9/17/06 Ezk a. b. c. d.

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

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

3 5 6 the spoils of Egypt, for his frustrated thirteen years taking of Tyre with no spoil. Ezk. 29:17-21 * This was prophesied by Jeremiah b name Pharaoh Hophra. Jer. 44:30 2. The siege of Jerusalem is recorded for us. 1) The rebellion of Zedekiah caused Nebuchadnezzar all of his army and to besiege Jerusalem in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, the tenth day of the month, January 588 B.C. Jer. 52:4-5; 2Kings 25:1-2 a) Ezekiel was told by Yahweh to record the date, confirming the date. Ezk. 24:1-2 b) The date was memorialized by the Jews and a fast was instituted. Zech. 7:5; 8:19 c) So important a date that it is recorded four times. 2Kings 25:1-2; 2Chron. 36:11-21; Jer. 39:1-14; 52:4 2) The city was under siege for eighteen months, on the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, July, on the ninth day of the month, the city was penetrated, July of 586 B. C. Jer. 39:2 29:1-16 The judgment on Pharaoh and his people. 29:1-12 The sin of Egypt. I. The indicting judgment against Egypt. vs :1-2 The revelation to the prophets. 1) The date is recorded as usual. vs. 1 a) On the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, this is January 12, 587 B.C. vs. 1a-c, * Jer. 37:5-11 b) Eleven months after the siege had began on Jerusalem and seven month before the fall of Jerusalem. Ezk. 24:1-2 2) The revelation is marked by the usual prophetic formula, coming directly from the throne of God, the word of the LORD came to me, saying. vs. 1d-e 3) The prophet is addressed by God by his usual title, Son of man, one of the many Israelites, human and frailty. vs. 2a 4) He is commanded to posture himself for judgment against Pharaoh and all of Egypt. vs. 2 * This is the first of seven oracles regarding Egypt. 29:3-5 The indictment of Pharaoh and the people by the prophet. vs ) Ezekiel was to communicate the mind of God to Pharaoh. vs.3

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

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

6 11 12 far as the border of Ethiopia. vs. 10e-f * The land would be laid waste from north, Nigdol, to south, Syene, where the Aswan dam has been built, in fulfillment of prophecy. Is. 19:5-10 3)) It would be like saying, from the Canadian border o the Mexican border or from Dan to Beer-sheba. 29:11-16 The prophecy was both temporal and permanent. 1) The temporal time would consist of forty years. vs a) Man nor beast would dwell in Egypt. vs. 11 b) Egypt would become like all the surrounding cities insignificant for 40 years. vs. 12a-b c) God would disperse the Egyptians throughout the nations. vs. 12c * The Persian occupation of Egypt took place from B.C. 2) The permanence of time consisted in never being a world power again. vs a) God would re-gather the Egyptians. vs. 13 * Is. 11:11; 19:18-22; Jer. 44:1, 15 b) God would keep Egypt as a base nation continually. vs. 14 * The policy of Darius the Persian king to allow Egypt to return would be parallel to that of Israel by Cyrus. c) God predicted Egypt to be poor and powerless as a nation forever. vs. 15 d) God would us Egypt as an object lesson for Israel, to not trust anyone but the Lord. vs :17-21 The judgment on Egypt was to reward Nebuchadnezzar for having no spoils in Tyre. * The second oracle. 29:17 The date is stipulated once again. vs. 17 1) On the 27th year, the 1st day of the 1st month. vs. 17a-c a) This is on April 1, 570 B.C. b) This is 16 years, 2 months and about 19 days, after the first prophecy against Egypt. Ezk. 29:1 2) On that date the inspired word of God came to Ezekiel, the word of the LORD came to me, saying. vs. 17d a) This is the 39th time this phrase has been used by Ezekiel.

7 13 14 b) The prophetic formulas are important, insuring Divine authority directly from heavens throne. 29:18 The instrument of judgment against Egypt was to be Babylon and is described to be with payment. 1) God through the prophet reveals that the first part of the fulfillment of the prophecy against Tyre was fulfilled with great difficulty and no reward. vs. 18 a) Nebuchadnezzar spend 13 years taking the mainland city, B.C. b) All the wealth had be transferred to the Island city during the 13 years, taking no spoil. Ezk. 26:1-14 2) God through the prophet revealed He would give Egypt over to Nebuchadnezzar as back-wages. a) Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in B. C. b) Jeremiah warned the people about not going to Egypt, after they rejected the word of the Lord, as they had asked Jeremiah to inquire. Jer. 43:10-11; 46:13 3) God through the prophet revealed Nebuchadnezzar worked for God to accomplish His purposes. vs a) God was in control of history in the big picture without violating man s will. vs. 20 1)) God places men in authority, I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor. vs. 20a )2) God used even the heather to accomplish His will, Because they worked for Me, says the Lord GOD. vs. 20b-c b) God was working in history to bring about His purposes. vs. 21 1)) God would teach Israel to trust in Him, In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth. vs. 21a a)) God would reveal the futility of depending on Egypt and their future trust in the Lord. b)) Some see a reference in the horn to the coming Messiah but the context is strained! 2)) God would continue to use Ezekiel to speak to His people, And I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. vs. 21b 3)) God s people would at that time know He was Lord, Then they shall know that I am the LORD. vs. 21c

8 15 16 * The repeated purpose throughout the book! 30:1-19 The the day of judgment on Egypt, 30:1-9 The day of the Lord on the nations in alliance with Egypt. 1) The prophetic formula once again initial the revelation. vs. 1 * This is the third and only oracle of the seven to Egypt without a date, some have joined it with the previous one, 29:17-21 and others with the first date, 29:1. 2) The revelation is one of a lamentation due to the nature of the day of judgment. vs. 2 a) The Son of man is to declare Wail yalal meaniing to howl. b) The Woe indicates judgment at a specific day. vs. 6, 10, 13 3) The day of the LORD is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles. vs. 3 a) Often The phrase The Day of the Lord is used for the Tribulation period of the last days. Joel 1:11, 13; Zeph. 1:7, 14 b) The time of the Gentiles beginning with the head of gold, Babylon and will end at the end of the seven year Tribulation and Great- Tribulation. Dan. 2 4) The Ethiopians would be terrified in hearing of the sword judgment on Egypt. vs. 4 a) When the slain fall. b) When the wealth was taken. c) When the foundation were broken, it s political and social institutions, its very power. vs. 6, 8, 13, 15, 17 5) The allies of Egypt would suffer the same fate. vs. 5 a) Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied. b) Shall fall with them by the sword. 30:6-9 Those who supported Egypt would fall. 1) The authority was God s. vs. 6 a) Thus says the LORD. vs. 6a b) Those supporting Egypt would fall. vs. 6b c) Egypt would be humbled and end up powerless. vs. 6c d) Egypt would be affected north to south, no one would escape. vs. 6d e) The authority for the judgment was at the words of the Lord GOD. vs. 6e * Gen. 12:1-3; Ezk. 25:32; Jer. 25; 27; 45-48; 46:9

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

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

11 21 22 b) This is four months before he fall of Jerusalem. 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 a) Five times the personal pronoun I is stated. b) The purpose, they shall know that I am the LORD, stated twice. c) The Egyptians would be dispersed among the nations countries.