Ezekiel 29:17-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17-21

The date of this prophecy is observable; it was in the twenty-seventh year of Ezekiel's captivity, sixteen years after the prophecy in the former part of the chapter, and almost as long after those which follow in the next chapters; but it comes in here for the explication of all that was said against Egypt. After the destruction of Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar spent two or three campaigns in the conquest of the Ammonites and Moabites and making himself master of their countries. Then he spent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17

And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year ,.... Of Jeconiah's captivity; or of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, as Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abendana, from Seder Olam Rabba F26 C. 26. p. 77. , observe; though it was in the thirty fifth year of his reign that Tyre was taken by him; and after that Egypt was given him: in the first month, in the first day of the month : the month Nisan, which answers to part of March, and part of April. According to Bishop Usher F1 Annales Vet.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 29:18

Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon ,.... The same with Nebuchadnezzar; he goes by both names in Scripture, nor is the difference very great: caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus ; in besieging it thirteen years F3 Hist. Physic. spud Joseph. adv. Aplon, l. 1. c. 21. before he was able to take it; during which time his army suffered much hardship, was greatly fatigued and wearied, by the various military works they were engaged in, to carry on the siege so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 29:19

Therefore thus saith the Lord God ,.... Since this was the case, that the king of Babylon had been working for nothing, and had spent much blood and treasure, as well as time, to little purpose and advantage to himself; behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon ; which will make him a sufficient recompence for his loss of time, men, and money, before Tyre; and though the conquest of Egypt was made easy to him, by the internal divisions and wars which were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 29:20

I have given him the land of Egypt for labour wherewith he served against it , That is, against Tyre; meaning not Nebuchadnezzar merely or only, but his army also, who did the main of the service and labour, and had the plunder of the country for it; though the kingdom itself was given to their king, and annexed to his monarchy: because they wrought for me, saith the Lord God ; not intentionally, but eventually; they did not design to do any service for God; they only sought to serve... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 29:17

The seven and twentieth year - That is, of the captivity of Jeconiah, fifteen years after the taking of Jerusalem; about April 20, 3432. The preceding prophecy was delivered one year before the taking of Jerusalem; this, sixteen years after; and it is supposed to be the last which this prophet wrote. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 29:18

Caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus - He was thirteen years employed in the siege. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. 10 c. 11. In this siege his soldiers endured great hardships. Being continually on duty, their heads became bald by wearing their helmets; and their shoulders bruised and peeled by carrying baskets of earth to the fortifications, and wood, etc., to build towers, etc. Yet had he no wages, nor his army - The Tyrians, finding it at last impossible to defend their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 29:20

I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor - Because he fulfilled the designs of God against Tyre, God promises to reward him with the spoil of Egypt. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17

In the seven and twentieth , etc. The section that follows has the interest of being, as far as the dates recorded enable us to determine, the latest of Ezekiel's prophecies, and brings us to B.C. 572. It was manifestly inserted at a later date, seventeen years after those which precede and follow it, either by the prophet, as he collected and revised his writings, or by some later editor, as a proof that his earlier predictions had already received, or were on the point of receiving, their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17-20

Nebuchadnezzar's wages. Nebuchadnezzar was used as God's servant in the work of destroying Tyre. But he got little profit out of that expedition. Therefore he was to receive his wages in the possession of the fertile and wealthy land of Egypt. This curious rendering of history in the light of Hebrew prophecy and poetry is suggestive. I. THE GREATEST KING IS BUT GOD 'S HIRELING . Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as a common laborer whose wages must be provided for. The pomp... read more

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