Prev
Home Quiz
Visions of the Kingdom: Week 32
Not only Ezekiel, but Jeremiah warned those in Judah not to go down
to Egypt - or they would share in the Desolation to be visited on Egypt.
Jeremiah 42
- 29:1 "10th year" - this prophecy comes before the fall of Jerusalem,
and before the long seige of Tyre.
- 29:2 Pharaoh Hophra -
Jeremiah 44:30
- 29:3 "monster" - crocodile. Egyptian prayers called for Pharaoh to
be a crocodile to his enemies. Pharaohs were considered divine,
and some believed it.
- 29:5 "food to the beasts" - Pharaohs put great stock in their elaborate
burial. But Hophra would not receive any at all - what a horrific
fate for a "god".
- 29:7 "when they leaned on you, you broke" - Egypt had a long reputation
of failing to keep promises. "Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who
trust in him."
2 Kings 18:21
Not unlike a current world power.
- 29:11 "uninhabited 40 years" - deported by Nebuchadnezzar, they returned
with the Israelites at the decree of Cyrus 40 years later.
- 29:14 "they will be a lowly kingdom" - their vast wealth gone
to Nebuchadnezzar, their great power gone. They will never again
be a world power. Note: the Ptolemys were Macedonians.
- 29:16 "never again trusted by Israel" - thus removing this constant
temptation. In fact, the lowly status of Egypt will remind them
through the coming ages of their great sin in trusting to Egypt
instead of God.
- 29:17 "27th year" - 17 years later, shortly after the fall of Tyre,
and fifteen years after the taking of Jerusalem.
- 29:19 "this will be the wages" - God had appointed the wealth of Egypt
to pay the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar for the seige of Tyre.
At that time, soldiers depended much on the spoils of war for their
livelihood, and God cares even for the foot soldiers of a pagan army,
who had "worked strenuously" for 13 years to finally bring down Tyre.
- 29:20 "given him Egypt" - Egypt had become so corrupt and complacent,
that it was comparatively easy to take.
- 29:21 "horn to sprout" - there will be a true political leader for Israel.
Both in the near future, and with the coming Messiah.
Psalm 132:17
"open your mouth" - the leaders of Israel will finally recognize
Ezekiel as a true prophet. (Compare their earlier skepticism.)