Ezekiel 29 Study Notes

29:1-2 Egypt was Israel’s constant foe after keeping the nation in bondage for four hundred years during its early history. This oracle against Egypt is somewhat unique insomuch as God promises to restore the pagan nation to its land after a period of forty years. If Egypt fell to the Babylonians about 568 BC, as implied in the chronicles of the Babylonian kings, then a forty-year “captivity” of Egypt would have ended under the Persians, who famously encouraged exiled peoples to return to their homelands (2Ch 36:22-23). Though she was restored to her land, Egypt never returned to her former position of preeminence in the international arena. Moreover, her “restoration” may not have been an act of divine grace for Egypt’s sake so much as it was a reminder of Israel’s past faithlessness in the wilderness, which earned them a forty-year penalty (Nm 32:13). When Christ returns, the positions of Israel and Egypt will be reversed. Israel will rule over Egypt, and the Egyptians will no longer be idolaters but will worship the one true God (Is 18-19). Ezekiel’s first oracle against Egypt (there are seven) is dated to January 587 BC, when Hophra was Pharaoh. For other oracles against Egypt, see Is 19:1-20:6; Jr 46:2-28.

29:3 In ancient Near Eastern literature, the word monster (Hb tannin) refers to the mythical sea monster, the chaos god, known elsewhere as Rahab or Leviathan. Ezekiel equates Pharaoh with tannin. Like the ruler of Tyre in chap. 28, Pharaoh dared to defy the Lord. Egypt is compared to a dragon in Is 30:7 (Jb 9:13; 26:12-13; Ps 89:9-10; Is 51:9-10).

29:4-5 Pharaoh and those depending on him would be disgraced.

29:6 Israel had often depended on Egypt and been disappointed, like trying to lean on a reed.

29:7 Egypt’s guilt stemmed from its pact to assist King Zedekiah of Judah in his defiance of Nebuchadnezzar, the agent of God’s wrath against Judah. By resisting Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh Hophra was hindering the execution of God’s plan. Over the centuries, Israel had repeatedly sought aid (military and otherwise) from Egypt against the counsel of God (Dt 17:16; 1Kg 10:28; Is 30:1-3). In Is 36:6 and 2Kg 18:21, placing trust in Pharaoh is portrayed as leaning on a staff no stronger than a reed. The reed will break and injure the hand that holds it. The phrase you splintered, tearing all their shoulders; when they leaned on you looks back to Hophra’s unsuccessful attempt to give military support during the siege of Jerusalem. His attack against Nebuchadnezzar in the spring of 588 BC failed to relieve Jerusalem (Jr 37:5-10). God’s people had once again turned elsewhere for the support they should have sought in him alone (Is 36:6-7).

29:8-16 Egypt would no longer be a world power.

29:12 In the Bible forty years is a frequent expression for a complete and lengthy period of time (Nm 14:33; 1Kg 2:11). If Egypt fell to the Babylonians in 568 BC, as most ancient Near Eastern histories maintain, then this forty-year “captivity” of Egypt ended when the Persians came to power.

29:16 After the Babylonians were defeated and the Persians seized control, Egypt was never again a formidable world power.

29:17-20 Nebuchadnezzar labored over Tyre but received no plunder. The Lord gave Egypt to him as compensation for all his labor.

29:21 Horn refers to the horn of an animal. Because animals used these during conflict, “horn” was used as a metaphor for strength or power (1Sm 2:1; 1Kg 22:11; Ps 92:10; Jr 48:25). Here the reference is to the strength of Messiah and the future restoration of the Davidic monarchy in the aftermath of Egypt’s collapse (Ps 132:17; Is 11:1-16). The word grow or sprout is a specific messianic image. The ultimate fulfillment of this verse is found in Christ (Ezk 17:22-24), who will come to the aid of Israel and defend her against the heathen world in the last days (Lk 1:69; Rv 5:6).