Ezekiel 29

Ezekiel 29:1

THe tenth yeare] To wit, of the captivitie of Jeconiah, or of the reign of Zedekiah. Of the order of these prophecies, and how the former standeth sometime after the latter, read Jeremiah 27:1.

Ezekiel 29:2

Pharaoh] It is likely this was Pharaoh Hophrah, Jeremiah 44:30.

against all Egypt] Isaiah 19:1. Jeremiah 25:19. & Jeremiah 46:2.

Ezekiel 29:3

dragon that lyeth in the midst] Psal. 74. 13, 14. Isaiah 27:1. & Isaiah 51:9. Chap. 32. 2. The Hebrew word signifieth any great water creature. Here is meant the Crocodile, the figure of Pharaoh: Or whale.

My river is mine own] Vers. 9. I possesse a most fruitfull Kingdome, and so strongly situated by reason of the river Nilus, that it cannot be taken from me by any strength.

I have made it for my selfe] I doe not depend upon any one: as I have gotten and encreased my Kingdome of my selfe, so am I sufficient to maintain it against all men.

Ezekiel 29:4

But I will] Isaiah 37:29. Chap. 38. 4.

put hooks in thy chaws] I will draw thee out of thy countrey which is so strong, together with all thy subjects, which will follow thee, to goe and meet Nebuchadnezzar, to the end that you being all slain by him, your bodies may lye for food for the fowles of the ayre, and the wilde beasts of the field, Psalms 74:14.

Ezekiel 29:5

open fields] Heb. face of the field.

nor gathered] To be buried.

Ezekiel 29:6

have been] They have sollicited my people to rebell against the Chaldeans, promising them assistance, and have violated their faith; and so have not onely been unprofitable, but also very hurtfull to them.

staff of reed] 2 Kings 18:21. Isaiah 36:6.

Ezekiel 29:7

and madest all their loynes to be at a stand] Thou hast left them to defend themselves with their own strength, and alone to bear the burden of the warre, which they had undertaken for thy advantage.

Ezekiel 29:9

The river is mine] Vers. 3. Thus God cannot suffer that man should arrogate any thing to himselfe, or put his trust in any thing save in him alone.

and I have made it] He speaketh in the person of this King, or in generall of all the Kings of Egypt his predecessours, who with great charges and labour, had brought Nilus with channels over all the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 29:10

utterly waste] Heb. wasles of wasle.

from the tower] From one end of Egypt to the other. See Chap. 30. 6.

Syene] Heb. Sevench. It hath been commonly thought by reason of the likenesse of the name, that it was the citie of Syene, standing upon the confines of Egypt, and Ethiopia, where there might be some tower to mark the defect of shadowes in the very day of the Summer Solstice: as there was a well also to that purpose.

Ethiopia] Heb. of Ghush. That is, to the borders of the Chushites, or Arabians: for betweene Seveneh and Arabia is situated all Egypt: for Seveneh was one border of Egypt, confronting and joyning to Ethiopia; and the Chushites or Arabians the other. So we are to understand Chap. 30. 4. 5. 9.

Ezekiel 29:11

neither shall it be] Jeremiah 46:26.

Ezekiel 29:13

end of fourty yeers] Isaiah 19:23. Jeremiah 46:26.

Ezekiel 29:14

Pathros] Genesis 10:14.

habitation] Or, birth.

base kingdome] Heb. low. Namely, subject and tributary to the Persian, who shall people it againe. See Chap. 17. 6. 14.

Ezekiel 29:16

which bringeth their] Lest by reason of these unlawfull practises, through which my people, trusting upon Egypt, have forsaken their belief they had in me, and have broken their faith to the Chaldeans, I may again call them to account for all the sinnes which they have committed, by imitating the Egyptian idolaters, Chap. 8. 10. 14. & 23. 19, 20, 21.

Ezekiel 29:17

seven and twentieth yeer] Counting from the captivitie of Jeconiah.

Ezekiel 29:18

caused his army to serve] Namely, to execute my judgements upon Tyre, and therefore I will requite him. And if ancient histories be true, that siege lasted thirteene yeers.

every head was made bald] That is, they have suffered long and hard labours, and toyles, and have worne out themselve about it.

for Tyrus] Or, from. Or, out of Tyrus.

Ezekiel 29:19

take her spoil, and take her prey] Heb. spoil her spoil, and prey her prey.

Ezekiel 29:20

for his labour] Or, for his hire.

for me] To execute my judgements, though they did not know my will, nor had any intent to obey it, Isaiah 10:7.

Ezekiel 29:21

In that day] When I shall beat down the Egyptians, then will I beginne to raise up again my people in Babylon, by the exaltation of Jeconiah, Jeremiah 52:31. which certainly caused a great deale of ease, and libertie to the Jewish prisoners.

bud forth] See Psalms 132:17.

I will give thee the] I will make it so that thou Ezekiel, as all the rest of the true beleevers, may freely, and with open mouthes, praise the Lord in your Assemblies, Chap. 24. 27. & 33. 22.