Ezekiel 30:10-19

What happens to Egypt’s cities and idols when Babylon comes?

Berean Standard Bible

10 This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 11 He and his people with him, the most ruthless of the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain. 12 I will make the streams dry up and sell the land to the wicked. By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.
13 This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in Egypt, and I will instill fear in that land. 14 I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes. 15 I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the crowds of Thebes. 16 I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be split open, and Memphis will face daily distress.
17 The young men of On and Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and those cities will go into captivity. 18 The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity. 19 So I will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

What is the context?

The Lord names Nebuchadnezzar and his people as the force He will bring against Egypt. The land will be filled with the slain, its streams will dry, and foreigners will possess what it had depended upon.

The announcement moves through the cities and regions of Egypt. Idols and images in Memphis will be destroyed; fear, fire and the sword will reach the places named. Pelusium, the stronghold, cannot secure the land.

Young men fall and cities go into captivity. At Tahpanhes the breaking of Egypt’s yoke is paired with the end of its proud strength. The list leaves no refuge in the prestige of a city, its defenses or its objects of worship.

The closing line states the purpose again: the Lord will execute judgment, and they will know that He is the Lord.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Henry understands the passage as the breadth of the destruction announced through the Babylonian army. Wesley connects the broken yoke with the ending of Egypt’s oppressive power.

The threatened drying of the rivers is also read in different ways. Wesley suggests the enemy diverting them, while Cambridge emphasizes how devastating the loss of water would be. The Lord’s announcement states the loss; it does not spell out the engineering or maintenance failures by which it occurs.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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