Ezekiel 32:21

The Pharaoh and his multitude are supposed here to have descended into Sheòl, and the "mighty ones" already there address them (Isaiah 14:8; Isaiah 14:10) or speak of them.

The strong among the mighty lit. the strong of the mighty, where "strong" is not a class among the mighty, but identical with them the strong mighty ones (gen. of appos.). In LXX. "strong" is wanting as in Ezekiel 32:27. The word "strong" is that rendered mighty oneof the nations, Ezekiel 31:11. It is probably entirely different (though the same in spelling) from the word God, Ezekiel 28:2, and from the phrase "mighty God," Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 10:21.

speak to him Or, ofhim. The words that follow seem spoken in regard to Pharaoh though such a meaning is rather flat.

that help him his helpers, auxiliary nations. The meaning must be that the mighty speak to (of) Pharaoh and his helpers, hardly that Pharaoh's helpers already gone down join the mighty in mocking Pharaoh.

In LXX. these three verses stand in a different order, viz. Ezekiel 32:20 a, Ezekiel 32:20 b(read differently), 21 a, 19, and the first three words of Ezekiel 32:20 again, "They shall fall with him in the midst of them that are slain with the sword, and all his multitude (strength) shall lie down. And the mighty (lit. giants, Ezekiel 32:27) shall say unto thee: Be thou in the depth of the pit; to whom art thou superior? go down, and lie with the uncircumcised, in the midst of them that are slain with the sword." Probably neither text presents the original, though the general meaning of both is the same. It is in favour of Heb. that it begins with the interrogation, and rather against the LXX. that it makes the address rather prolix. The "mighty" who speak are in any case those already in Sheòl, and not persons upon the earth such as the Babylonians (Hitz.).