Ezekiel 32:17-32

Egypt in Sheol

17 In the twelfth year,^[a] on the fifteenth [day] of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:

18 "Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and bring Egypt and the daughters of mighty nations down to the underworld,^[b] [to be] with those who descend to the Pit:^[c]

19 Whom do you surpass in loveliness? Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!

20 They will fall among those slain by the sword. A sword is appointed! They drag her and all her hordes away.

21 Warrior leaders will speak from the middle of Sheol about him^[d] and his allies: They have come down; the uncircumcised lie slain by the sword.^[e]

22 Assyria is there with all her company; her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.

23 Her graves are set in the deepest regions of the Pit, and her company is all around her burial place. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword- they who [once] spread terror in the land of the living.

24 Elam^[f] is there with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword- they who went down to the underworld^[g] uncircumcised, who [once] spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.

25 Among the slain they prepare a resting place for Elam with all her hordes. Her graves are all around her. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword, although their terror was [once] spread in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit. They are placed among the slain.

26 Meshech and Tubal^[h][i]are there, with all their hordes. Their graves are all around them. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword, although their terror was [once] spread in the land of the living.

27 They do^[j] not lie down with the fallen warriors of the uncircumcised,^[k] who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were placed under their heads. The punishment for their sins rested on their bones, although the terror of [these] warriors was [once] in the land of the living.

28 But you will be shattered and will lie down among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.^[l]

29 Edom^[m] is there, her kings and all her princes, who, despite their strength, have been placed among those slain by the sword. They lie down with the uncircumcised, with those who descend to the Pit.

30 All the leaders of the north^[n] and all the Sidonians^[o] are there. They went down in shame with the slain, despite the terror their strength inspired. They lie down uncircumcised with those slain by the sword. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.

31 Pharaoh will see them and be comforted^[p] over all his hordes- Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God .

32 For I will spread My^[q] terror in the land of the living, so Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword." [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God .

Ezekiel 32:17-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 32

This chapter contains two more prophecies concerning the destruction of Egypt. The date of the first is given, Eze 22:1, in which the king of Egypt is compared to a large fish taken in a net, and brought to land, and left on it, to be the prey of the fowls of the air and beasts of the field, Eze 32:2-4, and the ruin of that kingdom is further amplified by the casting of it on the mountains and valleys; by the land flowing with its blood; by the darkness of the heavens; by the vexation in the hearts of many people; and by the amazement of kings and nations, Eze 32:5-10, the means and instruments of all which will be the king of Babylon and his army, Eze 32:11,12, the devastation made by him, which would be such as would cause lamentation in other nations, is described, Eze 32:13-16, then follows the other prophecy, whose date is given, Eze 32:17, the prophet is bid to lament the fall of Egypt, which is represented under the funeral of a corpse, Eze 32:18-20, saluted by those gone down to the grave before, or were become desolate; which are mentioned, to assure Egypt of its destruction, Eze 32:21 as the Assyrian empire, and all its provinces, Eze 32:22,23, the Persians and Medes, with all their dominions, Eze 32:24,25, the posterity of Meshech and Tubal, or the Scythians, those warlike people, Eze 32:26-28, the Edomites, the princes of the north, and all the Zidonians, Eze 32:29,30 which would be a comfort, though a poor one to the king of Egypt and his subjects, to have such company with them, Eze 32:31,32.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX reads year, in the first month,
• [b]. Lit the lower parts of the earth
• [c]. Ezk 26:20; 31:14,16,18
• [d]. Either Pharaoh or Egypt
• [e]. Ezk 31:15-18; Isa 14:9-11
• [f]. Gn 10:22
• [g]. Lit the lower parts of the earth
• [h]. Lit Meshech-tubal
• [i]. Ezk 27:13; 38:2-3; Gn 10:2
• [j]. Or Do they . . . ?
• [k]. LXX reads of antiquity
• [l]. Isa 14:18
• [m]. Ezk 25:13; 35:7-9,15
• [n]. Ezk 38:6,15; 39:2
• [o]. Ezk 28:21-23
• [p]. Ezk 31:16-18
• [q]. Alt Hb tradition, LXX, Syr read his