Ezekiel 32:1

CHAPTER XXXII

The prophet goes on to predict the fall of the king of Egypt,

under the figure of an animal of prey, such as a lion or

crocodile, caught, slain, and his carcass left a prey to the

fowls and wild beasts, 1-6.

The figure is then changed; and the greatness of his fall

(described by the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars)

strikes terror into all the surrounding nations, 7-10.

The prophet adds, that the overthrow of the then reigning

Egyptian dynasty was to be effected by the instrumentality of

the king of Babylon, who should leave Egypt so desolate, that

its waters, (alluding to the metaphor used in the second

verse,) should run as pure and smooth as oil, without the foot

of man or the hoof of a beast to disturb them, 11-16.

A beautiful, nervous, and concise description of a land ruined

and left utterly desolate. In the remaining part of the chapter

the same event is pourtrayed by one of the boldest figures ever

attempted in any composition, and which at the same time is

executed with astonishing perspicuity and force. God is

introduced ordering a place in the lower regions for the king

of Egypt and his host, 17, 18.

The prophet delivers his messsage, pronounces their fate, and

commands those who buried the slain to drag him and his

multitudes to the subterraneous mansions, 19, 20.

At the tumult and commotion which this mighty work occasions,

the infernal shades are represented as roused from their

couches to learn the cause. They see and congratulate the king

of Egypt, on his arrival among them, 21.

Pharaoh being now introduced into this immense subterraneous

cavern, (see the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah, where a similar

imagery is employed,) the prophet leads him all around the

sides of the pit; shows him the gloomy mansions of former

tyrants, tells their names as he goes along; beautifully

contrasts their former pomp and destructive ambition, when they

were a terror to the surrounding states, with their present

most abject and helpless condition; declares that all these

oppressors of mankind have not only been cut off out of the

land of the living, but have gone down into the grave

uncircumcised, that is, they have died in their sins, and

therefore shall have no resurrection to eternal life; and

concludes with showing Pharaoh the place destined for him in

the midst of the uncircumcised, and of them that have been

slain by the sword, 22-32.

This prophetic ode may be considered as a finished model in

that species of writing which is appropriated to the exciting

of terror. The imagery throughout is sublime and terrible; and

no reader of sensibility and taste can accompany the prophet in

this funeral procession, and visit the mansions of Hades,

without being impressed with a degree of awe nearly approaching

to horror.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXII

Verse Ezekiel 32:1. 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.