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32:1–16 The sixth oracle against Egypt is characterized as a lament (like that against Tyre in 27:1). Poetically, the lament does not follow the usual 3/2 beat rhythm of the qinah, or lament genre. The judgments depicted here are reused from previous oracles against Egypt in chs. 29–31 and, in Ezekiel’s typical style, blur metaphorical and literal imagery. |
32:1 on the first day of the month March 3, 585 bc, about two months after news of Jerusalem’s fall had reached Ezekiel (see 33:21).
32:2 a lament Hebrew qinah—a specific poetic genre. See note on 19:1.
sea monster in the seas See 29:3 and note. The dragon being in the sea instead of in the Nile depicts greater mythological implications only hinted at in 29:3.
32:3 I will spread my net over you Reflects 29:4, which contains the image of Yahweh leading the capture of the dragon. In Mesopotamian myths of combat between a god and the dragon, the dragon is captured with a net.
32:4 I will throw you on the ground Echoes the judgments of 29:5.
32:7 I will cover you at extinguishing your heavens The fall of Egypt is cast in cosmic dimensions; it affects all of creation.
32:11 The sword of the king of Babylon The use of Babylon as Yahweh’s divine agent of destruction is a common motif throughout Ezekiel’s oracles against Egypt (see 29:19).
32:12 by the most ruthless of the nations See 28:7.
32:17–32 This seventh oracle depicts Egypt’s descent into the underworld. Many other nations are already there to greet Egypt, echoing the scene from Isa 14:9–15. The image of the descent to the underworld was used previously for Tyre (Ezek 26:20) and Egypt (31:16). The description of each nation languishing in Sheol is highly formulaic and repetitive. Each nation shares the same fate. While they may have been powerful and feared on earth, they all must bear the shame of their defeat and descent into death. Egypt’s fate will be just like theirs, providing a small measure of consolation for Pharaoh (see v. 31). |
32:17 on the fifteenth day of the month Two weeks after the previous oracle (see note on v. 1).
32:18 the hordes of Egypt See note on 31:2.
the people going down to the grave The underworld or Sheol.
See 31:14 and note.
32:19 the uncircumcised See 31:18 and note.
32:21 The chiefs of the warriors Compare Isa 14:9.
Sheol The underworld. See note on Job 14:13.
32:22 Assyria Formerly the dominant power in Mesopotamian. Assyria is used as an object lesson for Egypt in Ezek 31:1–18.
Assyria’s capital city was Nineveh. Their home territory was in upper Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and northwest of Babylon.
32:23 the remote areas of the pit Ezekiel’s version of the underworld apparently contains various levels of greater or lesser shame and disgrace. Assyria’s place is in the very lowest realm.
32:24 Elam Located east of Babylon and just north of the Persian Gulf in southwestern Iran. Elam was absorbed into the Persian Empire.
32:26 Meshech and Tubal A region of central Turkey (see note on 27:13).
32:29 There is Edom Judah’s neighbor to the southeast (see note on 25:12–14).
32:30 the princes of the north Possibly a reference to Aram or Syria, Israel’s immediate neighbor to the north. The Aramean states were subject to Babylonian rule at this time.
all of the Sidonians Refers to the Phoenicians, Israel’s neighbor to the northwest (see note on 26:1–28:19).
32:31 he will be comforted over all of Pharaoh will be consoled by the knowledge that Egypt’s fate is the same as all the other nations.
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