Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryEzekiel 32

Twelfth year. Of Jehoiachin’s captivity (see on ch. 1:2), that is, 585 B.C. The month date would be in the spring of 585 by either spring or fall reckoning (see p. 572). Jerusalem had been overthrown by this time, having fallen in July of the preceding year. This chapter closes the series of prophecies against Egypt. Verses 1–16 are a further denunciation of Egypt under the figure of a dragon. Verses 17–32 are a dirge over Egypt’s descent into she’ol.

Thou art like a young lion. Better, “Thou didst liken thyself unto a young lion.” As the lion is the king of beasts, so Pharaoh believed himself to be a great world leader. Whale. Heb. tannim, according to several manuscripts tannin, “dragon,” hence perhaps the crocodile (see on ch. 29:3).

Spread out my net. Compare ch. 29:4.

All the fowls. Compare ch. 29:5.

Water with thy blood. A graphic picture of extensive slaughter.

Cover the heaven. A symbol of destruction and mourning.

They shall tremble. The rehearsal of Egypt’s tragic fate will paralyze the people of other lands with fear. They will fear that the sword that prostrated Egypt will be brandished against them.

Terrible of the nations. Compare ch. 30:11. A fitting description of the Babylonian scourge that swept over nation after nation.

All the beasts. That is, the cattle along the Nile. Perhaps by poetic figure they represent the restless activity of Egyptian life.

Make their waters deep. Literally, “cause their waters to sink down,” here meaning to permit the sediment to settle so that the waters become clear. The LXX reads, “Thus shall their waters then be at rest.” The cattle would no more disturb the water with their feet (see v. 13). In other words, the busy scene of Egyptian life and activity would cease. Like oil. That is, smoothly; undisturbed by cattle and men.

Daughters of the nations. In the ancient Near East, women were hired to perform formal acts of mourning (see 2 Sam. 1:24; 2 Chron. 35:25; Jer. 9:17). For further comment on this typically Oriental custom see on Jer. 9:17; Mark 5:38.

Fifteenth day. The month is not mentioned in the Hebrew, but if this section belongs after vs. 1–16, it could hardly be in any other month than the 12th, the same as that mentioned in v. 1. In that case, the present message came only two weeks after the previous one. The LXX reads, “in the twelfth year, in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the month.” This would put this message earlier than the former. If it was uttered earlier, it was probably placed here because of its similarity in thought.

Nether parts. That is, she’ol (see on v. 21), conceived of as in the lower parts of the earth (see on ch. 31:15). For further comment on she’ol as the figurative realm of the dead see on Prov. 15:11.

The uncircumcised. Circumcision was practiced in Egypt even before the Hebrews were there. To lie with the uncircumcised would be considered the height of indignity.

Shall speak. The various nations are represented as lying together in she’ol, and in figure as carrying on a conversation. For another prophetic use of this graphic figure of speech see comments on “the king of Babylon,” in Isa. 14:4, 15–19. Him. The masculine is used when the reference is to the king. The feminine pronoun designates the kingdom. Hell. Heb. she’ol (see on ch. 31:15).

Asshur. Assyria, an ancient nation (see on Gen. 10:11). The fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C. was still fresh in the memory of the people.

Elam. A nation occupying the highlands east of Babylonia which lost its independence to the Assyrians and was later dominated by the Babylonians (see on Jer. 49:34).

Meshech. The classic Moshians, the Mushku of the Assyrian inscriptions (see on Gen. 10:2). Tubal.The Tibarenians of Herodotus and the Tabalaeans of Assyrian inscriptions (see on Gen. 10:2).

They shall not lie. The LXX and Syriac omit the negative, which seems to give the passage better sense. The former translates the sentence, “And they are laid with the giants that fell of old.”

Thou shalt be broken. Compare v. 19. Ezekiel returns to address Pharaoh, to remind him that he must prepare himself for the same doom that had befallen other nations.

Edom. See on ch. 25:12.

Princes of the north. Perhaps chieftains of Syria are meant. Zidonians. A name frequently used for the Phoenicians generally. For comment on the racial origins of the Phoenicians in general and the Sidonians in particular see on Gen. 10:15, 18; see also Vol. II, pp. 67–69.

Shall be comforted. Pharaoh’s hollow consolation would be to see other great and wealthy nations prostrate in the dust as he was. For comment on an earlier humiliation of the pride of Egypt see on Ex. 14:23–31,; 15:1–27.