Ezekiel 31:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 31:1-9

This prophecy bears date the month before Jerusalem was taken, as that in the close of the foregoing chapter about four months before. When God's people were in the depth of their distress, it would be some comfort to them, as it would serve likewise for a check to the pride and malice of their neighbours, that insulted over them, to be told from heaven that the cup was going round, even the cup of trembling, that it would shortly be taken out of the hands of God's people and put into the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 31:4

The waters made him great ,.... The waters of the river Tigris, near to which stood the city of Nineveh, the metropolis of the Assyrian monarchy; the traffic brought by which river made it rich and great, and the whole empire, and the king of it: the deep set him up on high, with her rivers running round about his plants ; the vast trade by sea, the profits and commodities of which were conveyed through various rivers, which ran about the provinces of the empire, which were as plants in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 31:4

The waters made him great - Alluding to the fertility of Egypt by the overflowing of the Nile. But waters often mean peoples. By means of the different nations under the Egyptians, that government became very opulent. These nations are represented as fowls and beasts, taking shelter under the protection of this great political Egyptian tree, Ezekiel 31:6 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 31:1-9

The great cedar. Assyria is compared to a cedar of Lebanon, which is an emblem of earthly magnificence. I. THE CEDAR IS MAGNIFICENT . It is the favorite tree in biblical imagery to express splendor. In this respect it could be taken as a symbol of a great triumphant empire such as that of Assyria. Thus it is plainly declared that there is a splendor of this world. We are not to be surprised when we see the wicked flourishing like a green bay tree ( Psalms 37:35 ). He may even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 31:1-9

The greatness of Assyria. The Prophet Ezekiel, in witnessing against Pharaoh and Egypt, inculcated the lesson with all the more emphasis by the help of an historic parallel. He has to remind Egypt that, great as is her power, there have been powers as great as she that have been brought low. The consequences of national pride and self-confidence, the downfall and destruction of the mighty, may be learnt by considering the history and the fate of Assyria. References to the kingdom of which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 31:1-18

A terrible perdition. Precious lemons can be learnt from God's treatment of others. As in others' conduct we may find a mirror of our own, so in others' chastisement we may find a reflected image of our own deserts. The principles on which God acts are these of eternal immutability. Therefore we may learn with certainty what will sooner or later happen. On the part of God, it is an act of genuine kindness that he holds up the perdition of one to deter others from sin. Thus he would turn... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 31:4

The waters made him great . The scenery is hardly that of Lebanon, but finds its counterpart in that of the Nile, perhaps also of the Tigris, with the waters of the river diverted into streams and channels by a careful system of irrigation. The cedar grew close to the river itself; the other trees of the field were watered only by the smaller channels, and so were inferior to it in the fullness of their growth. (For the general imagery, comp. Ezekiel 17:5 ; Psalms 1:3 ; Jeremiah 17:8 ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 31:3-9

Fifth prophecy against Egypt: a warning to Pharaoh from the fate of the Assyrians. The Assyrian empire, after having been supreme in Asia for four centuries, had been overthrown by the united forces of the Babylonians and Medes, in the year of the battle of Carchemish (605 b.c.), which had broken the power of Egypt. This gives force to the warning to Egypt from Assyria’s fall.Ezekiel 31:4His plants - Rather, her plantation. The water represents the riches and might which flowed into... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 31:3-9

Ezekiel 31:3-9. Behold the Assyrian This, says Archbishop Secker, seems an admonitory comparison of Pharaoh to the late Assyrian monarch, applied to Pharaoh, Ezekiel 31:18. By the Assyrian, compared here to a tall and fair cedar, such as grew in mount Lebanon, Archbishop Usher and Dr. Prideaux understand that king of Assyria whom some call Chyniladanus, others Saracus, of whom it seems the words of the Prophet Nahum ( Nah 3:18 ) are to be understood. In like manner Zephaniah joins the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 31:1-18

The mighty cedar tree (31:1-18)Pharaoh, and through him Egypt, is likened to a giant cedar tree, well watered and tall, which provides shelter for birds and animals alike. It is a picture of the strong and proud kingdom of Egypt, upon whom neighbouring countries relied for protection (31:1-6). (Some versions suggest that this poem was written concerning Assyria. If that is the case, the writer quotes it here so that Egypt might learn the lesson.)Other countries were impressed by Egypt and... read more

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