Ezekiel Chapter 32
Ezekiel 32
Egypt, Monster of the Seas, Destined for Hell
Ezekiel 32 closes the long series of prophecies against Egypt. The chapter contains two lamentations. The first pictures Pharaoh as a young lion among the nations and as a monster in the seas, thrashing in the waters, troubling the rivers, and muddying what he touched. The LORD promises to catch him in His net, drag him out, leave him exposed, and bring darkness over Egypt. The second lamentation drags Egypt down into the pit, where she joins Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, the princes of the north, and the Sidonians. Egypt had considered herself beautiful and powerful, but in death she would lie among the uncircumcised, slain by the sword. The uploaded notes emphasize Pharaoh’s monster-like pride, Babylon as the sword of God’s judgment, the horror of Egypt’s descent into Sheol, and the certainty that the LORD rules over the rise and fall of nations
A. Pharaoh and Egypt as a monster of the sea.
1. Ezekiel 32:1-2, Pharaoh like a lion or a monster of the sea.
Ezekiel 32:1, And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 32:2, Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.
In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month places this prophecy more than a year after Jerusalem’s fall. By this point, any hope that Egypt could rescue Judah had already collapsed. Jerusalem had fallen, and Egypt remained under the word of judgment.
The word of the LORD came unto me shows again that the LORD is interpreting the fate of Egypt. Egypt’s ancient greatness, Pharaoh’s pride, and Babylon’s military strength are all under the authority of the God of Israel.
Take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt means Ezekiel is to sing a funeral song over Pharaoh before the full judgment is historically complete. Pharaoh still appeared powerful, but God already saw him as destined for death and disgrace.
Thou art like a young lion of the nations describes Pharaoh as he saw himself or as he appeared among nations: strong, predatory, royal, and feared. Egypt still had influence and could trouble surrounding peoples.
Thou art as a whale in the seas uses the image of a great sea monster, likely continuing the crocodile or dragon-like imagery from Ezekiel 29. Pharaoh belonged to the waters of Egypt, especially the Nile and its river system. He seemed like a mighty creature moving through his own domain.
Earlier Ezekiel pictured Pharaoh as a great dragon in his rivers.
Ezekiel 29:3, Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
Thou camest forth with thy rivers means Pharaoh asserted himself through Egypt’s river power, resources, and influence. Egypt’s life was bound up with the Nile, and Pharaoh moved as if the rivers belonged to him.
Troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers means Pharaoh did not bring true peace or life. He stirred up mud and filth. Egypt’s interference among the nations, including Judah’s politics, only troubled the waters. Pharaoh thrashed about like a beast and left disorder behind him.
This was true in Judah’s final days. Egypt’s promised help only complicated matters and gave false hope.
Jeremiah 37:5, Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 37:6, Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Jeremiah 37:7, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
Jeremiah 37:8, And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
Pharaoh’s power did not save Judah. It muddied the waters and then failed.
2. Ezekiel 32:3-8, God will slay and disgrace the sea monster representing Pharaoh.
Ezekiel 32:3, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.
Ezekiel 32:4, Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.
Ezekiel 32:5, And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height.
Ezekiel 32:6, I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.
Ezekiel 32:7, And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
Ezekiel 32:8, All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.
I will therefore spread out my net over thee means the LORD Himself will capture Pharaoh. The sea monster may seem powerful in the rivers, but God has a net large enough to take him. Pharaoh’s strength is no match for divine judgment.
With a company of many people points to the armies and nations God would use as His net. The immediate instrument is Babylon, but the ultimate hunter is the LORD.
They shall bring thee up in my net means Pharaoh will be dragged out of his place of strength. The Nile, the rivers, the waters, and Egypt’s natural defenses cannot protect him from the LORD’s net.
Then will I leave thee upon the land is humiliation. A sea monster or crocodile is terrifying in the water, but helpless when dragged onto land. Egypt will be removed from the environment where she felt strong.
I will cast thee forth upon the open field means Pharaoh will be exposed, dishonored, and left without protection.
Will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee pictures disgrace after death. Pharaoh, who claimed greatness, will become food for scavengers. This is a deliberate humiliation of Egyptian pride, especially because Egypt highly valued burial, tombs, and the preservation of the dead.
The same kind of disgrace was spoken earlier over Pharaoh.
Ezekiel 29:5, And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.
The image also appears in end-time judgment language.
Revelation 19:17, And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Revelation 19:18, That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height means the downfall will be massive and visible. Pharaoh’s greatness will become scattered ruin.
I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest turns Egypt’s own watery imagery against her. Pharaoh once moved proudly through the waters, but now the land will be watered with his blood.
This recalls the first plague against Egypt, when the waters were turned to blood.
Exodus 7:19, And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that-they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood,-and in vessels of stone.
Exodus 7:20, And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and-smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants;-and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
Exodus 7:21, And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not-drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
The rivers shall be full of thee means Egypt’s own waters become associated with Pharaoh’s defeat and bloodshed.
When I shall put thee out means God will extinguish Pharaoh’s light. The ruler who seemed glorious will be snuffed out like a lamp.
I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light describes cosmic-darkness imagery. Egypt’s fall will be like the darkening of the heavens. This language communicates terror, judgment, and the collapse of a world power.
This also recalls the ninth plague upon Egypt.
Exodus 10:21, And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over-the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
Exodus 10:22, And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of-Egypt three days:
Exodus 10:23, They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children-of Israel had light in their dwellings.
The darkness also shows the impotence of Egypt’s sun gods. The LORD who once darkened Egypt in Moses’ day can darken Egypt again.
All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land means Egypt’s judgment will feel like the collapse of light itself. For proud Egypt, the day of the LORD will be a day of darkness.
3. Ezekiel 32:9-10, Fear and astonishment among the nations at Pharaoh’s fall.
Ezekiel 32:9, I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.
Ezekiel 32:10, Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.
I will also vex the hearts of many people means Egypt’s fall will trouble the nations. When a major power falls, other nations are disturbed. They begin to fear for themselves.
When I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known means the news and effects of Egypt’s fall will reach distant peoples. Egypt’s judgment will be international knowledge.
I will make many people amazed at thee means the nations will be astonished. Egypt was ancient and formidable. Her humiliation would shock the world.
Their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee means rulers will tremble when they see what happens to Pharaoh. If the LORD can bring down Egypt, no king is safe in pride.
When I shall brandish my sword before them reveals that the sword belongs to God. Babylon may carry the weapon historically, but the LORD brandishes it. The nations must see that this is divine judgment, not merely imperial politics.
They shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall means Egypt’s fall becomes a warning. The kings of the nations will recognize their own vulnerability. The downfall of one proud power becomes a sermon to all proud powers.
4. Ezekiel 32:11-16, Judgment by the sword of Babylon.
Ezekiel 32:11, For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.
Ezekiel 32:12, By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.
Ezekiel 32:13, I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
Ezekiel 32:14, Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 32:15, When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 32:16, This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee states plainly what the earlier images implied. Egypt will be judged through war, and Babylon will be the instrument. The monster will be caught, and the sword will come through Nebuchadnezzar’s power.
God had already declared that He would strengthen Babylon against Egypt.
Ezekiel 30:24, And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I-will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.
By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall means Egypt’s vast population, armies, and gathered strength will be cut down by mighty warriors.
The terrible of the nations, all of them describes Babylon and its forces as fearsome instruments of judgment. They are terrible, but they are not sovereign. God says, I cause thy multitude to fall.
They shall spoil the pomp of Egypt means Egypt’s splendor, wealth, royal display, temples, treasures, and national glory will be plundered. What Egypt paraded as greatness will become spoil.
All the multitude thereof shall be destroyed repeats the breadth of the judgment. Egypt’s masses and strength will be devastated.
I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters means the judgment will affect animals and agriculture as well as people. Egypt’s riverbanks and pastures will be emptied.
Neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them means the waters will no longer be muddied by human and animal activity because the land will be desolate. The earlier image of Pharaoh fouling the waters is reversed. The troubling stops because judgment has emptied the land.
Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil means the rivers will flow undisturbed, smooth, and quiet. This is not prosperity, but desolation. No crowds, cattle, armies, or trade will stir them.
When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full means the fullness of Egypt will be removed. A land once full of people, cattle, wealth, idols, cities, and pride will be emptied.
When I shall smite all them that dwell therein makes the LORD’s direct role unmistakable. Babylon strikes, but God smites.
Then shall they know that I am the LORD gives the purpose again. Egypt’s humiliation reveals Yahweh’s sovereignty.
This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her closes the funeral song. Egypt’s future is not celebration but lamentation.
The daughters of the nations shall lament her means surrounding peoples and dependent nations will mourn Egypt’s fall. They will lament not only Egypt, but also what Egypt’s fall means for them.
They shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude means the whole mass of Egypt’s people and power becomes the subject of mourning. Egypt’s greatness ends in a funeral song.
B. The seventh prophecy against Egypt.
1. Ezekiel 32:17-21, Egypt dragged down to the pit of the grave.
Ezekiel 32:17, It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 32:18, Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.
Ezekiel 32:19, Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
Ezekiel 32:20, They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.
Ezekiel 32:21, The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
In the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month gives the date of the final prophecy against Egypt. It likely came about two weeks after the lamentation at the beginning of the chapter. The long Egypt section closes with a descent into the pit.
Wail for the multitude of Egypt means Ezekiel must mourn not merely Pharaoh, but the mass of Egypt’s people, armies, dependents, and national strength.
Cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth means Egypt and associated nations are pictured as being sent down into death, Sheol, and the pit. The proud nation that exalted itself will be brought low.
With them that go down into the pit connects Egypt with the same destiny as other judged nations. The pit is the grave-realm, the place of death and humiliation.
This language appeared in the prophecy against Tyre.
Ezekiel 26:20, When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time,-and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that-go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of-the living;
Assyria was also described as going down to the pit.
Ezekiel 31:16, I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell-with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon,-all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
Whom dost thou pass in beauty? is a taunting question. Egypt thought herself beautiful, ancient, glorious, and superior. But what does beauty matter in the grave? Death strips away national vanity.
Go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised is deep humiliation for Egypt. Egyptians practiced circumcision and were extremely concerned with proper burial, but God says they will lie with the uncircumcised, a category of shame and contempt in this context.
They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword means war will be the instrument of Egypt’s descent. The sword sends them into the pit.
She is delivered to the sword again shows God’s sovereign handing over of Egypt. Egypt is delivered to judgment.
Draw her and all her multitudes pictures Egypt being dragged down, as though pulled into death.
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell presents Sheol as populated by fallen powers who recognize one another. In this poetic picture, the strong already in the pit speak to Pharaoh as he arrives.
They are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword is the message Pharaoh hears. Others strong and mighty have already suffered the same disgrace. Egypt is not unique. She joins the company of judged nations.
The Old Testament picture of Sheol here is shadowed, but it does show consciousness, recognition, and disgrace after death. This agrees with later revelation that death does not end accountability.
Luke 16:22, And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s-bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off,-and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24, And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he-may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this-flame.
2. Ezekiel 32:22-30, Egypt will join other nations in the pit of the grave.
Ezekiel 32:22, Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:
Ezekiel 32:23, Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.
Ezekiel 32:24, There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
Ezekiel 32:25, They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.
Ezekiel 32:26, There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
Ezekiel 32:27, And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
Ezekiel 32:28, Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.
Ezekiel 32:29, There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
Ezekiel 32:30, There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
Asshur is there and all her company begins the roll call of fallen nations. Assyria, once the great cedar of Ezekiel 31, is already in the pit. Egypt will not be the first mighty empire to descend.
His graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword means Assyria’s people and armies surround it in death. The empire that once terrified others now lies slain.
Which caused terror in the land of the living repeats a key theme. These nations were terrifying on earth. They caused fear, oppression, violence, and destruction. But now they lie in the pit. Terror in life does not prevent disgrace in death.
There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave names another ancient power. Elam, east of Babylon, also had a history of strength and warfare. Yet Elam too is in the pit.
All of them slain, fallen by the sword repeats the means of judgment. The sword reduced their greatness.
Gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth means Elam shares the same disgraceful descent. The proud nations lie in shame.
Yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit means judgment follows them into death. They do not escape shame by dying. Their shame is borne with them.
They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude pictures Elam’s resting place as a bed among the dead. It is not honor, but burial in disgrace.
Though their terror was caused in the land of the living again contrasts earthly fear with final humiliation. They terrified others while alive, but death exposes their weakness.
There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude names peoples often associated with regions north of Israel and Asia Minor. Whatever their exact historical identity, they represent another feared power brought down.
Meshech and Tubal appear in the table of nations.
Genesis 10:2, The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and-Meshech, and Tiras.
They are also named later in Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning Gog.
Ezekiel 38:2, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech-and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword means they too share the same end: death, disgrace, and judgment.
They shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war is difficult, but it seems to distinguish them from warriors who received some form of military burial honor. These are not honored heroes; they are disgraced dead.
They have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones means even if warriors are buried with weapons, their sin still remains. Military honor cannot cover iniquity. Weapons under the head do not remove guilt from the bones.
Though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living again shows that earthly terror is no defense against divine judgment.
Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised now applies the lesson directly to Egypt. Pharaoh will be broken among the same disgraced nations.
And shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword means Egypt shares their fate.
There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes adds Edom to the pit. Edom had taken vengeance against Judah, but Edom too would be judged and brought down.
Edom was already judged in Ezekiel 25.
Ezekiel 25:12, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking-vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
Ezekiel 25:13, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will-cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan-shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel 25:14, And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do-in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the-Lord GOD.
Which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword means Edom’s might did not save her. Her kings and princes lie with the slain.
They shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit repeats the disgraceful destiny.
There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians adds northern rulers and Sidon to the list. Sidon too had received judgment in Ezekiel 28.
Ezekiel 28:21, Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,
Ezekiel 28:22, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and-I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when-I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
Ezekiel 28:23, For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be-judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I-am the LORD.
Which are gone down with the slain means Sidon and the northern princes share the same grave-realm destiny as the others.
With their terror they are ashamed of their might means their former terror becomes shame. Their might, once feared, is now useless and humiliating.
They lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit summarizes the whole section. Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, the princes of the north, and Sidon all lie in the pit under shame. Egypt will join them.
3. Ezekiel 32:31-32, The sword of judgment upon Egypt.
Ezekiel 32:31, Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 32:32, For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude is bitter irony. Pharaoh’s only comfort in the pit is that he is not alone. Other mighty nations are there too. Fallen greatness has company in judgment.
Even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword means Egypt’s ruler and military power will both be brought down. The same sword that judged the nations will judge Egypt.
Saith the Lord GOD gives divine authority to this terrifying conclusion.
For I have caused my terror in the land of the living means the LORD Himself caused His terror to be known among nations. Egypt had caused terror, and the other nations had caused terror, but God’s terror is greater. His judgment exposes all human terror as temporary.
He shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword repeats Egypt’s final humiliation. Pharaoh claimed greatness, but he would lie among the disgraced dead.
Even Pharaoh and all his multitude closes the Egypt oracles with totality. The king and the people, the ruler and the army, the monster and the multitude, all come under judgment.
Saith the Lord GOD is the final word. Egypt’s history, beauty, Nile, gods, armies, and pride do not get the last word. The Lord GOD does.
Ezekiel 32 closes the prophecies against Egypt with a funeral song and a descent into the pit. Pharaoh was like a young lion and a monster in the seas, but the LORD would spread His net over him, drag him out, expose him, and feed him to birds and beasts. Egypt’s lights would be put out, her land darkened, her pomp plundered, and her multitude destroyed by the sword of Babylon. Then Egypt would be cast down into the pit, where Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, the northern princes, and Sidon already lay in shame. The chapter teaches that the proud powers of the earth may terrify men for a season, but they cannot escape the terror of the LORD. Nations rise and fall under His hand. Pharaoh and all his multitude would learn too late that Yahweh alone is God.
