Ezekiel 29:12

12 "So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the ¹midst of desolated lands. And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years; and I will ²scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands."

Ezekiel 29:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 29:12

And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the
countries that are desolate
As Judea and others, made desolate by the king of Babylon: and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate
forty years;
such as Thebes, Sais, Memphis, and others; which should share the same fate as Jerusalem and other principal cities in other countries, which fell into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse
them through the countries;
such as were not carried captive into Babylon fled into other countries, as Arabia, Ethiopia, and other places, Berosus ^F21 makes mention of this captivity of the Egyptians under Nebuchadnezzar the son, which no other writer does.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 10. c. 11. sect. 1.

Ezekiel 29:12 In-Context

10 therefore, behold, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene and even to the border of Ethiopia.

11 "A man's foot will not pass through it, and the foot of a beast will not pass through it, and it will not be inhabited for forty years.

12 "So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated lands. And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands."

13 'For thus says the Lord GOD, "At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered.

14 "I will turn the fortunes of Egypt and make them return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they will be a lowly kingdom.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 25:15-19; Jeremiah 27:6-11; Ezekiel 30:7
• 2. Jeremiah 46:19; Ezekiel 30:23, 26