Visions of the Kingdom: Week 35

Ezekiel 32:1-32: Doom of Pharaoh

• 32:4 "cast you out on the open fields" - Literally fulfilled in the deserts of Libya, where the slain of Hophra’s army were left to be devoured by fowls and beasts. Metaphorically it is gathering a mixture of people, soldiers, like ravenous birds and beasts, from all parts to spoil Egypt. (Poole)
• 32:6 "water the land with the flow of your blood" - the defeat and death of Pharaoh would be a good thing for the world.
• 32:7 "extinguish you" - literally, snuff out a lamp.
• 32:8 "bring darkness on your land" - the blood and darkness echo the plagues of Egypt, and the apocalype to come.
• 32:10 "their kings will shudder" - if God’s judgment could come to mighty Egypt, it could also come to them.
• 32:21 "speak from the midst of Sheol" - the dead are not sleeping, but conscious in Sheol.
• 32:31 "Pharaoh will be comforted" - there be some consolation that he is not alone in his humiliating death.
• 32:32 "laid to rest among the uncircumcised" - again the greatest humiliation for an Egyptian.