The LORD’s Judgment & Restoration Study 2020/2021; Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m. by Zoom

Class #24, March 16, 2021

The Judge of the Nations :1-17; 26:1-21; 27:1-36; 28:20-23; 30:1-19; 32:17-32

Notes, observations, and questions on :1-36

The Lament over the Shipwreck of Tyre

1. We come to Ezekiel’s second oracle against Tyre. Tyre was an island city, renowned for its maritime commercial businesses. Here it is imagined as a magnificent merchant ship loaded with the products of the world, only to be shipwrecked on the high seas. The oracle has many aspects of a lament, as if Ezekiel is saddened by her demise. Overall, this oracle is intended to bolster the exiles’ confidence in Yahweh’s control of history.

2. vv 1-3a, the call for lamentation

(1) Tyre is portrayed as the ruler of the seas; she controls the harbors of the Mediterranean. (2) Her authority is not political but commercial—she is the merchant of the peoples.

3. vv 3b-11, the magnificence of the Tyrian glory

(1) Tyre boasts about her own beauty. (2) All of v 4 could be interpreted as a literal description of the city itself, situated on her island offshore and bordered by the seas all around. (3) The city is portrayed as a glorious ship on the high seas. Three dimensions of her magnificence are highlighted: (a) Her superior construction (vv 4b-6) (b) Her impressive decoration (v 7) (c) Her first-class personnel (vv 8-11)

4. vv 12-25, the source of Tyrian glory

(1) The focus now shifts from the magnificence of the ship to Tyre’s trading links with the whole world. Industry and finance provided the basis for Tyre’s commercial success. Here trading partners provided Trye with the raw materials and the exotic products; Tyre sent them out as manufactured products. The profits flowed into her treasuries, enabling this island city to establish a standard of living that was the envy of all. (2) From Spain () to Arabia to all parts of the Mediterranean world, including “the land of ,” Tyre engages in trade and commerce. She is ready to sail the world. Most of the commodities of her commerce involved luxury wares.

5. vv 26-36, the imminent end of Tyrian glory

(1) This section divides into the announcement of the shipwreck (vv 26-27) and a description of the onlookers’ response (vv 29-36). This is not simply a report of a major maritime disaster but a warning to all nations of the world to avoid the error of her ways. Tyre’s collapse casts a dreadful shadow over the economy of the entire world. (2) The lament over Tyre’s shipwreck begins in earnest in v 32b, “Who is like Tyre?” It’s a rhetorical question: Tyre is without equal. (3) But she who had been number one in the world of international commerce has disappeared from the scene (v 36).

6. Theological implications

(1) Pride carries within itself the seeds of one’s own destruction. The sea, the source of Tyre’s power and protection, turns its back on her and becomes God’s agent of doom. (See Prov 16:18.) Let all the world beware. (2) The fates of all nations are in the hands of the LORD. Tyre represented the glory of human achievement. Because her successes were driven by avarice and pursued in defiance of God, however, she could not stand. The Lord of history always has the last word.

Notes, observations, and questions on :20-23

Yahweh’s agenda for the nations

1. Except for the naming of as the addressee, the oracle could have been pronounced against any of the nations addressed earlier. Yahweh intervenes in the history of nations in order to make them acknowledge him as LORD. Sidon concludes a list of seven nations, all enemies of Israel, against whom God directs his judgment.

2. Sidon, once premier, had lived in Tyre’s shadow. After the Babylonian conquests, however, Sidon was able to recover more quickly than Tyre and regained her superior position among Phoenician cities. Given Ezekiel’s feelings toward any who would stand in the way of the Babylonians, the present oracle may have been provoked by Sidon’s involvement in the revolt against during Zedekiah’s reign in (Jer 27:3).

3. Yahweh is first determined by his actions to manifest his glory in the city. This may have been in response to the city’s derision toward Judah at the time of its fall (see 25:1- 26:6). (a) The reputation of a patron deity was always implicated in the demise of his people in the Ancient Near East. So it’s not surprising that the Lord should be concerned about his glory.

4. Yahweh secondly is determined to manifest his holiness. His sacred name has been desecrated among the nations to which the Israelites has been scattered.

5. God will inflict his punishment on Sidon by dispatching his agents of death: pestilence, bloodshed, and sword. When the destruction has been completed, the Sidonians will acknowledge the LORD as sovereign over their history.

6. The fall of Sidon to the Babylonians is confirmed in Nebuchadnezzar’s Court Register.

7. Theological implications

(1) Studying the history of Yahweh’s involvement in the rise and fall of nations in ancient times must lead us to consider the movement of God among the nations today. In particular, we must ask, “How does God’s word in Ezekiel lead us to pray for, and see his judgment at work, in our nation?” (2) Any reliance on any power other than God himself will always fail us in the end.

Notes, observations, and questions on :1-19

The Day of Yahweh in

1. It’s reasonable to date this oracle to sometime with the three-month period of Jan 7 to Apr 29, 587 BC (the period of time between 29:1 and 30:20). It’s probably in response to the exiles’ hopes in Zedekiah’s flirtations with Egypt.

2. vv 1-5, the announcement of the Day of Yahweh in Egypt

(1) The ominous tone of the Day of Yahweh is heard throughout this oracle against Egypt. (2) Specifically, as with Tyre, it is Egypt’s pride that prompts God’s “Day.” (3) In v 5, we learn of “the sons of the land of the covenant” living in Egypt. These Jewish troops, who had prostituted themselves by serving in Egypt’s armies, would fall to the sword along with the rest of Egypt’s allies.

3. vv 6-9, the effects of the Day of Yahweh on Egypt’s allies

(1) is singled out in particular as falling, with all of Egypt’s allies, on the Day of the Lord.

4. vv 10-12, the agent of the Day of Yahweh in Egypt

(1) Nebuchadnezzar will be Yahweh’s agent of doom in Egypt, as he has been toward other nations. (2) But he will not come alone. He will bring a host of alien forces with his own troops.

5. vv 13-19, the scope of the Judgment of the Day of Yahweh in Egypt

(1) Ezekiel follows up the announcement of the judgment upon Egypt, specifically the drying up of the Nile, with a treatment of the cities affected by the disaster. We see a parallel oracle in Isaiah 19. (2) Yahweh’s judgment in Egypt is examined from two perspectives. First, Yahweh is personally involved in the punishment of the land. Second, the experience of God’s judgment is also given from the perspective of the victims. (3) Eight places are named in these verses in Ezekiel’s “geography of destruction.” (a) Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt (the English name Egypt derives from the sacred name of Memphis, Mizraim) (b) Memphis, the capital and residence of the Pharaohs during much of Egypt’s history; it was an important cult (worship) center, too (c) , this is the regional name of (d) Zoan, an important city of Upper Egypt along the Nile (e) Thebes, next to Memphis, this was the most important and populous city in Egypt; it was very wealthy and filled with temples of the cult of Ammon (f) , an important military city and post (g) On, known in Greek circles as, Heliopolis—“Sun City;” center of the worship of Egypt’s sun deities (h) Pi-beseth, women played important roles here in the worship of Bastet, “the cat/lioness goddess” (i) Tehaphnehes, another military city protecting Egypt from attack from Asia

6. While the Day of the Lord holds out nothing but doom and gloom for Egypt, for Yahweh it offers a ray of light, for on the day even the Egyptians will acknowledge him as the divine Sovereign of history.

7. Theological implications

(1) This section paints a powerful picture of God’s absolute sovereignty. All nations and lands are subject to him. (2) This oracle warns all who are guilty of pride and who worship idols. (3) At the same time, it would offer hope to the exiles: the God who is able to dispose of Egypt in a Day can surely eliminate all other obstacles to their restoration as his people.

Notes, observations, and questions on :17-32

Egypt’s descent into

1. Neither the nor the LORD seems to be saddened by the descent of Egypt to the netherworld. For those Judeans looking to Egypt for a last-minute rescue, its demise would have been a tragedy. Though Egypt thought of itself as great and mighty, it has been consigned by God to the farthest recesses of Sheol. We find similar images of death in .

2. vv 17-21, preamble and the lament over Egypt’s descent into Sheol

(1) The date of this prophetic oracle is March 18, 585 BC.—almost 1,436 years ago to the day. (2) God calls on Ezekiel to send Egypt down to the Pit, announcing Egypt’s doom. The “daughters of the nations” are also called to join the prophet in lamenting the fall of Egypt. These “daughters” could be a reference both to professional mourners and to the nations around Egypt. (3) Egypt is sent to make its bed in Sheol with the uncircumcised, that is, to the most undesirable and unclean compartment of the netherworld. (a) This would have shocked the cultured and rich Egyptians! In fact, they practiced circumcision (as did the Edomites and Sidonians). To be placed therefore among the uncircumcised would be the most awful fate of all. (4) They will consigned with those who have died not only in battle but also with murderers and evildoers who have been executed, and who, instead of being given an honorable burial, are tossed in a heap in a separate disposal place (v 20). (5) In v 21 we learn of a new group of inhabitants in Sheol: “the mightiest of heroes.” These mighty men seem to those who have been buried honorably.

3. vv 22-32, Egypt’s company in Sheol

(1) Egypt will not be alone in the dishonorable part of Sheol. A roll call of nations have preceded her. While we are not told a full explanation why these nations have been consigned to this part of Sheol, a clue may be found in the word, “terror.” Only escapes this charge. (a) , first place in the dishonor role of nations. From earliest times, they were known as being ruthless. The Babylonians put the Assyrians to an end in 605 BC. (b) , not much is known about it, though Darius made Susa one of his principal capitals (c) -, fearful foes to the north (d) Edom, we’ve seen Edom earlier; though circumcised, Edom will be with the uncircumcised in Sheol (e) The northern princes and Sidonians

4. vv 31-32, the final word concerning Egypt

(1) The focus returns to Egypt. The fate of the king of Egypt is humiliating, but he is not alone. Other nations will commiserate with him. (2) Verse 31 is like the last nail in Pharaoh’s coffin by summarizing the primary issue in this oracle: The treatment that awaits Pharaoh in Sheol will be as degrading as that offered any other victims of the sword who have died dishonorable deaths and been refused an honorable burial. Yahweh will have the last word.

5. Theological implications

(1) Ezekiel has as much, if not more, to say about death and the afterlife as any other biblical author. He must not be ignored on these matters. (2) First, Sheol represents the lowest level in Ezekiel’s three-tiered universe. Chapter 31 perhaps best illustrates this view of the universe. The “Pit” and “netherworld” are synonyms for Sheol. (3) Second, Sheol is perceived as a massive communal cemetery, in which graves are arranged by nationality, with the principal grave in the center, surrounded by the graves of attendants. It is also subdivided into compartments by class, those being buried with honor separated from those buried dishonorably. (4) Third, Sheol is a place to which the wicked are consigned. Those who practice oppression and demonstrate pride meet their due reward in the hereafter. (5) Fourth, in Sheol the deceased live on as “living corpses.” They are not disembodied spirits but whole persons. They are not asleep but fully conscious. They know each other. (6) Fifth, Yahweh alone holds the key to death and Sheol. He determines everyone’s ultimate fate.