1A recital to Pharaoh of the Assyrian's greatness, and of his fall for pride. 18The same destruction shall be to Pharaoh.
1AND it came to pass in the 1eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1 After the deportation of Jehoiachin. See Ezek. 1:2, etc.
2Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his 2multitude; 3Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
2 That is, all his people.
3 As if God said: Dost thou imagine that there was never any one like unto thee, and that therefore nothing can hurt thee? Take notice of the great and mighty monarch of Assyria, and see what became of him, and make your own conclusion. Compare Isa. 23:13.
3¶Behold, the 4Assyrian was 5a cedara in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a 6shadowing shroud,b and of an high 7stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4 That is, the king of Assyria.
5 That is, was like unto a cedar tree. By this entire figurative speech is signified the greatness, glory and power of the Assyrian monarchy. See Judges 9 on verse 15. Compare Psalm 80:10; Ezek. 17:3, 22, 23; Dan. 4:10, etc.
a Dan. 4:10, etc.
6 Or, shadowing, making a shadow, with his sprigs or branches; likewise a shadowing forest or wood, as the Hebrew word has the signification of forest and sprigs, branches or leaf.
b cover, shelter
7 As Ezek. 17:6.
4The 8waters 9made him great, 10the deep set him up on high 11with her rivers running round about his 12plants, and 13sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
8 That is, the opportunity and affluence which I afforded him of all things that might serve to increase his state. Compare verses 5 and 7; Ezek. 17:5, 8; 19:10, etc.
9 Or, brought, raised him up.
10 That is, deep waters, great depths.
11 Deep or depth.
12 As Ezek. 17:7.
13 That is, he communicated of his abundance and superfluity to other kings, who were less than he, and prospered by his means.
5Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the 14multitude of waters, when he 15shot forth.
14 See verse 4.
15 Cast forth his branches and spread himself abroad. Compare Ezek. 17:6. Or, when he budded forth, or got buds or blossoms.
616All the fowlsc of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his 17shadow dwelt all great nations.
16 Hebr. All fowl made their nests, and so all beasts did cast their young or brought forth their young, that is, all manner of or many nations were under his command and dominion. Also Dan. 4:12.
c Dan. 4:12.
17 Shelter or protection, resorting to him for their refuge. Compare Psalm 91:1. Also verse 17.
7Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
8The 18cedars in the garden ofd God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnute trees were not like his branches; 19nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
18 That is, other kings or princes, though they were also great and glorious like the cedars of a paradise, as was the first, could not darken or hide his luster or brightness; as the sun darkens the shining of the other stars in the daytime, so did he darken all the luster and brightness of other kings and princes. Compare verses 9 and 16; Ezek. 28:13.
d Gen. 2:8.
e chestnut, or plane tree
19 Hebr. every tree was not, etc., that is, no tree was, etc. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 34. Also verse 14.
9I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
10¶Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because 20thou hast lifted up thyself in 21height, and he hath 22shot up his top 23among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
20 This may be taken for a speech directed to the Assyrian, of whom God immediately (as elsewhere) speaks again in the third person; or as an abrupt speech unto Pharaoh, whereof the execution follows in verse 18. As if God said: Because thou exalteth thyself as such, see now (I pray) what the Assyrian also did, and how I punished him for it, etc.
21 Compare verse 14.
22 Hebr. gave. Compare (concerning the use of the Hebrew word, which according to the nature and quality of things, admits various significations) 2 Sam. 18 on verse 9; Ezek. 27:12, etc. Also verse 14.
23 Hebr. as if one said: the betweenness; that is, he excelled among, and exalted himself above other kings, lords, princes, etc. Compare Ezek. 19:11.
11I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the 24mighty one of the heathen; 25he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
24 Into the power of the king of Babel, Berodach or Merodach-baladan, and also Nebuchadnezzar, who transferred the Assyrian monarchy (whereof Esar-haddon, the son of Sennacherib, is held to have been the last king. See 2 Kings 19 on verse 37, and that of Berodach, 2 Kings 20 on verse 12) to the Babylonians.
25 Hebr. doing he may do it to him, or, dealing deal with him, or, did, dealt he with him, as some; some explain this manner of speech thus: according to his desert, or, according to his pleasure, according as he ought to be dealt with.
12And strangers, the 26terriblef of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys 27his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers 28of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
26 As Ezek. 28:7. Here follows a figurative description of the ruin of the Assyrian monarchy.
f Ezek. 28:7; 30:11.
27 As in great overthrows everywhere, both mountains and valleys are accustomed to be full of slain men and of plunder.
28 Or, of the earth.
13Upon his 29ruin shall all the 30fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:
29 Or, fallen stock. Hebr. fall, that is, other nations took his kingdom, possessed it and laughed him to scorn.
30 Hebr. every fowl, every animal, etc. As verse 6.
14To the end that 31none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their 32top among the thick boughs, neither their trees 33stand up in their height, all that 34drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the 35nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the 36children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
31 Hebr. all the trees of water or of the water may not, etc. Compare verse 8, and so in the sequel. The sense is, that God wanted to make this great monarch as an example, that it might be a warning unto all great and mighty men on earth, and here especially unto Pharaoh, to the end that no man might lift up himself against Him and be wicked, lest by similar sins he fall into similar punishments, which he shall not be able to avert by any human power.
32 As verse 10.
33 This manner of speech is also usual in our language, for trusting in one’s self, or lifting up the head high; the contrary whereof is to walk humbly before God. Compare the manner of speech with Ezek. 33:26.
34 That is, those who are filled with all plenty by My blessing, and suffer no want. Also verse 16. Compare on verses 4 and 8.
35 Hebr. the lowermost earth, or, the earth that is beneath. Also verses 16 and 18.
36 That is, among the common, or lower sort of people. See Psalm 4 on verse 2.
15Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the 37grave I 38caused a mourning: I 39covered the 40deep for him, and I 41restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to 42mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
37 See of the Hebrew word sheol Gen. 37 on verse 35. Also verses 16, 17, 18; Ezek. 32:21, 22, and the sequel there. It appears by comparing these places (as also the pervious verse) that it is here taken for the grave, with the adhering, miserable and reproachful, condition of the deceased wicked ones in hell.
38 This is a figurative description of the common terror, which God by this His judgment upon the Assyrian has caused among all the great ones and the nations that had prospered (as above) by his riches. Compare Ezek. 27:29 and the following verses there.
39 That is, I put it in such a condition that it was as if it mourned (also below fainted). See 2 Sam. 15 on verse 30.
40 See of the word deep verse 4.
41 I withheld My temporal blessing.
42 As if all the cedars (that is, great ones) were in mourning. See Psalm 35 on verse 14.
16I made the nations to shakeg at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of 43Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that 44drink water, shall be 45comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
g Isa. 14:9.
43 See verses 8 and 9.
44 As verse 14.
45 It is spoken figuratively, as if one said: It was a comfort to them that they had such a great companion in their sufferings. Compare Isa. 14:8, 9, 10, with the annotation. Likewise Ezek. 14:22; 16:54; 32:31, etc.
17They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his 46arm, that dwelt under his 47shadow in the midst of the heathen.
46 That is, strength, which had hardened and upheld him, or thus: with his arm (that is, his kingdom) under whose shadow they, etc.
47 As verse 6.
18¶To whom art 48thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the 49uncircumcisedh with them that be slain by the sword. 50This is Pharaoh and all his 51multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
48 Thou, O Pharaoh, who thinkest that there is none like unto thee. See verse 2.
49 See Ezek. 28 on verse 10.
h Ezek. 28:10.
50 As if God said: Behold here a lively picture or pattern of this proud king Pharaoh; just as firm and sure is his condition as that was of this Assyrian, and thus shall he fare with all his pomp and pride.
51 Understand this either of riches, or people; or, with all his stir, uproar, or noise. See Ezek. 29:19.