1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!
3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.
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 saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
7 And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of 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 destroyed.
9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh.
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.
11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, 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 sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it.
13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
14 And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.
15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.
16 And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.
17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity.
18 At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.
22 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.
23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.
25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.
26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
The thirtieth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel, one of the prophetic books in the Old Testament of the King James Version of the Bible, continues the prophecies against Egypt. This chapter is the continuation of a series of oracles against the nations that have opposed God's people, Israel. The chapter is filled with vivid imagery and strong language, as Ezekiel delivers God's message of judgment against Egypt. The main themes of this chapter include the sovereignty of God, the judgment of God against nations that oppose His people, and the eventual downfall of the powerful.
The chapter begins with Ezekiel being commanded by God to prophesy and say, "Woe worth the day!" (Ezekiel 30:2). This phrase signifies the coming of a disastrous day for Egypt. The prophet is told to speak of this day as the day of the Lord, a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations (Ezekiel 30:3). This day is characterized by the sword coming upon Egypt and great pain coming upon Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down (Ezekiel 30:4).
The sovereignty of God is a recurring theme in the Book of Ezekiel and is particularly evident in chapter 30. The chapter communicates that God is in control of all nations and their destinies. He is the one who raises and brings down nations according to His will. This chapter serves as a reminder that no nation, no matter how powerful, can stand against the will of God. God's judgment is not only for the wrongdoings of individuals but also for nations that oppose His people.
Egypt, in this chapter, represents those nations that oppose God's people. Egypt was once a powerful and prosperous nation, but because of its opposition to God and His people, it is destined for downfall. The judgment of God, as described in this chapter, is severe and thorough. God promises that He will make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon (Ezekiel 30:10-11). This signifies God's use of other nations as His instruments of judgment.
The downfall of Egypt is described in graphic detail in this chapter. Ezekiel prophesies that God will destroy the idols and cease the images in Noph, and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt (Ezekiel 30:13). This prophecy points to the complete destruction of Egypt's religious and political systems. The cities of Egypt will be set on fire, and God will execute judgments in Egypt, and they shall know that He is the Lord (Ezekiel 30:14-19).
The downfall of Egypt is a powerful illustration of the fate of those who oppose God and His people. It serves as a stark warning to other nations and individuals who might be tempted to oppose God's people. This chapter thus communicates a powerful message about the consequences of opposing God.
The thirtieth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel is a powerful testament to the sovereignty of God over the nations. It communicates the severe judgment of God against those who oppose His people and the downfall of the powerful who stand against Him. This chapter serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of opposing God and His people.
The implications of this chapter are profound for believers today. It reminds us of God's sovereignty and His care for His people. It reminds us that God is the ultimate judge and that He will not allow His people to be oppressed indefinitely. It also serves as a warning to those who might be tempted to oppose God's people, reminding us of the severe consequences of such actions.
In the grand scheme of biblical narrative, Ezekiel 30 serves as a key chapter in understanding God's dealings with the nations. It provides a clear picture of God's sovereignty, justice, and His ultimate plan for the world. As such, it is an important chapter for all believers seeking to understand God's character and His plans for the world.
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