Ezekiel 29:12-21

12 I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among[a] desolate lands, and its cities will be a desolation among[b] ruined cities[c] for 40 years. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them across the countries.[d]
13 "For this is what the Lord God says: At the end of 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were dispersed.[e]
14 I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom.
15 Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself over the nations. I will make them so small they cannot rule over the nations.
16 It will never again be an object of trust[f] for the house of Israel, drawing attention to their sin of turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord God ."

Babylon Receives Egypt as Compensation

17 In the twenty-seventh year in the first [month], on the first [day] of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:
18 "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor strenuously against Tyre.[g] Every head was made bald and every shoulder chafed, but he and his army received no compensation from Tyre for the labor he expended against it.
19 Therefore this is what the Lord God says: I am going to give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,[h] who will carry off its wealth, seizing its spoil and taking its plunder. This will be his army's compensation.
20 I have given him the land of Egypt as the pay he labored for, since they worked for Me." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .
21 "In that day I will cause a horn to sprout[i] for the house of Israel, and I will enable you to speak out[j] among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord."

Ezekiel 29:12-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 29

This chapter contains a prophecy against Pharaoh king of Egypt; and of the destruction of the land of Egypt; and of the restoration of it after a certain time. The time of prophecy is noted, Eze 29:1, the order to prophesy against Pharaoh, who is described as a large fish, lying in his rivers, and boasting of them, Eze 29:2,3, his destruction and the manner of it, Eze 29:4,5, the reason of it, his treachery to the Jews, Eze 29:6,7, hence the whole land of Egypt is threatened with desolation, from one end to the other, so as to be uninhabited by man or beast for the space of forty years, Eze 29:8-14, but shall not arrive to their former glory as a kingdom, nor be any more the confidence of the house of Israel, Eze 29:15,16, then follows a prophecy seventeen years after this, showing the reason why Egypt was given to the king of Babylon, Eze 29:17-20, and the chapter is closed with a promise of happiness to Israel, Eze 29:21.

Footnotes 10

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