Ezekiel 29:18

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 29:18

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17-20

The King of kings. By the very remarkable events here foretold, viewed in the light of the very remarkable interpretation which Ezekiel was inspired to add, we are taught some lessons of wider application and deeper interest than those which appear upon the surface of the prophet's writings. I. GOD IS OVER ALL . II. GOD USES ALL . 1. He has and directs his own instruments of work, kings and nations being at his service. 2. He has his own resources from which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17-20

A New Year's gift to a king. There is a common proverb, that "he who gives quickly gives double." But this is not always true. A deferred gift is sometimes the best gift. God may to us seem to forget, but it is only seeming. The memory never fails, nor yet his good will. I. ROUGH WAR IS SOMETIMES SERVICE DONE FOR GOD . "They wrought for me, saith the Lord God." Men of delicate sensibility cannot understand how God can allow the rough business of war to serve his cause.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 29:18

Nebuchadnezzar , etc. The words carry us to the close of the thirteen years' siege of Tyro referred to in the notes on Ezekiel 28:1-26 ; and enable us to refer the commencement of that siege to the fourteenth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, circ. B.C. 586, two years after the destruction of Jerusalem. This agrees with the report of the Tyrian Annals given by Josephus ('Contra Apion,' Ezekiel 1:21 ), who gives the names of the kings of Tyro from Ithobal to Hirom, in the fourteenth year of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 29:17-21

The prophet places this prediction out of chronological order, that he may point out what had not been stated in the foregoing prophecy, namely, that the agent who should strike the first blow on Egypt should be the Chaldaean king, Nebuchadnezzar.Ezekiel 29:18Yet had he no wages - It is not improbable that the Tyrians before they surrendered their island-citadel managed to remove much of their treasure; but others exlplain the verse; that the siege and capture of Tyre is to be regarded as the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 29:17-18

Ezekiel 29:17-18. And it came to pass, &c. The new prophecy, which begins here, is connected with the foregoing, on account of its relating to the same subject, and not on account of its being the next revelation in time which Ezekiel had; for there is nearly seventeen years distance between the date of the foregoing prophecy and this; during which Egypt was torn to pieces by sedition and civil wars, which seems to be signified by the foregoing prophecy; and, the time then approaching... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 29:17-21

Babylon’s victory over Egypt (29:17-21)A much later prophecy is put into the collection at this point, to show how God’s judgment on Egypt was carried out. The year was 571 BC (17).Babylon took thirteen years of hard work to conquer Tyre, and this left the Babylonian soldiers worn out. To make matters worse, they did not gain the profit they expected from the conquered city, because the people of Tyre had apparently shipped out much of their wealth during the thirteen years of siege (18).... read more

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