pass in beauty // go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised

Whom dost thou pass in beauty?.... This question the prophet is bid to put to Egypt; what nation is there, or has been, that thou excellest in wisdom, in riches, or in strength, in the multitude of subjects, or extent of dominions, that thou thinkest thyself secure from destruction? look over other kingdoms and states mightier than thou, or at least equal to thee, and see how they are brought to ruin, and expect that this will quickly be thy case:

go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised; go down to the grave, and take thy place, and lie there among the wicked and most profligate of mankind, and such as might be most despised by the Egyptians, since they used circumcision. The Targum is,

"go down and sleep with sinners.''

Gill: Eze 32:20 - They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword // she is delivered to the sword // draw her and all her multitudes

They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword,.... The Egyptians shall fall in battle by the sword of the Chaldeans:

she is delivered to the sword; Egypt is given to the sword, to perish by it, for her sins, according to the just appointment of God:

draw her and all her multitudes; to the place of burial; not in pomp and splendour, as great persons are drawn in hearses; but in great disgrace, as carcasses are dragged unto a common pit or grave, and cast into it: this is said to the Chaldeans, who had a commission from the Lord to slay Egypt, and to bury her, and all her people.

Gill: Eze 32:21 - The strong among the mighty shall speak to him // out of the midst of hell // with them that help him // they are gone down // they lie uncircumcised // slain by the sword

The strong among the mighty shall speak to him,.... The strongest of them, such who have excelled others in strength and courage, famous for military exploits, who have been generals of armies, great warriors, and conquerors; and yet with all their might and strength could not withstand death, but were subdued by it, and brought down to the grave; these are, by a poetical figure, represented as meeting Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he came to his grave, saluting and welcoming him to the state of the dead in which they were; taking a sort of comfort in it, and insulting him as being as weak as they; see Isa 14:9, which they should do

out of the midst of hell, or the grave, "Hades", the state of the dead:

with them that help him; the associates, allies, and friends of Pharaoh, his auxiliaries that fell with him, and were brought to the grave at the same time with him; these should be greeted, saluted, and welcomed in like manner:

they are gone down; to the grave; those mighty ones that are represented as speaking, and the Egyptians and their helpers who are spoken to:

they lie uncircumcised; among them that are so, Eze 32:19,

slain by the sword; of their enemies, who got the victory over them.

Gill: Eze 32:22 - Ashur is there, and all her company // his graves are about him // all of them slain, fallen by the sword

Ashur is there, and all her company,.... In the state of the dead, or in a most desolate and ruinous condition; the great Assyrian monarchy, the kings of it, the princes, nobles, generals, soldiers, and the vast number of subjects in all the dominions of it; all his army, as the Targum; this, with what follows, shows who the mighty are, that should meet and address the king of Egypt at his funeral:

his graves are about him; either the graves of Pharaoh and his multitude are round about the graves of the Assyrian monarch and his subjects, as Kimchi; or rather the graves of his subjects and soldiers are round about him: it seems to represent the king of Assyria as having a more stately monument, and the graves of his people as lesser ones round about him, but all in the same condition:

all of them slain, fallen by the sword of their enemies, the Medes and the Babylonians, by whom the Assyrian monarchy was destroyed.

Gill: Eze 32:23 - Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit // and her company is round about her grave // all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living

Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit,.... Or vault, where lay the king of Assyria, and those who fell by the sword with him, who are represented as lying in graves all around him; the nearest to him those who were in the highest posts, and most valiant and courageous, and next the common soldiers, as follows:

and her company is round about her grave not Pharaoh's company round about the grave of the Assyrian monarch; but the company of the king of Assyria, or his army, as the Targum, round about grave; or lying about in the ruins of his kingdom:

all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living; even they who now are in the state of the dead, and can no more disturb and distress any, while they were alive, or in the world, struck terror in all neighbouring states and kingdoms; threatening destruction to them, and obliging them to submit to their tyranny and exactions. Jarchi interprets this of the land of Israel; and the Jewish writers commonly understand by the land of the living the land of Canaan wherever they meet with it; because here men worshipped the living God, and lived before him; and the inhabitants of this land were often terrified by the king of Assyria. So the Targum,

"because they ruled in the land of Israel.''

Gill: Eze 32:24 - There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave // all of them slain, fallen by the sword // which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth // which caused their terror in the land of the living

There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave,.... The kingdom of the Medes and Persians lying in ruin, and the potent kings thereof in the state of the dead; with their army, as the Arabic version, slain and destroyed, and placed round about the grave of the king of Persia; for of him rather it is to be understood than of the king of Assyria, or of Egypt, as some:

all of them slain, fallen by the sword; either of the Scythians in the reign of Cyaxares; or of Nebuchadnezzar a few years before this, in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah; see Jer 49:34,

which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth; unholy persons, profane sinners, destitute of the grace of God; who were gone down into the grave, and even into hell and everlasting destruction, as their sins deserved:

which caused their terror in the land of the living; made a great noise in the world, and struck a panic in neighbouring nations, invaded and conquered by them; this they did while living, but now, being in the state of the dead, nothing was to be feared from them: yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit; were obliged to submit to death, and a shameful one, by the hands of their conquerors, and to be laid with ignominy in the grave with others, without any mark of distinction; all being upon a level, cast into the same pit of destruction, and into the lower parts of it; though their king might have a magnificent sepulchre erected for him, as follows:

Gill: Eze 32:25 - They have set her bed in the midst of the slain, with all her multitude // her graves are round about him // all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit // he is put in the midst of them that be slain

They have set her bed in the midst of the slain, with all her multitude,.... The grave is called a bed, Isa 57:2, whereon is put the sepulchral chest or coffin, in which the body is laid, and rests as on a bed. It may here design a stately sepulchre or coffin in it, with a magnificent monument over it for the king of Elam, with his army, and the generals of it slain in battle, placed all around him, in less stately beds, coffins, and graves, as explained in the next clause:

her graves are round about him; the king of Persia and his grave, surrounded with the graves of his soldiers and officers:

all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit; which is repeated for the confirmation of it:

he is put in the midst of them that be slain; the king of Elam or Persia; he is laid among the slain, having fallen with them, and his grave is placed in the midst of them.

Gill: Eze 32:26 - There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude // her graves are round about him // all of them slain by the sword // though they caused their terror in the land of the living

There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude,.... The Scythians, a powerful and warlike people; and all their armies, as the Targum; with their leaders, generals, and commanders, as lying in their graves next to the Assyrians and Elamites, or

her graves are round about him; not the king of Egypt, nor the king of Assyria, nor the king of Persia; but the chief commander of the Scythians, called the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, Eze 38:2,

all of them slain by the sword; of Halyattes, king of Lydia, and Cyaxares, king of Media, who was assisted by the former in subduing the Scythians:

though they caused their terror in the land of the living; as they did in Media, and other countries, and especially in some parts of Asia.

Gill: Eze 32:27 - And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised // which are gone down to hell // with their weapons of war // and they have laid their swords under their heads // but their iniquities shall be upon their bones // though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living

And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised,.... That is, shall not lie in such state, or be buried with such pomp and magnificence, and have such sepulchral monuments erected to their memory, as other heroes among the Heathens have had; such as the mighty kings of Assyria and Persia before mentioned:

which are gone down to hell, or "the grave",

with their weapons of war; which were never taken from them, and which they held in their hands to the last, being never conquered, and died at last a natural death, and not by the sword; or which were carried in state before their hearse at the time of interment, as is the custom to this day so to do at the funeral of great warriors, generals, and officers:

and they have laid their swords under their heads; as a sign and token, as Jarchi says, that the sword did not rule over them, that they did not fall by it; either their statues and sepulchral monuments were adorned with these, and other instruments of war, as was the grave of Misenus by Aeneas ^d; and as is still the custom where the heads of such mighty ones are laid, to engrave them on them: or, literally, their swords and other weapons of war were put in their graves under their heads; as it was usual, in former times, in some places to put swords, shields, and other armour, in the graves of military men, as were in the grave of Theseus, on the bier of Alexander the great, and others, as reported by Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, and Sophocles ^e: now the Scythians were not buried: after this grand and pompous manner:

but their iniquities shall be upon their bones; or the punishment of their sin should be, that their bones should lie unburied and scattered about, or be dug up and broke to pieces, and treated with inhumanity and contempt, as a just reward for their savageness, and cruelty:

though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living: not only the terror of the common people, but even of the most powerful kings and mighty warriors.

Gill: Eze 32:28 - Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised // and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword

Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised,.... Kimchi, and so others, think this is said to Pharaoh king of Egypt; but rather it respects the prince of the Scythians, who should fall into the hands of Heathens, and be destroyed by them:

and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword; be buried with them, or in like manner as they are; and not as mighty warriors, who die a natural death in their own country, and are buried in a stately and magnificent manner; but like those that fall by the sword of the enemy, and are thrown into one common pit.

Gill: Eze 32:29 - There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes // which with their might are laid by them that are slain with the sword // they shall lie with the uncircumcised // and with them that go down to the pit

There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes,.... In the next place, near the graves of the above mentioned, and in the same ruinous and desolate condition, lie the famous kingdom of Idumea, and the several kings and dukes of it, from the first setting of it up, to its last destruction prophesied of, Eze 25:12, of many of which mention is made, Gen 36:15,

which with their might are laid by them that are slain with the sword; who, notwithstanding their powerful armies, and prowess and skill in war, yet are conquered, and destroyed, and laid in graves in like manner as all others slain by the, sword of the enemy are:

they shall lie with the uncircumcised; for though they themselves were circumcised, being the descendants of Esau the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, on whose seed circumcision was enjoined; yet this did not secure them from a violent death, and an ignominious burial; they being uncircumcised in heart, wicked and ungodly men, and so should be joined in their death and burial with such:

and with them that go down to the pit; the common receptacle of the slain.

Gill: Eze 32:30 - There be the princes of the north // and all the Zidonians // which are gone down with the slain // with their terror they are ashamed of their might // and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword // and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit

There be the princes of the north,..... The kings of Babylon, according to Kimchi, which lay north of Judea; or the princes of Syria, Damascus, and Tyre, especially the latter, which commonly goes along with Zidon, being near it, as follows:

and all the Zidonians. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "and all the hunters"; but wrongly; as also the Septuagint and Arabic versions, which read the princes or soldiers of Assyria. The Zidonians or inhabitants of Zidon are meant as the Targum; a famous maritime city, as Tyre also was, in Phoenicia:

which are gone down with the slain; into the grave, being conquered and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; see Eze 28:21,

with their terror they are ashamed of their might, the number and strength of their armies, the valour and courage of their soldiers, and the fortifications of their cities, in which they trusted, and of which they boasted; but yet could not preserve them from ruin:

and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword; in common with other profane and wicked persons that have fallen by the sword as they have done:

and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit; See Gill on Eze 32:24.

Gill: Eze 32:31 - Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over his multitude // even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword // saith the Lord God

Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over his multitude,.... That is, when Pharaoh is brought to the grave, and into the state of the dead, he shall look about him, and see who lie by him; and he shall behold the above mentioned kings of Assyria, Persia, Idumea, and the princes of Tyre and Zidon, and all their mighty armies, generals and soldiers, in the same condition with himself; and this shall be some solace to him in his own death, and at the loss of so great a kingdom, such numerous subjects, and a vast army, that others as rich, as powerful as himself, lie in the same low and miserable condition; though such comfort as this must be poor comfort indeed! and yet this is all the comfort wicked men have in hell, that they have company with them there:

even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword. Pharaohhophra and his numerous army slain by the sword of the king of Babylon. This explains who is meant by Pharaoh and his multitude: and that this would certainly be his case it is added,

saith the Lord God; he hath spoken it, and it shall be done; whose words are continued in the next verse.

Gill: Eze 32:32 - For I have caused my terror in the land of the living // and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with those that are slain with the sword // even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God

For I have caused my terror in the land of the living,.... Or, "his terror" ^f; there is a double reading. The Keri or marginal reading, which we follow has it "my terror" ^g; but the Cetib or writing is his terror; and so read the Septuagint. Syriac, and Arabic versions; both may be taken, and the sense be, I have caused or suffered him, Pharaoh king of Egypt, to be a terror to the nations about him, particularly to the land of Israel, which the Targum expressly mentions as the land of the living; and now I will terrify him who has terrified others:

and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with those that are slain with the sword; shall have a common burial with other Heathen nations; even with such, who, in a way of judgment, have perished by the sword of their victorious enemies, as he will:

even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God; the king of Egypt, his subjects, and his soldiers, as numerous as they are; and thus ends this doleful ditty, and funeral dirge or lamentation, composed, taken up, and sung for Pharaoh as ordered, thereby to assure him of his certain destruction.