Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 32

Verse 7

Eze 32:7. The literal things predicted are the overthrow of Pharaoh and the slaying of his people. Put thee out is rendered "extinguish” in the margin of the Bible and tiie lexicon agrees with it. This national blackout Is ex-pressed in the figurative use of terms connected with the natural universe.

Verse 8

Eze 32:8. The figurative description continues to be used with reference to the general defeat of Pharaoh and his country. If the sun and other lights in the heavens above the earth should be put out the earth would be thrown into darkness. Likewise, when Pharaoh and his leading men are put down by the predicted invasion, the country will be thrown into political darkness.

Verse 9

Eze 32:9. The attack that Nebuchadnezzar will make upon Egypt will cause her people to be scattered among the various nations. The original word for vex has a stronger sense than this, and the lexicon says it means “to trouble; by implication to grieve, rage, be indignant." When people are driven from their native homes and virtually “wished” on strange communities, the circumstance will not be taken favorably.

Verse 10

Eze 32:10. Amused is from SHAMEM and the first definition of Strong is, "to stun.” The overthrow of an ancient and powerful kingdom such as Egypt will have this stunning effect on other nations. Tremble , . . every man for his own life will be a natural result, for when so great a. revolution is brought before their eyes the question will arise whether a similar calamity may come upon them.

Verse 11

Eze 32:11, The sword of the king of Babylon will be what Pharaoh will see, but it will also be the Lord’s sword since He will be using that king as an instrument to execute the divine decree against the nation deserving the chastisement.

Verse 12

Eze 32:12. The mighty means the army of Nebuchadnezzar because it is a very strong military force. Spoil is from a word that is defined "to ravage” in the lexicon. (See the comments and historical note at Eze 29:12-13.)

Verse 13

Eze 32:13. The streams of Egypt were held sacred by the people, hence anything that would lower their importance or use would be regarded as a reproach. Trouble occurs twice in this verse but they come from different originals. The first means "confusion or uproar”; the second is defined "to roil [stir up the dregs] water." A beast would onty defile a stream of water, while a man could create an uproar or commotion even though he was near one of these bodies of water that he professed to worship, The meaning of the prediction is that neither of these activities will be done for a period because both man and beast will be removed by the invader.

Verse 14

Eze 32:14. Deep is from shaqa and Strong's first definition is "to subside.” If the men and beasts are removed from the land by a foreign army, the described condition of the water will cease and it will be allowed to become deep or settled. The movement of oil would be smooth and it is used to compare the condition of the streams after the men and beasts have been taken from the land.

Verse 15

Eze 32:15, The main purpose of the chastisement from God is again stated, that the people of the land may be taught fo know that I am the Lord. Verse lfi. Lamentation is from qivnAH which Strong defines, “A dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or an instrument).’' These literal performances are used to illustrate the attitude of the daughters o} the nations at the desolation of Egypt.

Verse 17

Eze 32:17. The following prediction was made in the same year as the one we have just considered but was a few days later. The prophet is always careful to let us know the source of his information; that it is the word, of the Lord.

Verse 18

Eze 32:18. To wail means about the same as "to lament” in some previous verses. Cast them down Is a way of saying “predict that they will be cast down.” This form of speech is used in Jer 1:10 and Eze 43:3. When an inspired man predicts that a certain thing will happen, it is virtually the same as if he will be the doer of it, for the Lord will see that all such predictions are carried out. The lexicon defines the original word for nether as "lowermost,” and pit is defined in the same lexicon, “a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or prison),” The people of Egypt were doomed to be taken into custody by Nebuchadnezzar and in that sense they will be prisoners. In other words, the land of Egypt was destined to go down in shame and her greatness was to be forgotten as other countries before had suffered.

Verse 19

Eze 32:19, This verse means the same as if the Lord said reproachfully, "Whom do you think you are; the most beautiful of nations?” Then the inspired answer is given, that the nation should be laid or classed with the uncircumcised or unfit.

Verse 20

Eze 32:20. They refers to the Egyptians who were doomed to be slain even as others who were slain- by the sword.

Verse 21

Eze 32:21, Rim is a pronoun that stands for Egypt and the king. Strong among the mighty refers to the valiant powers that had already gone down to hell, which is used in the same sense as "pit” in Eze 32:18, and refers to the state of forgetfulness into which many nations had fallen. When uncircumcised, is used figuratively it means unconsecrated or unacceptable.

Verse 22

Eze 32:22. Asshttr (or Assyria) is there means that she bad gone down into this state of forgetfulness or desolation. (See Eze 31:3; Eze 31:11.)

Verse 23

Eze 32:23. The pronoun whose refers to “company" in the preceding verse who are said to have gone down with Assbnr. Set in the sides of the pit is all figurative and refers to the desolated condition that had come upon various kings and nations. The phrase means that the "company” or citizens were about their king, and all of them near each other in this figurative grave or pit. Caused terrors in the land of the living is explained at verse 10 Of this chapter.

Verse 24

Eze 32:24. There is Elam means that she Is another country that had gone down Into the pit of forgetfulness. This nation was located in the neighborhood of Assyria and Persia and it was at one time an important power. See verse 21 for the explanation of uncircumcised, and verse IS for the meaning of nether.

Verse 25

Eze 32:25. Bed is from MISHKAB which Strong defines. “A bed (figuratively a bier); abstractly sleep.” It here is used with reference to the same state of forgetfulness that had been predicted for other evil countries, Graves round about him denotes that the king of Elam and his people had gone down together into the ’'pit.” Though their terror . . . land of the living signifies that the national death was preceded by a period of terror at the presence of the attacking forces.

Verse 26

Eze 32:26. Meshech and Tubal were some more of the heathen peoples who incurred the wrath of G-od. They had been doomed to the same ruin as other nations suffered.

Verse 27

Eze 32:27, Not He -with the mighty indicates an undignified burial. Strords under their heads refers to an ancient practice of burying distinguished warriors with their weapons. These people had been denied the honor of having their swords buried with them, but instead, their iniquities were "interred with their bones.”

Verse 28

Eze 32:28. This is the same reference to a dishonorable grave. The uncircumcised means the unacceptable, who were destined to meet, death by the invader's sword.

Verse 29

Eze 32:29, The Edomites were descendants of Esau and were always hostile against Israel.. A more extended description of Edom's fate is in Eze 25:12-14,

Verse 30

Eze 32:30. The Zidonians dwelt near the sea and were north of the people of Israel. The fate that happened to these foes was similar to that decreed against other heathen nations. With their terror they are ashamed of their might means that in spite of their terrible might they were brought down to shame.

Verse 31

Eze 32:31. Pharaoh . . . shall he comforted. The heathen nations were generally hostile against each other, and by that same token each would rejoice at another’s defeat.

Verse 32

Eze 32:32. More than a chapter is devoted to the condemnation and predictions against Egypt, No additional fate is here made as a threat against that country. The brief statement of its doom is made to explain why the country will "be comforted” at the downfall of the Zidonians.