Assyria was beautiful and graceful because of the waters that sustained it, waters that were solely a gift of God’s grace. No tree in God’s garden of nations could compare with it. The other kingdoms were jealous of Assyria, which was preeminent in God’s Eden-like collection of nations. read more
The Fall of the Great CedarEgypt was a stately cedar, thick, lofty, and spreading; sheltering all the fowls and beasts (the nations) in its branches and under its shadow (Ezekiel 31:1-6). It was the envy of all the trees (other great empires) in Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 31:7-9). But because of its pride it is given into the hands of a mighty one (Nebuchadrezzar), who will cut it down. Those whom it sheltered will be scattered or will trample on it when it has fallen (Ezekiel 31:10-13).... read more
Ezekiel 31:3 In Proserpina, after quoting this passage, Ruskin proceeds: 'Now hear what follows. "The cedars in the Garden of God could not hide Him. The fir-trees were not like His boughs, and the chestnut-trees were not like His branches; nor any tree in the Garden of God was like unto Him in beauty." So that you see, whenever a nation rises into consistent, vital, and, through many generations, enduring power, there is still the Garden of God; still it is the water of life which feeds... read more
EGYPTEzekiel 29:1-21; Ezekiel 30:1-26; Ezekiel 31:1-18; Ezekiel 32:1-32EGYPT figures in the prophecies of Ezekiel as a great world-power cherishing projects of universal dominion. Once more, as in the age of Isaiah, the ruling factor in Asiatic politics was the duel for the mastery of the world between the rival empires of the Nile and the Euphrates. The influence of Egypt was perhaps even greater in the beginning of the sixth century than it had been in the end of the eighth, although in the... read more
Ezekiel 31:1-18 . Pharaoh’s greatness is described in the first part of the chapter (Ezekiel 31:1-9 ). He is compared to the Assyrian, once so powerful and proud. The fall and desolation of the proud monarch under the picture of a tree follows in Ezekiel 31:10-14 . The overthrow of Egypt and the resulting consternation among the nations is predicted in the last section of this chapter (Ezekiel 31:15-18 ). Ezekiel 32:1-32 . The lamentation over Pharaoh is contained in Ezekiel 32:1-10 , followed... read more
JUDGMENTS ON GENTILE NATIONS The prophet’s “dumbness” enjoined in the last chapter, was only towards his own people, and the interval was employed in messages touching the Gentiles. These nations might have many charges laid against them, but that which concerned a prophet of Israel chiefly was their treatment of that nation see this borne out by the text. Their ruin was to be utter in the end, while that of Israel was but temporary (Jeremiah 46:28 ). Seven nations are denounced, “the... read more
It is worthy the Reader's remark, that while the Lord is chastising his own people, the rod is exercised over numbers of the surrounding nations. We have here the humbling of Egypt still threatened, as in the preceding chapters, and a great humbling it should seem to have been. In order to set it forth more fully, the Prophet is commissioned to state how the King of Assyria had been brought down, and to say that such should be the ruin of Egypt. The date of the Prophet's sermon is marked, by... read more
1-9 The falls of others, both into sin and ruin, warn us not to be secure or high-minded. The prophet is to show an instance of one whom the king of Egypt resembled in greatness, the Assyrian, compared to a stately cedar. Those who excel others, make themselves the objects of envy; but the blessings of the heavenly paradise are not liable to such alloy. The utmost security that any creature can give, is but like the shadow of a tree, a scanty and slender protection. But let us flee to God for... read more
Comparison Between Pharaoh's Power and that of Assyria v. 1. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, after the captivity of Jehoiachin, in the third month, in the first day of the month, just two months later than the prophecy delivered in chapter 30, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, v. 2. Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by sending him the message here transmitted to time Lord's prophet, and to his multitude, the people of Egypt with all their wealth, for... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezekiel 31:1-9
A poem extolling Assyria’s glory 31:1-9 read more