And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations ,.... Among the several provinces of Babylon, and other places, where the Chaldeans should carry or send them: and will disperse them through the countries : the same thing repeated in different words for the confirmation of it. read more
And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon ,.... Give him a commission to make war; direct his councils; supply him with all necessaries; animate and encourage his soldiers; and give him success in all his enterprises: and put my sword in his hand ; which confirms the above sense, that he should have power and authority from the Lord to attack the king of Egypt, and should gain a victory over him; since it was not his own sword he drew, but the sword of the Lord of hosts;... read more
One strengthened and another weakened. Historians chronicle the events which take place among the nations, and especially those which bring about the transference of supremacy, hegemony, from one people to another. The great empires of antiquity succeeded one another in a movement both picturesque and instructive. Ezekiel, in this passage, describes the defeat and humiliation of Egypt, and the victory and exaltation of Babylon. But he does more than this; as a religious teacher and prophet... read more
Broken arms. Pharaoh's arms are to be broken, while the arms of the King of Babylon are to be strengthened. This metaphor describes the condition of the great empires that is consequent on the shock of conflict. The broken arm is suggestive of loss of power. I. IT IS A CALAMITY TO LOSE POWER . This is felt to be so physically. So it is spiritually; for there are broken-armed Churches and broken-armed souls. 1. Men suffer great inconvenience who have broken arms . ... read more
The broken arm. It is marvelous that men do not realize as a fact how completely dependent they are upon the unseen God. In theory, the bulk of men are theists; in practice, atheists. It would produce a blessed revolution in society if believers in God's nearness lived up to their beliefs. How differently would kings and statesmen act, compared with their ordinary conduct! What a scene of order and quietness would our earth become! I. THAT A CONFLICT BETWEEN NATIONS MAY BE ... read more
The broken and the strengthened arm. "I have broken the arm of Pharaoh King of Egypt;" "I will strengthen the arms of the King of Babylon." These words suggest to us three things. I. GOD 'S ACTION ON ALL THE NATIONS . God was in an especial sense "the God of Israel," but certainly not in an exclusive sense. He was, as he is, the God of all the nations. He was observing, directing, overruling everywhere. If Egypt fell, it was because he "broke the arm of Pharaoh;" if Babylon... read more
The strong, and that which was broken . The image is pressed yet further. A warrior whose sword-arm was broken might go on fighting with his left. Hophra might continue to struggle, though with diminished strength. Ezekiel's words shut out the hope of any such struggle. The left arm also should be broken as the right had been. The Chaldean king should wax stronger and stronger. The sword of Nebuchadnezzar should be as truly "the sword of Jehovah," as that of Gideon had been ( 7:18 ).... read more
Fourth prophecy against Egypt spoken three months before the capture of Jerusalem Ezekiel 26:1, and three months after the prophecy of Ezekiel 29:1. Meantime, Pharaoh-Hophra’s attempt on Jerusalem had been foiled, and the Egyptians driven back into their own country (Jeremiah 37:5 note).Ezekiel 30:21I have broken - Especially by the defeat at Carchemish.A roller - Or, a bandage.Ezekiel 30:22The strong - Such power as Egypt yet retained at home and abroad.That which was broken - The power which... read more
Ezekiel 30:20-26 . It came to pass in the eleventh year, &c. It seems this prophecy was delivered soon after the Egyptian army had marched out of Egypt to relieve Jerusalem when besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, but had returned without effecting any thing, (see notes on Jeremiah 37:5; Jeremiah 37:7,) and some months before that city was taken, that is, more than sixteen years before the preceding prophecies. I have broken the arm of Pharaoh I have begun to break, or will break, Pharaoh’s... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 30:20-26
This short prophecy of the weakening of the power of Egypt was delivered about the time that the army of the Egyptians, which attempted to raise the siege of Jerusalem, was frustrated in its enterprises, and returned re infectâ?without accomplishing their purpose; whereupon the king of Babylon renewed the siege and carried his point. The kingdom of Egypt was very ancient, and had been for many ages considerable. That of Babylon had but lately arrived at its great pomp and power, being built... read more