Ezekiel 30:3-13

3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the Gentiles.

4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great fear shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be destroyed.

5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.

6 Thus hath the LORD said: Those also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down; from the tower of Syene they shall fall in it by the sword, said the Lord GOD.

7 And they shall be made desolate among the countries that are destroyed, and her cities shall be among the cities that are wasted.

8 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt and when all her helpers shall be broken.

9 In that time messengers shall go forth from me in ships to make the confident Ethiopians afraid, and great fear shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, behold, it comes.

10 Thus hath the Lord GOD said: I will make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.

11 He and his people with him, the strongest of the Gentiles, shall be brought to destroy the land; and they shall draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.

12 And I will make the rivers dry and deliver the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will destroy the land and all that is therein by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken.

13 Thus hath the Lord GOD said: I will also destroy the images, and I will cause the idols of Menfis to cease; and there shall no longer be a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put fear in the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 30:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 30

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy against Egypt, both against the country and the king of it. It is introduced with expressions of lamentation, because of the destruction coming on, Eze 30:1-3, and not only Egypt, and the cities thereof, should be destroyed, but all her friends, associates, and allies; the Ethiopians, Lydians, Lybians, and others, Eze 30:4-9. Nebuchadnezzar and his army were to be the instruments of her ruin, Eze 30:10-12, particular cities are mentioned by name, which should suffer much, and become desolate, Eze 30:13-19 and then Pharaoh king of Egypt himself is threatened with broken arms, and his people to be scattered among the nations, Eze 30:20-23, and the king of Babylon is again mentioned, whose arms should be strengthened to do all this, Eze 30:24-26.