1 2 9/17/06 Ezk. 29-30 the Prophet Ezekiel Gives Four Chapters to the Judgment of Egypt. Ezk. 29-32 1. the Section Contains Seve

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9/17/06 the son of Josiah, king of Judah is recorded more than in one place. 2Chron. 35:20; Is. 10:9; Jer. 46 Ezk. 29-30 7. Babylon had defeat the Assyrian empire who had been aided by Egypt at Haran in 610 B. C., The prophet Ezekiel gives four chapters to the under Psammetichus and pushed the Egyptian judgment of Egypt. Ezk. 29-32 army back. 1. The section contains seven oracles, each 8. The following year Pharaoh Neco II, the beginning with the phrase “The word of the Lord successor to Psmmetichus, went to relieve the came to me, saying”, and all are dated but one hard-pressed Assyrians, at Miggido were he met (Ezk. 30:1). Ezk. 29:1, 17; 30:1, 20; 31:1; 32:1, 17 Josiah, whom he killed, 609 B.C. 2Kings 23:28-30 2. Seven is the number of completeness and final a. Jehoahaz his son was placed on the throne in Scriptures, Egypt was the seventh gentile nation by Neco, three months later he imprisoned being judged. Is. 19-20; Jer. 46 him placing his brother Jehoiakim on the 3.There are 97 versus in these four chapter throne. regarding Egypt, out of a total of 197 for the other b. Pharaoh Neco II did not go back to Egypt six Gentile nations. but instead, he fortified Carchemish on the 4. God places a great emphasis on Egypt, giving to upper Euphrates as a base remaining in her 49% of the material. control of Syria and Palestine. a. She was Israel’s closes neighbor as a great c. This took place in the fourth year of power. Jehoiakim, king of Judah, when he burnt the b. She was very involved in Israel’s politics. word of God in the fire and attempted to c. She posed a danger to Israel. arrest Baruch and Jeremiah because he was d. She had not remembered that Yahweh was looking to Egypt for help, 605 B.C. Jer. God from the days of Moses. 25:1; 36:1-32 5. Egypt played a significant part in the final days d. Carchemish means “the forest of Chemosh”, of the Southern Kingdom, Judah, from 609 B.C to the god of he Moabites, a Hittite capital the final conquest in 586 B.C. with her allegiances. northeast of Israel on the Euphrates river 6. The particular details of the army of Pharaoh captured by Pharaoh Necho and then from Necho II, king of Egypt by the River Euphrates in him by Nebuchadnezzar. 2Kings 23:13 Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of e. The time was prophetically important, for it Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim marked the beginning of the “Times of the 3 4

Gentiles”, which should not be confused 1. The first captivity of Jerusalem was in 606 B.C. with the “Fullness of the Gentiles”. Dan. 2; in which Daniel and his friends were taken, the 7; Lk. 21:24; Rom. 11:25 second in 596 B.C. , in which Ezekiel was taken. 9. The prophet Jeremiah had spoken to the people a. Beginning the second siege of Jerusalem, in Judah and told them that he had been speaking Pharaoh Hophra interrupted the siege of to them for twenty-three years the word, but they Jerusalem and Ezekiel began his judgment had not obeyed. Jer. 25:1, 3 against Egypt on Jan. 12, 587 B.C. Jer. 37:5- a. The same year 605 B.C. , Jeremiah was 11; Ezk. 29:1-16 commanded to declare “the cup of fury from b. Three months later on April 7, 586 B.C. the LORD’S hand”, to cause all the nations, Ezekiel declared God’s defeat of Pharaoh whom He sent, to drink it, including Judah. Hophra’s defeat, baking the arm of Pharaoh. Jer. 25:15-16, 27-28 Ezk. 30:20-26 b. Jeremiah was also a contemporary with five c. Three months later, on June 1, 586 B. C. kings of Judah. Ezekiel announces the ultimate desolation of 1) Josiah. 639-609 B.C. Egypt, liken to Assyria’s. Ezk. 31:1-18; Jer. 2) Jehoahaz. 609 B.C (three months) 32:1-5 3) Jehoiakim. 609-597 B.C. * The siege of Jerusalem was in process and 4) Jehoiachin. 597 B.C. (Three months) one month after this date, Zedekiah’s 5) Zedikiah. 597-586 B.C. reign ends, as the city is penetrated on c. Jeremiah was also a contemporary with four the ninth day of the month, July 9th of kings of Egypt. 586 B.C. 2Kings. 25:7, 8; Jer. 39:1-2 1) Psammetrik I, 664-609 B.C. d. One year and nine months after, on March 1, 2) Pharaoh Neco II, 609-594 B.C. 585 B.C. , Ezekiel took up the lamentation 3) Psammetik II, 594-588 B.C. for Pharaoh. Ezk. 32:1-2 4) Pharaoh Hophra, 588-568 B.C. f. Fourteen days after, on March 15, 585 B.C. 10. The first captivity of Jerusalem was in 606 Ezekiel takes up the funeral dirge. Ezk. B.C. , Daniel and his friends were taken, the 32:17 second in 596 B.C. , in which Ezekiel was taken. g. The last prophecy in chronological dating is * Beginning the second siege of Jerusalem, the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, Pharaoh Hophra interrupted the siege of Jerusalem on the fist day of the month, April 1, 570 and Ezekiel began his judgment against Egypt. B.C. , where God gives to Nebuchadnezzar 5 6

the spoils of Egypt, for his frustrated thirteen I. The indicting judgment against Egypt. vs. 1- years taking of Tyre with no spoil. Ezk. 8 29:17-21 * This was prophesied by Jeremiah b name 29:1-2 The revelation to the prophets. Pharaoh Hophra. Jer. 44:30 1) The date is recorded as usual. vs. 1 2. The siege of Jerusalem is recorded for us. a) On the tenth year, in the tenth month, 1) The rebellion of Zedekiah caused on the twelfth day of the month, this Nebuchadnezzar all of his army and to is January 12, 587 B.C. vs. 1a-c, besiege Jerusalem in the ninth year of his * Jer. 37:5-11 reign, in the tenth month, the tenth day of b) Eleven months after the siege had the month, January 588 B.C. Jer. 52:4-5; began on Jerusalem and seven month 2Kings 25:1-2 before the fall of Jerusalem. Ezk. a) Ezekiel was told by Yahweh to record 24:1-2 the date, confirming the date. Ezk. 2) The revelation is marked by the usual 24:1-2 prophetic formula, coming directly from b) The date was memorialized by the the throne of God, “the word of the Jews and a fast was instituted. Zech. LORD came to me, saying.” vs. 1d-e 7:5; 8:19 3) The prophet is addressed by God by his c) So important a date that it is recorded usual title, “Son of man”, one of the four times. 2Kings 25:1-2; 2Chron. many Israelites, human and frailty. vs. 2a 36:11-21; Jer. 39:1-14; 52:4 4) He is commanded to posture himself for 2) The city was under siege for eighteen judgment against Pharaoh and all of months, on the eleventh year of Egypt. vs. 2 Zedekiah, in the fourth month, July, on * This is the first of seven oracles regarding the ninth day of the month, the city was Egypt. penetrated, July of 586 B. C. Jer. 39:2 29:3-5 The indictment of Pharaoh and the 29:1-16 The judgment on Pharaoh and his people by the prophet. vs. 3-5 people. 1) Ezekiel was to communicate the mind of God to Pharaoh. vs.3 29:1-12 The sin of Egypt. 7 8

a) He was to speak in the authority of extracting him from his position of God and say, “Behold, I am against power. vs. 4a-b you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt.” vs. b) God was going to do the same to all 2a-f the people. vs. 4c-d * God told this also to the king of 3) The judgment would be severe. vs. 5 Tyre. Ezk. 28 a) God was going to remove Pharaoh and b) He was to declare to the Pharaoh that the people from their land. vs. 5a-b God saw him as a beast, “O great b) God was going to not allow them to monster who lies in the midst of his have a proper burial. vs. 5c-e rivers.” vs. 3a-g * This was devastating to Egyptians 1)) The phrase great monster means a for the after life! large dragon or serpent, believed to be a reference to the crocodile 29:6-8 The sin of the nation is revealed by or Liviathan. Job 41:1; Ps. 74:14 the prophet. 2)) Nebuchadnezzar saw the 1) The Egyptians had ignored He was kingdoms of the earth as a great Yahweh but the judgment would change image but God saw those same their minds. vs. 6a kingdoms as beasts. Dan. 2, 7 2) The Egyptians had been a poor c) Pharaoh said he was a god, “Who has dependency of strength for Judah, like a said, ‘My River is my own; I have staff of reed, an obstacle for God in made it for myself.’” vs. 3h-j chastening His people. vs. 6b 1)) Pharaoh believed to be a a) Egypt had been a powerful nation for descendent from the gods. about 2,000 years of history. 2)) This was the sin of the king of b) Egypt’s archeological history speaks Tyre. Ezk. 28:1-10 for itself. 2) The judgment coming to Pharaoh and the c) The reed is symbolic of something people is literal but in figurative week and flimsy, unable to support language. vs. 4-5 much weight. a) God was going to hunt Pharaoh down 3) The Egyptians had added to Judah’s hurt. like a crocodile in the River Nile, vs. 7 9 10

a) Judah had ooked to Egypt to deliver 1)) Egypt remember, had enjoyed them from Nebuchadnazzar but about two millenniums of being caused greater affliction to them in one of the most powerful nations. their inability. vs. 7 2)) Yet Egypt’s pyramids, the Sphinx, * Jer. 34:1; 21:22; 37:5-7, 9 her buried tombs and treasure b) Zedekiah had sent his ambassadors to cities that have been dug up be Egypt, that they might give him archeologist, confirm her power, horses and many people. God knowledge and wealth at one time. declared, “Will he prosper? Will he 3)) We saw King Tut’s treasures in who does such things escape? Can he the mid 1980’s in the Cairo break a covenant and still be museum, it was amazing, yet he delivered?” Ezk. 17:15 was not even a real important 4) The Egyptian had declared their own Pharaoh. judgment. vs. 8 1)) The Nile was considered a god a) The authority for judgment was of the and worshipped as such, therefore highest, from the throne of God, it was judgment on one of their “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD.” gods. vs. 8a 2)) The Pharaoh’s words are again b) The judgment was not able to be quoted for his indictment. averted, “Surely I will bring a sword b) The judgment would affect all of upon you and cut off from you man Egypt. vs. 10 and beast.” vs. 8b 1)) The Judge of all men and nations took full responsibility for 29:9-16 The judgment was be devastating. bringing the judgment. vs. 10a-d 1) The prophecy was ludicrous to Egypt’s * The rising and falling of the Nile long standing history. vs. 9-10 was considered by the Egyptians a a) The prophet declared it would bring gift of the gods one of their gods! them to their knees and acknowledge 2)) The Judge would miss no place in God because Pharaoh thought himself the land, but would touch north to a god. vs. 9 south, “From Migdol to Syene, as 11 12

far as the border of Ethiopia.” vs. b) God would keep Egypt as a base 10e-f nation continually. vs. 14 * The land would be laid waste * The policy of Darius the Persian from north, Nigdol, to south, king to allow Egypt to return Syene, where the Aswan dam has would be parallel to that of Israel been built, in fulfillment of by Cyrus. prophecy. Is. 19:5-10 c) God predicted Egypt to be poor and 3)) It would be like saying, from the powerless as a nation forever. vs. 15 Canadian border o the Mexican d) God would us Egypt as an object border or from Dan to Beer-sheba. lesson for Israel, to not trust anyone but the Lord. vs. 16 29:11-16 The prophecy was both temporal and permanent. 29:17-21 The judgment on Egypt was to 1) The temporal time would consist of forty reward Nebuchadnezzar for having no years. vs. 11-12 spoils in Tyre. a) Man nor beast would dwell in Egypt. * The second oracle. vs. 11 b) Egypt would become like all the 29:17 The date is stipulated once again. vs. surrounding cities insignificant for 40 17 years. vs. 12a-b 1) On the 27th year, the 1st day of the 1st c) God would disperse the Egyptians month. vs. 17a-c throughout the nations. vs. 12c a) This is on April 1, 570 B.C. * The Persian occupation of Egypt b) This is 16 years, 2 months and about took place from 525-487 B.C. 19 days, after the first prophecy 2) The permanence of time consisted in against Egypt. Ezk. 29:1 never being a world power again. vs. 13- 2) On that date the inspired word of God 16 came to Ezekiel, “the word of the LORD a) God would re-gather the Egyptians. came to me, saying.” vs. 17d vs. 13 a) This is the 39th time this phrase has * Is. 11:11; 19:18-22; Jer. 44:1, 15 been used by Ezekiel. 13 14

b) The prophetic formulas are important, a) God was in control of history in the insuring Divine authority directly big picture without violating man’s from heavens throne. will. vs. 20 1)) God places men in authority, “I 29:18 The instrument of judgment against have given him the land of Egypt Egypt was to be Babylon and is described to for his labor.” vs. 20a be with payment. )2) God used even the heather to 1) God through the prophet reveals that the accomplish His will, “Because first part of the fulfillment of the they worked for Me,’ says the prophecy against Tyre was fulfilled with Lord GOD.” vs. 20b-c great difficulty and no reward. vs. 18 b) God was working in history to bring a) Nebuchadnezzar spend 13 years taking about His purposes. vs. 21 the mainland city, 586-573 B.C. 1)) God would teach Israel to trust in b) All the wealth had be transferred to Him, “In that day I will cause the the Island city during the 13 years, horn of the house of Israel to taking no spoil. Ezk. 26:1-14 spring forth.” vs. 21a 2) God through the prophet revealed He a)) God would reveal the futility of would give Egypt over to depending on Egypt and their Nebuchadnezzar as back-wages. future trust in the Lord. a) Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in b)) Some see a reference in the 568-567 B. C. ‘horn” to the coming Messiah but b) Jeremiah warned the people about not the context is strained! going to Egypt, after they rejected the 2)) God would continue to use word of the Lord, as they had asked Ezekiel to speak to His people, Jeremiah to inquire. Jer. 43:10-11; “And I will open your mouth to 46:13 speak in their midst.” vs. 21b 3) God through the prophet revealed 3)) God’s people would at that time Nebuchadnezzar worked for God to know He was Lord, “Then they accomplish His purposes. vs. 20-21 shall know that I am the LORD.” vs. 21c 15 16

* The repeated purpose throughout Tribulation and Great- Tribulation. the book! Dan. 2 4) The Ethiopians would be terrified in 30:1-19 The the day of judgment on Egypt, hearing of the sword judgment on Egypt. vs. 4 30:1-9 The day of the Lord on the nations in a) When the slain fall. alliance with Egypt. b) When the wealth was taken. 1) The prophetic formula once again initial c) When the foundation were broken, it’s the revelation. vs. 1 political and social institutions, its * This is the third and only oracle of the very power. vs. 6, 8, 13, 15, 17 seven to Egypt without a date, some 5) The allies of Egypt would suffer the same have joined it with the previous one, fate. vs. 5 29:17-21 and others with the first a) “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the date, 29:1. mingled people, Chub, and the men of 2) The revelation is one of a lamentation the lands who are allied. due to the nature of the day of judgment. b) Shall fall with them by the sword. vs. 2 a) The Son of man is to declare “Wail” 30:6-9 Those who supported Egypt would “yalal” meaniing to howl. fall. b) The “Woe” indicates judgment at a 1) The authority was God’s. vs. 6 specific day. vs. 6, 10, 13 a) “Thus says the LORD.” vs. 6a 3) The day of the LORD is near; It will be a b) “Those supporting Egypt would fall. day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles. vs. 6b vs. 3 c) Egypt would be humbled and end up a) Often The phrase “The Day of the powerless. vs. 6c Lord” is used for the Tribulation d) Egypt would be affected north to period of the last days. Joel 1:11, 13; south, no one would escape. vs. 6d Zeph. 1:7, 14 e) The authority for the judgment was at b) The time of the Gentiles beginning the words of the Lord GOD. vs. 6e with the head of gold, Babylon and * Gen. 12:1-3; Ezk. 25:32; Jer. 25; 27; will end at the end of the seven year 45-48; 46:9 17 18

2) The Egyptians would be more desolate c) I will make the land waste, and all that that those in desolated countries. vs. 7 is in it. vs. 12c-d 3) The prophetic purpose would be d) By the hand of aliens. I, the LORD, accomplished, “In they will know that I have spoken.” vs. 12e am the LORD, When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are destroyed. 30:13-19 The destruction of the idols of Egypt. vs. 8 1) God would put an end to the gods and 4) The message would go out in ships from rulers. vs. 13 the hand of God to the secure Ethiopians, a) The authority once again is God’s. vs. falling into great fear, knowing the same 13 fate awaited them. vs. 9 b) The word images “gillulim” meams * The terror and new spread. Jer. 44-46 logs, blocks. c) Noph or Memphis was the capital of 30:10-12 The devastation of the land of Lower Egypt, ten miles south of Egypt. Cairo, home of the fire god, Ptah and 1) The instrument of judgment would be the Apis bull. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. vs. 10 d) No human authority would inhabit the 2) The Babylonians were the most terrible, cities. meaning the ruthless and violent of the 2) I will make Pathros desolate, Set fire God nations, filling the land with slain. vs. 11 would set fire to other cities to execute 3) The judgment again is said to touch the His judgments. vs. 14 land and man. vs. 12 1) Pathros was in Southern or Upper a) I will make the rivers dry, vs. 12a Egypt. 1)) Pharaoh boasted of he was god of 2) Zoan or Tanis in the northeast delta the Nile and created it. region, the capital of the Hyskos. 2)) The Nile would not rise high 3) The city of No was another name for enough to go into the canal to Thebes in the Upper Egypt, the irrigate and be the source of her countries most significant capital. Jer. agriculture. 46:5 b) I will sell the land into the hand of the 4) God’s fury would be poured out. vs. wicked. vs. 12b 15-16 19 20

5) The young men would die by the sword hand of Nebuchadnezzae. Jer. and the populus be taken captive. vs. 17 42:7; 44:1; 46:14; 43:8-13 a) Avaen, later Helipolis, a city dedicated 3)) Sir Flinders Petrie excavated Tell to the worship of the sun) Defeneh, and found a large paved b) Pi-beseth, an ancient city on the Nile area which he believed to be the in Upper Egypt, thirty miles one referred to here, situated in southwest of Zoan had afamous front of what he identified as temple dedicated to a cat-goddess. Pharaoh’s house. c) Both cities were located north of 4)) The Ephantine Papyri mention the modern day Cairo. king’s hour” in Tahpanhes”. 6) The city of Tehaphnehes is pointed out 5)) The capital of Egypt was not for particular judgment. vs. 18 Taphanhes. a) The day would be darkened, as God 6)) This was just one of many palaces would break the yokes of Egypt there. Pharaoh would have in border vs. 18a-b cities. b) Her arrogant strength would cease in 7) Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt, her, a cloud would cover her and her Then they would know that Yahweh was daughters would go into captivity. vs. the LORD. vs. 19 18c-e 1)) Tehaphnehes was on the east delta 30:20-26 The specific judgment on Pharaoh region near Migdol, modern day Hophra. Tell-Delfenneh, on the Pelusiac * This is the certainty of Pharaoh’s power bank of the Nile. broken, the fourth oracle. 2)) Jeremiah had sought God for the 1) The date was on the eleventh year, in the people and they said they would first month, on the seventh of the month, obey whatever ht answer but they April, 7, 586 B.C. vs. 20a-c refused to return to Jerusalem in 2) The word of the LORD came to me fear of Nebuchadnezzar, so saying. vs. 20d Jeremiah prophesied that they a) Three months after 29:1, on April 7, would die in Egypt by the very 586 B.C. Ezekiel declared God’s defeat of Pharaoh Hophra’s defeat. 21 22

b) This is four months before he fall of c) The Egyptians would be dispersed Jerusalem. among the nations countries. c) This is the fourth oracle regarding Egypt. 3) God revealed to Ezekiel, the Son of man, He had broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, a crippling blow and would not recover. vs. 21 * Jer. 34:1; 21:22; 37:5-7, 9 * Hophra was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar and returned to Egypt. 587 B.C 4) God was against Pharaoh to brake his power, making him defenseless. vs. 22 5) The people would be scattered among the nations and countries. vs. 23 * This would take place about 568 B.C., according to the prophecy of Ezekiel in 570 B.C. Ezk. 29:17 6) God in contrast would strengthen the arms of the Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to bear God’s sword in his hand; breaking and causing Pharaoh to groan before him, revealing he was a mortal man not a god. vs. 24 7) The summary statement confirms the certain judgment. vs. 25-26 a) Five times the personal pronoun “I” is stated. b) The purpose, they shall know that I am the LORD, stated twice.