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EZEKIEL 30

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph, etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 30:1-5
 ¹The word of the Lord came again to me saying, ²"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord God,
 "Wail, 'Alas for the day!'
 ³For the day is near,
 Even the day of the Lord is near;
 It will be a day of clouds,
 A time of doom for the nations.
 ⁴A sword will come upon Egypt,
 And anguish will be in Ethiopia;
 When the slain fall in Egypt,
 They take away her wealth,
 And her foundations are torn down.
 ⁵Ethiopia, Put, Lud all Arabia, Libya and the people of the land that is in league will fall with them by the sword."

30:1 See note at Ezek. 29:1.

30:2 "prophesy" This VERB (BDB 612, KB 659) is a Niphal IMPERATIVE. It is used thirty-seven times in Ezekiel. The book is a series of messages from YHWH to Judah through Ezekiel.

▣ "Thus says the Lord God" YHWH is the source of the message, not Ezekiel (cf. Ezek. 25:3; Amos 1:3; 2:1).

▣ "Wail" This VERB (BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) is common in

1. Isaiah, 13:6; 14:31; 15:2,3; 16:7 (twice); 23:1,6,14; 52:5; 65:14
2. Jeremiah, 4:8; 25:34; 47:2; 48:20,31,39; 49:3; 51:8
3. Ezekiel (only twice), 21:12; 30:2
4. Joel, 1:5,11,13

It denotes those who cry out like wounded animals at the judgment of God which has come upon them (i.e., "Wail, also for the day!" Ezek. 30:2-3).

30:3 "the day of the Lord" See note at Ezek. 7:19. This reference is to the immediate invasion of Babylon, not an eschatological one.

Special Topic: The Day of the Lord

▣ "It will be a day of clouds" The phrase is an idiom of gloom (i.e., sirocco east winds from the desert, cf. Ezek. 30:18; 32:7; 34:12), but it denotes more. The clouds are often the transportation of deity (e.g., Jer. 4:13; Dan. 7:13; Nah. 1:3).

30:4 "anguish" This term (BDB 298) comes from "birth pains" (BDB 296). It describes the terrible pain, emotionally and physically, of God's judgment

1. against Philistia, Exod. 15:14
2. against unspecified foreign kings, Ps. 48:6
3. against Babylon, Isa. 13:8; 21:3; Jer. 50:43
4. against Israel, Jer. 6:24; 22:23
5. against Lebanon, Jer. 22:23
6. against Moab, Jer. 48:41
7. against Edom, Jer. 49:22
8. against Egypt, Ezek. 30:4,9
9. against Assyria, Nahum 2:10

▣ "Ethiopia" This is literally "Cush" (BDB 468). Cush controlled Egypt during the twenty-fifth dynasty (716-663 B.C.), but had since been overthrown. However, in Ezek. 30:4 and 9 "Cush" seems to be a designation for Egypt (cf. Isa. 20:4).

▣ "They take away her wealth" The term translated "wealth" (BDB 242) has several meanings.

1. sound, murmur, roar of a crowd, Isa. 13:4; 17:12
2. tumult, confusion, Isa. 33:3
3. crowd, multitude, Ezek. 7:12,13; 23:42; 30:4; 39:11
4. abundance, Isa. 60:5

Context must determine which fits best. Because of Ezek. 29:19 some choose #4, but 30:4 itself supports #3. Notice the same ambiguity in Ezek. 30:10.

30:5 This verse refers to (1) mercenary soldiers (cf. Ezek. 30:8; 27:10) or (2) allies (i.e., "in league," Ezek. 30:5; and Ezek. 30:6,8).

1. Ethiopia/Cush (BDB 468), cf. Ezek. 27:10; 38:5; Gen. 10:13
2. Put/Libia (BDB 806), cf. Gen. 10:6; Jer. 46:9
3. Lud/Lydia (BDB 530 [1] it is possible to link them with the northern Mediterranean, cf. Isa. 66:19 or [2] it is grammatically possible that all three denote Egypt)
4. Arabia (Peshitta, BDB 787) or "mixed people" (LXX. NKJV, BDB 786), both have the same consonants
5. Libya/Kub (see note below; BDB 464, cf. Gen. 10:13, another descendant of Ham living in northeast Africa)
6. "the people of the land," this phrase refers to another people group, but which one is uncertain. Some commentators speculate that because the term "covenant"/berith is used it refers to Jews living in north Africa.

This verse is describing the people groups connected to Egypt that will experience the judgment of YHWH. The Hebrew words

1. mixed company ‒ ערב, BDB 786, cf. Jer. 25:20
2. Arabian ‒ ערבי, BB 787

are very similar. The UBS Text Project, p. 97, suggests option #1 with a "B" rating (some doubt).

The MT has כיב (BDB 464) but many translations emend it to לוב (BDB 530). The UBS Text Project, p. 98, gives the MT a "B" rating.

In the list of people groups allied with Egypt, Lud and Lydia are spelled similarly.

1. Lud ‒ לוד (BDB 530)
2. Lydia ‒ לוב (BDB 530)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 30:6-9a
 ⁶'Thus says the Lord,
 "Indeed, those who support Egypt will fall
 And the pride of her power will come down;
 From Migdol to Syene
 They will fall within her by the sword,"
 Declares the Lord God.
 ⁷" They will be desolate
 In the midst of the desolated lands;
 And her cities will be
 In the midst of the devastated cities.
 ⁸And they will know that I am the Lord,
 When I set a fire in Egypt
 And all her helpers are broken.
 ⁹On that day messengers will go forth from Me in ships to frighten secure Ethiopia; and anguish will be on them as on the day of Egypt; for behold, it comes!"

30:6 "the pride of her power will come down" This is the common thread between Tyre and Egypt (cf. Ezek. 28:2; 29:9b).

▣ "From Migdol to Syene" See note at Ezek. 29:10.

▣ "by the sword" YHWH sends the sword (cf. Ezek. 7:15). In this context, the sword is Nebuchadnezzar II's army (cf. Ezek. 30:10-11).

30:8 Fire is often the metaphor used to describe God's judgment (cf. Ezek. 30:14,16; 5:4; 10:2,6-7; 15:4-7; 16:41; 19:12,14; 20:45-49; 21:31-32; 23:25,47; 24:10,12; 39:6).

Special Topic: FIRE.

The MT has "in ship" (BDB 850). The UBS Text Project, p. 98, suggests this reading over the LXX with a "B" rating (some doubt).

1. in ship ‒ בצים
2. hurrying ‒ אצים

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 30:10-12
 ¹⁰'Thus says the Lord God,
 "I will also make the hordes of Egypt cease
 By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
 ¹¹He and his people with him,
 The most ruthless of the nations,
 Will be brought in to destroy the land;
 And they will draw their swords against Egypt
 And fill the land with the slain.
 ¹²Moreover, I will make the Nile canals dry
 And sell the land into the hands of evil men.
 And I will make the land desolate
 And all that is in it,
 By the hand of strangers; I the Lord have spoken."

30:10 "hand" See Special Topic: Anthropomorphic Language to Describe Deity

30:11 "The most ruthless of the nations" This phrase describes the mercenary army of Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon (cf. Ezek. 28:7; 31:12; 32:12; Hab. 1:6-8).

30:12 Notice the number of FIRST PERSON SINGULAR VERBS referring to YHWH's sovereignty.

1. I will make, BDB 678, KB 733,Qal PERFECT with waw
2. I will sell, BDB 569, KB 581, Qal PERFECT with waw
3. I will make (lit. "I will bring desolation"), BDB 1030, KB 1563, Hiphil PERFECT with waw
4. I, the Lord, have spoken, BDB 180, KB 210, Piel PERFECT

Number 2 is especially interesting because it uses a term normally reserved for YHWH's actions toward unfaithful Israel (cf. Deut. 32:30; Jdg. 2:14; 3:8; 4:2,9; 10:7; 1 Sam. 12:9). The usage here implies YHWH's ownership of all lands and all peoples (cf. Deut. 32:8).

"Sell" is a metaphor for giving a people group into the hand of another group. A nation loses its autonomy.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 30:13-19
 ¹³"'Thus says the Lord God,
 "I will also destroy the idols
 And make the images cease from Memphis.
 And there will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt;
 And I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
 ¹⁴I will make Pathros desolate,
 Set a fire in Zoan
 And execute judgments on Thebes.
 ¹⁵I will pour out My wrath on Sin,
 The stronghold of Egypt;
 I will also cut off the hordes of Thebes.
 ¹⁶I will set a fire in Egypt;
 Sin will writhe in anguish,
 Thebes will be breached
 And Memphis will have distresses daily.
 ¹⁷The young men of On and of Pi-beseth
 Will fall by the sword,  
 And the women will go into captivity.
 ¹⁸In Tehaphnehes the day will be dark
 When I break there the yoke bars of Egypt.
 Then the pride of her power will cease in her;
 A cloud will cover her,
 And her daughters will go into captivity.
 ¹⁹Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt,
 And they will know that I am the Lord."'"

30:13-19 Notice the list of Egyptian allies.

1. Memphis, Ezek. 30:13,16, first known capital of Egypt named Menes after the first powerful king. Its chief deity was Ptah, the creator-god. The later name, Memphis, came from its association with the pyramid of Pepi I.
2. Pathros, Ezek. 30:14, see note at Ezek. 29:14
3. Zoan, Ezek. 30:14, also called Tanis and probably the Hyksos Avaris, later called Ramesses, the delta capital of Egypt in 21^st and 22^nd dynasties
4. Thebes, Ezek. 30:14,16, is the location of the valleys of the kings and temples of Amun. Today it is called Luxor, about 400 miles south of Cairo.
5. Sin (LXX, Syene), Ezek. 30:15,16, a city is located in the delta. In Greek it is called Pelusium (i.e., city of mud). It guarded the highway to the north.
6. On (LXX, Heliopolis), Ezek. 30:17, this city is close to Cairo in the delta region. In Greek it is called Heliopolis (i.e., city of the sun). It was one of the cities built by Hebrew slaves (cf. Exod. 1:11).
7. Pi-beseth, Ezek. 30:17, later the capital of Egypt (22^nd dynasty). It was named after the goddess Bastet (woman with cat head). It was made famous by Pharaoh Shishak.
8. Tehaphnehes, Ezek. 30:18, in Jer. 43:7 it is spelled Tahpanhes. It is located on the highway going to Arabia in the eastern delta region.

30:13 "the idols" There were several categories of idols (BDB 156) in Egypt.

1. royal rulers (Pharaohs)
2. animals
3. half human, half animals
4. fertility gods

Each city had their own chief god and/or goddess.

▣ "images" This (BDB 47) is parallel to "idols." Its basic meaning is uncertain, but the same root in Syriac means "weak," "feeble," "poor." It has the connotation of that which is insufficient or worthless. It is translated "idols" in Leviticus 19:4; 26:1; Psalm 96:5; 97:7; Isa. 2:8,18,20(twice); 10:10; 19:1,3; 31:7(twice); Hab. 2:18.

▣ "there will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt" Apparently Babylon's conquest and exile completely removed all the royal family to Babylon. Pharoah Hophra was assassinated and a new dynasty started.

30:14 "Zoan" This is a Hebrew form of the name of a famous ancient city (cf. Num. 13:22) in the eastern delta region that is known by several names.

1. Avaris (Hyksos name)
2. Pi-Ramesse (moved to a new location to the north which became Zoan, ABD, vol. 6, p. 1106)
3. Tanis (later Greek name)

It was the northern capital of several Egyptian dynasties (i.e., Hyksos and Ramses II). It became the site of a revival temple to Amon (original temple was at Thebes).

It is mentioned in the OT in Num. 13:22; Isa. 19:11,13; 30:4; Ezek. 30:14, as well as Ps. 78:12,43.

The MT has "No" (נא, BDB 609), which was later called Thebes. The NEB, REB have "Noph" (נף, BDB 592), which was also called "Memphis" (LXX).

The UBS Text Project, p. 98, gives "No" a "B" rating (some doubt). Both "No" and "Memphis" are mentioned in v. 16.

30:16 "writhe in anguish" This VERB (BDB 296, KB 297) is repeated to denote intensity (i.e., INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT and IMPERFECT VERB).

▣ "will be breached" This is a Niphal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 131, KB 149). The TEV and NJB follow the Septuagint, which sees the breach as referring to the city's (i.e., Thebes) walls breaking and letting the Nile flood the city. The Septuagint (LXX) does not mention Memphis in the closing line of Ezek. 30:16.

30:17-18 The NASB translates "they" (a FEMININE PLURAL ) of Ezek. 30:17b as "the women," while NKJV translates "they" as "these cities" (also FEMININE in Hebrew), as do NRSV and NJB. The TEV identified "they" as other people.

The NASB probably bases its understanding on the parallelism of Ezek. 30:18e.

30:18 "the day will be dark" Most English translations change the MT's "shall be withheld" (BDB 362, חשׂך) to "will be darkened" (BDB 364, חשׁך).

▣ "the pride of her power will cease" Pride is a major spiritual problem for humans, angels, and nations. It is the essence of the self-centeredness of Genesis 3. It is always followed by divine judgment (e.g., Ezek. 28:2; 29:3; 32:12; 33:28; Isa. 14:13-14; 16:6; 25:11).

Special Topic: Lifted Up

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 30:20-26
 ²⁰In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying, ²¹"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, behold, it has not been bound up for healing or wrapped with a bandage, that it may be strong to hold the sword. ²²Therefore thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong and the broken; and I will make the sword fall from his hand. ²³I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands. ²⁴For I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; and I will break the arms of Pharaoh, so that he will groan before him with the groanings of a wounded man. ²⁵Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. ²⁶When I scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands, then they will know that I am the Lord.'"

30:20-26 This is a new revelation about YHWH's judgment on Egypt, which uses the idiom of "arm" in several ways. Arm is a metaphor for ability.

1. I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, Ezek. 30:21,22. Pharaoh Hophra gave himself the title of "The Strong-Armed One." This is, therefore, powerful irony.
2. It has not been bound up for healing, Ezek. 30:21
3. Or wrapped with a bandage that it may be strong to hold the sword, Ezek. 30:21
4. "I will make the sword fall from his hands," Ezek. 30:22
5. I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, Ezek. 30:24,25
6. I will put My sword in his hand, Ezek. 30:24,25
7. I will break the arms of Pharaoh
8. The arms of Pharaoh will fall

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