Oracles against the Nations Table

29:1 tenth year, in the tenth If the date is rendered by years of exile (as Ezekiel usually does), this oracle dates to January 7, 587 bc—just two days after the siege of Jerusalem began. If the date is determined by the years of Zedekiah’s reign (as in 24:1), this would be a year later (see 24:1 and note).

29:2 set your face Ezekiel’s typical idiom to identify the recipient of his message. See note on 20:46.

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt Refers to Hophra, who ruled 589–570 bc.

29:3 the great sea monster The Hebrew term means “serpent,” “dragon,” or “sea monster.” Here, the word describes a crocodile in the Nile River, but it frequently appears in ot passages with mythological overtones (e.g., Isa 51:9).

to me, “It is my Nile, and I made it for myself An arrogant claim implying divinity (compare Ezek 28:2 and note).

29:4 I will put hooks in your jawbones Yahweh has power over the dragon. He will capture the crocodile with hooks and remove it from the river, where it was the mightiest creature. Compare Job 41:2; Isa 30:28; 37:29.

29:5 the desert A place of certain death for water creatures.

29:6 a staff of reed A metaphor highlighting their weakness and their failure to support Israel as promised. This is similar to the critique in 2 Kgs 18:21 (paralleled in Isa 36:6), in which Egypt mocks Judah for relying on Egyptian promises of help against a Mesopotamian empire.

29:7 you caused all of their loins to wobble The Hebrew text reads “all their loins to stand,” but the correct phrase is known from Psa 69:23, “their loins shake.” The reading likely resulted from scribal transposition of two letters. The Syriac ot has the correct idiom.

29:8 Look! I am bringing on you a sword Compare Ezek 14:17. The nations experience the same types of judgments prophesied against Judah earlier in the book.

I will cut off from you human and animal A characteristic phrase of judgment in Ezekiel (compare 14:13–2; 25:13).

29:10 Migdol From the Canaanite word for “tower” or “fortress.” Used as a proper name for several Egyptian military installations on the northeast frontier of Egypt.

to Syene One of the main towns in southern Egypt; located at the first cataract of the Nile. The site marks the southern frontier of Egypt (see note on Isa 49:12).

the boundary of Cush The region of the upper Nile south of Egypt; also called Nubia, Cush, or Ethiopia. Syene (Aswan) was the last Egyptian town before the border. Geographic references here cover the length of Egypt from its northeastern frontier to its southern border.

29:11 and so it will not be inhabited for forty years Rather than being a specific time period, a period of 40 years was symbolic of a temporary national punishment, representing the passing of one generation. The imagery is likely an intentional parallel to God’s pronouncement of a 40-year sentence on Israel in the wilderness (see Num 14:33–34).

29:12 I will scatter Egypt among the nations The same judgment declared for Israel. Echoes the curses of the covenant from Lev 26:33. See Ezek 11:16 and note.

29:13 I will gather Egypt from the peoples Follows the pattern of judgment and restoration for Israel from 28:25, but here Yahweh restores Egypt. Compare 11:16–17.

29:14 I will restore the fortunes of Egypt Compare 16:53 and 39:25.

Pathros A name for the southern half of Egypt. This region borders Cush (compare Isa 11:11). Ezekiel’s reference to the region as the Egyptians’ land of origin accurately reflects the Egyptians’ own traditions.

a lowly kingdom The restoration’s only purpose is to present Egypt as an example to others (compare Ezek 16:53–55). Rather than being restored to its former glory, Egypt will remain weak.

29:17 twenty-seventh year, in the first The oracle dates to April 26, 571 bc, making this the latest-dated oracle of the book.

29:18 he made his army labor hard against Tyre The Babylonians besieged Tyre for 13 years (see note on 26:8).

was not paid for him and for his army from Tyre The long siege was ended diplomatically. Tyre submitted to Babylonian rule, but the city was not destroyed.

29:19 am giving to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon the land of Egypt Nebuchadnezzar apparently invaded Egypt in 568 bc, but few details of the campaign are known. A fragment from his annals and the Greek historian Herodotus mention that the campaign occurred.

29:21 I will cause power to grow up The horn could refer to a restoration of Israel’s power or symbolize a king (compare Dan 7:7). The horn of an animal was a token of its power. The symbolism likely points to the restoration of Davidic kingship through the Messiah. See Psa 132:17.

for you I will give an opening of your mouth in the midst of them The prophet’s credibility will be vindicated once Yahweh restores Israel.