IN THE TWELFTH MONTH - About one year and seven months after the destruction of Jerusalem. In the meantime had occurred the murder of Gedaliah and the flight into Egypt of the Jews left behind by the Chaldaeans Jer. 41–43. Jeremiah, who had accompanied them, foretold their ruin Jeremiah 44 in a prop... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART LIKE ... - Rather, Thou wouldest be like to (others, “wast likened unto”) a young lion. AND THOU ART - In contrast to what thou wouldest be. A WHALE - Rather, crocodile (marginal reference note). Pharaoh should have been like the king of beasts, but he is a mere sea-monster. There is stro... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet passes from the image of the crocodile to that of dead bodies of the slain heaped up on the land. Some render “height,” “foulness.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I SHALL BRING THY DESTRUCTION - i. e., the news of thy destruction. The phenomena here mentioned are the accompaniments of “the day of the Lord” Joel 2:10; Luke 21:25 or the day of judgment. The fall of Pharaoh represents the fall of the world-power before the sovereignty of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
A promise of a return of God’s favor. This concerns not the restoration of Egypt’s original power, but the establishment of the Divine Ruler in the place of a pagan God-opposing power.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAUGHTERS OF THE NATIONS - Pagan kingdoms.... [ Continue Reading ]
The seventh prophecy against Egypt Ezekiel 32:17. A funeral dirge founded on Ezekiel 31:18. The figure is the same as in Isaiah 14, where see the notes. In this dirge Pharaoh is especially addressed. The other nations are represented by their kings, the nations’ overthrow being depicted by the king’... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM DOST THOU PASS IN BEAUTY? - Thou art not more beautiful than other nations: thou shalt not escape their fate.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE IS DELIVERED TO THE SWORD - Rather, the sword is put forth. Draw her down as one dragged to execution.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UNCIRCUMCISED - throughout this dirge is equivalent to pagan viewed as impure (Ezekiel 31:18 note).... [ Continue Reading ]
In Jeremiah 25 there is an enumeration of nations destined to be subject to the fury of the Chaldaeans. Here we find those of them who had already fallen not named by Jeremiah. Asshur is the king of Assyria, representing as usual the whole nation. The king is surrounded by the graves of his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the marginal referenc. Elam answers to the country known to the Greeks and Romans as Elymais, near Persia and Media. The Elamites were a fierce and warlike people. In the records of Assurbanipal his final triumph over Elam seems to have been one of his proudest boasts. Elam no doubt in the decli... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL NOT LIE - Better, “Shall they not lie?” or, “Are they not laid?” The custom of burying warriors with their swords, shields, or helmets, raider their heads is well known, and common to most warlike nations. BUT THEIR INIQUITIES ... - They, rested in all the glories of a warrior’s sepu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCES OF THE NORTH - i. e., north of Palestine - The Tyrians and the Syrians. WITH THEIR TERROR THEY ARE ASHAMED OF THEIR MIGHT - i. e., “When their might and power were terrible to all, they were shorn of their power and delivered over to shame and confusion.” There are here six nations, Ass... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORTED - By the knowledge that his ruin is no more than that of every world-power.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TERROR - Better “his terror,” the terror caused by him. THE LAND OF THE LIVING - The land of God’s people. It was Yahweh who caused Pharaoh to be terrible to His people, and now, when the time is come, Pharaoh is fallen, and he is laid etc.... [ Continue Reading ]