Ezekiel 32:17-32

The Descent of Egypt to the Lower World. This, the last oracle against Egypt, is unusually fascinating, whether we consider its sombre imagination, its literary power, or its religious importance. It describes the descent of Pharaoh and his multitude to the underworld, and the ironical welcome (cf. Isaiah 14:9 f.) which they there receive from the heroes of the olden time. There appear to be two divisions in Sheol one for those heroes who have been honourably buried, the other for such as the uncircumcised and those who have enjoyed no funeral rites. In that world the national distinctions of this live on. Significantly enough, seven nations are mentioned, four great and three small Assyria, Elam (south of Assyria), Meshech and Tubal (cf. Ezekiel 27:13), Edom, the North (perhaps the Syrians), and Zidon and each is in a place by itself, the graves of the people grouped round the grave of their king. The mighty warriors of old who went down to Sheol with their armour, and are still recognisable by their swords and shields (Ezekiel 32:27), greet the newcomers with the words, Descend ye, lie ye down with the uncircumcised (Ezekiel 32:21: so LXX). But the power of them all is departed: so terrible as they were in this world, they are terrible no more (cf. Isaiah 14:10): and Pharaoh is comforted (cf. Ezekiel 31:16) to find that they too are in the pit. The weird effect of the passage is heightened by the repetitions. (The last half of Ezekiel 32:20 is obscure. In Ezekiel 32:27 for uncircumcised read olden time with LXX; and for iniquities read shields. In Ezekiel 32:32 for I have put read he put.)