Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 31

Verse 1

Year, about a month before the fall of Jerusalem.

Verse 3

Assyrian. The ruin of this great empire (Calmet) might have admonished the king of Egypt of his frail condition. (Haydock) --- About thirty-eight years before (Calmet) Ninive had been taken, and its king (Sarac or Chinaladan) slain by his own general, Nabopolassar, and by Astyages, of Media. They divided the empire between them, and the father of Nabuchodonosor fixed his residence at Babylon. (Usher, the year of the world 3378.) --- Cedar. Septuagint, "cypress." --- Top; the king of Ninive. (Calmet) --- Egypt’s monarch thought himself invincible; yet would fall like the Assyrians. (Worthington)

Verse 4

Roots. Various nations paid tribute to the Assyrians, (St. Jerome; Calmet) while he sent his troops, like rivulets, to keep all in subjection. (Theodoret)

Verse 11

I have delivered. Here the time past is put for the future; i.e., I shall deliver. --- The mighty one, &c., viz., Nabuchodonosor, who conquered both the Assyrians and Egyptians; (Challoner) or rather his father, Nabopolassar, subdued the former, ver. 3. (Haydock)

Verse 12

Strangers; revolted Assyrians. See Psalm xvii. 46.

Verse 13

Branches. The nations continued, but submitted to another master.

Verse 14

Pit. The new king would appoint fresh governors.

Verse 15

Waters, as if they bewailed his fate. (Calmet) --- Those whom the king of Ninive had exalted, and the people, who wished not to submit to a foreigner, would no doubt lament the slaughtered monarch, new silent (Haydock) in the grave. (Theodoret)

Verse 16

Comforted. The ghosts of princes who had been subject to Serac, seeing his fall, bore their own misfortune with greater content. In the grave there is no distinction of master and slave. (Calmet) --- Surviving princes expected some emolument from the change. (Haydock)

Verse 17

Arm; those in power. Septuagint, "his seed." Hebrew Zora, (Haydock) means both.

Verse 18

Famous king of Assyria, or of Egypt. --- Pharao. (Calmet) --- Mutato nomine de te

Fabula narratur. (Horace, 1. Sat. 1.)

--- Though Egypt be like the most potent kingdoms, it shall likewise fall. (Worthington)

Verse 20

CHAPTER XXXI.