Ezekiel 31

Ezekiel 31:1

Year, about a month before the fall of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 31:3

Assyrian. The ruin of this great empire (Calmet) might have admonished the king of Egypt of his frail condition. (Haydock) — About thirty-eight years before (Calmet) Ninive had been taken, and its king (Sarac or Chinaladan) slain by his own general, Nabopolassar, and by Astyages, of Media. They divided the empire between them, and the father of Nabuchodonosor fixed his residence at Babylon. (Usher, the year of the world 3378.) — Cedar. Septuagint, “cypress.” — Top; the king of Ninive. (Calmet) — Egypt’s monarch thought himself invincible; yet would fall like the Assyrians. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 31:4

Roots. Various nations paid tribute to the Assyrians, (St. Jerome; Calmet) while he sent his troops, like rivulets, to keep all in subjection. (Theodoret)

Ezekiel 31:11

I have delivered. Here the time past is put for the future; i.e., I shall deliver. — The mighty one, &c., viz., Nabuchodonosor, who conquered both the Assyrians and Egyptians; (Challoner) or rather his father, Nabopolassar, subdued the former, ver. 3. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 31:12

Strangers; revolted Assyrians. See Psalm xvii. 46.

Ezekiel 31:13

Branches. The nations continued, but submitted to another master.

Ezekiel 31:14

Pit. The new king would appoint fresh governors.

Ezekiel 31:15

Waters, as if they bewailed his fate. (Calmet) — Those whom the king of Ninive had exalted, and the people, who wished not to submit to a foreigner, would no doubt lament the slaughtered monarch, new silent (Haydock) in the grave. (Theodoret)

Ezekiel 31:16

Comforted. The ghosts of princes who had been subject to Serac, seeing his fall, bore their own misfortune with greater content. In the grave there is no distinction of master and slave. (Calmet) — Surviving princes expected some emolument from the change. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 31:17

Arm; those in power. Septuagint, “his seed.” Hebrew Zora, (Haydock) means both.

Ezekiel 31:18

Famous king of Assyria, or of Egypt. — Pharao. (Calmet) —Mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur. (Horace, 1. Sat. 1.) — Though Egypt be like the most potent kingdoms, it shall likewise fall. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 31:20

CHAPTER XXXI.