THE MIGHTY WILL FALL

Passage: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32

Key verse: 31:18

NIV

Pharaoh as a Felled Cedar of Lebanon

31 In the eleventh year,(A) in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:(B) 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:

“‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?
3 Consider Assyria,(C) once a cedar in Lebanon,(D)
    with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
    its top above the thick foliage.(E)
4 The waters(F) nourished it,
    deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
    all around its base
and sent their channels
    to all the trees of the field.(G)
5 So it towered higher(H)
    than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
    and its branches grew long,
    spreading because of abundant waters.(I)
6 All the birds of the sky
    nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
    gave birth(J) under its branches;
all the great nations
    lived in its shade.(K)
7 It was majestic in beauty,
    with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
    to abundant waters.(L)
8 The cedars(M) in the garden of God
    could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
    equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees(N)
    compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
    could match its beauty.(O)
9 I made it beautiful
    with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden(P)
    in the garden of God.(Q)

10 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud(R) of its height, 11 I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,(S) 12 and the most ruthless of foreign nations(T) cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys;(U) its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.(V) 13 All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.(W) 14 Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined(X) for death,(Y) for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.(Z)

15 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.(AA) 16 I made the nations tremble(AB) at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees(AC) of Eden,(AD) the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled(AE) in the earth below.(AF) 17 They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword,(AG) along with the armed men who lived in its shade among the nations.

18 “‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised,(AH) with those killed by the sword.

“‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Lament Over Pharaoh

32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:(AI) 2 “Son of man, take up a lament(AJ) concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

“‘You are like a lion(AK) among the nations;
    you are like a monster(AL) in the seas(AM)
thrashing about in your streams,
    churning the water with your feet
    and muddying the streams.(AN)

3 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘With a great throng of people
    I will cast my net over you,
    and they will haul you up in my net.(AO)
4 I will throw you on the land
    and hurl you on the open field.
I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you
    and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.(AP)
5 I will spread your flesh on the mountains
    and fill the valleys(AQ) with your remains.
6 I will drench the land with your flowing blood(AR)
    all the way to the mountains,
    and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.(AS)
7 When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens
    and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
    and the moon will not give its light.(AT)
8 All the shining lights in the heavens
    I will darken(AU) over you;
    I will bring darkness over your land,(AV)
declares the Sovereign Lord.
9 I will trouble the hearts of many peoples
    when I bring about your destruction among the nations,
    among[a] lands you have not known.
10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,
    and their kings will shudder with horror because of you
    when I brandish my sword(AW) before them.
On the day(AX) of your downfall
    each of them will tremble
    every moment for his life.(AY)

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘The sword(AZ) of the king of Babylon(BA)
    will come against you.(BB)
12 I will cause your hordes to fall
    by the swords of mighty men—
    the most ruthless of all nations.(BC)
They will shatter the pride of Egypt,
    and all her hordes will be overthrown.(BD)
13 I will destroy all her cattle
    from beside abundant waters
no longer to be stirred by the foot of man
    or muddied by the hooves of cattle.(BE)
14 Then I will let her waters settle
    and make her streams flow like oil,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
15 When I make Egypt desolate
    and strip the land of everything in it,
when I strike down all who live there,
    then they will know that I am the Lord.(BF)’

16 “This is the lament(BG) they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead

17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:(BH) 18 “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign(BI) to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.(BJ) 19 Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’(BK) 20 They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged(BL) off with all her hordes.(BM) 21 From within the realm of the dead(BN) the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised,(BO) with those killed by the sword.’

22 “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. 23 Their graves are in the depths of the pit(BP) and her army lies around her grave.(BQ) All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

24 “Elam(BR) is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.(BS) All who had spread terror in the land of the living(BT) went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.(BU) 25 A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised,(BV) killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

26 “Meshek and Tubal(BW) are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living. 27 But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,[b](BX) who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields[c] resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

28 “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

29 “Edom(BY) is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.(BZ)

30 “All the princes of the north(CA) and all the Sidonians(CB) are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised(CC) with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.(CD)

31 “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled(CE) for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord. 32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh(CF) and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.”(CG)

Footnotes
  1. Ezekiel 32:9 Hebrew; Septuagint bring you into captivity among the nations, / to
  2. Ezekiel 32:27 Septuagint; Hebrew warriors who were uncircumcised
  3. Ezekiel 32:27 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text punishment
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Pharaoh to Be Slain

31 (A)In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 (B)“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to (C)his multitude:

(D)“Whom are you like in your greatness?
3     Behold, (E)Assyria was a (F)cedar in (G)Lebanon,
with beautiful branches and (H)forest shade,
    (I)and of towering height,
    its top among the clouds.[a]
4 The waters nourished it;
    the deep made it grow tall,
making (J)its rivers flow
    around the place of its planting,
sending forth its streams
    to all the trees of the field.
5 So (K)it towered high
    above all the trees of the field;
its boughs grew large
    and its branches long
    from (L)abundant water in its shoots.
6 (M)All the birds of the heavens
    made their nests in its boughs;
under its branches all the beasts of the field
    gave birth to their young,
and under its shadow
    lived all great nations.
7 It was (N)beautiful in its greatness,
    in the length of its branches;
(O)for its roots went down
    to abundant waters.
8 (P)The cedars (Q)in the garden of God could not rival it,
    nor the fir trees equal its boughs;
neither were the plane trees
    like its branches;
no tree (R)in the garden of God
    was its equal in beauty.
9 I made it beautiful
    in the mass of its branches,
and all the trees of (S)Eden envied it,
    that were in the garden of God.

10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because (T)it[b] towered high and set its top among the clouds,[c] and (U)its heart was proud of its height, 11 I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. 12 (V)Foreigners, (W)the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. (X)On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all (Y)the ravines of the land, and (Z)all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it. 13 (AA)On its fallen trunk dwell all the birds of the heavens, and on its branches are all the beasts of the field. 14 (AB)All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds,[d] and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, (AC)to the world (AD)below, among the children of man,[e] with those who go down to the pit.

15 “Thus says the Lord God: On the day (AE)the cedar[f] went down to Sheol I caused mourning; I closed the deep over it, and restrained its rivers, and many waters were stopped. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. 16 (AF)I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall, (AG)when I cast it down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit. (AH)And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, (AI)were comforted in the world below. 17 They also went down to Sheol with it, (AJ)to those who are slain by the sword; yes, (AK)those who were its arm, (AL)who lived under its shadow among the nations.

18 (AM)“Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness (AN)among the trees of Eden? (AO)You shall be brought down with (AP)the trees of Eden to the world below. (AQ)You shall lie among the uncircumcised, (AR)with those who are slain by the sword.

(AS)“This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God.”

A Lament over Pharaoh and Egypt

32 (AT)In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 (AU)“Son of man, (AV)raise a lamentation over (AW)Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

“You consider yourself (AX)a lion of the nations,
    but you are like (AY)a dragon (AZ)in the seas;
(BA)you burst forth in your rivers,
    trouble the waters with your feet,
    and foul their rivers.
3 Thus says the Lord God:
    (BB)I will throw my net over you
    with a host of (BC)many peoples,
    and (BD)they will haul you up in my dragnet.
4 And (BE)I will cast you on the ground;
    on the open field I will fling you,
and will cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you,
    and I will gorge the beasts of the whole earth with you.
5 I will strew your flesh (BF)upon the mountains
    and fill the valleys with your carcass.[g]
6 I will drench the land even to the mountains
    with your flowing blood,
    and the ravines will be full of you.
7 (BG)When I blot you out, (BH)I will cover the heavens
    and make their stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
    and the moon shall not give its light.
8 All the bright lights of heaven
    will I make dark over you,
    and (BI)put darkness on your land,
declares the Lord God.

9 “I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you have not known. 10 (BJ)I will make many peoples appalled at you, and the hair of their kings shall bristle with horror because of you, when (BK)I brandish my sword before them. (BL)They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall.

11 “For thus says the Lord God: (BM)The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 I will cause (BN)your multitude to fall by the swords of mighty ones, all of them (BO)most ruthless of nations.

(BP)“They shall bring to ruin the pride of Egypt,
    and all its multitude[h] shall perish.
13 I will destroy all its beasts
    from beside many waters;
(BQ)and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore,
    nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
14 Then (BR)I will make their waters clear,
    and cause their rivers to run like oil,
declares the Lord God.
15 When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
    and when the land (BS)is desolate of all that fills it,
when I strike down all who dwell in it,
    then (BT)they will know that I am the Lord.

16 (BU)This is a lamentation that shall be chanted; the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over (BV)all her multitude, shall they chant it, declares the Lord God.”

17 (BW)In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month,[i] on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 18 (BX)“Son of man, (BY)wail over (BZ)the multitude of Egypt, and (CA)send them down, her and the daughters of majestic nations, (CB)to the world below, to those who have gone down to the pit:

19 (CC)‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?
    Go down and (CD)be laid to rest with the uncircumcised.’

20 They shall fall amid those (CE)who are slain by the sword. Egypt[j] is delivered to the sword; drag her away, and (CF)all her multitudes. 21 The mighty chiefs (CG)shall speak of them, (CH)with their helpers, out of the midst of Sheol: ‘They have come down, they lie still, (CI)the uncircumcised, (CJ)slain by the sword.’

22 (CK)“Assyria is there, and all her company, (CL)its graves all around it, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, 23 whose graves are set in (CM)the uttermost parts of the pit; and her company is all around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, (CN)who spread terror (CO)in the land of the living.

24 (CP)“Elam is (CQ)there, and all her multitude around her grave; all of them (CR)slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised into (CS)the world below, who spread their terror in the land of the living; and (CT)they bear their shame (CU)with those who go down to the pit. 25 (CV)They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, (CW)her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are placed among the slain.

26 (CX)“Meshech-Tubal is (CY)there, and all her multitude, (CZ)her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they spread their terror in the land of the living. 27 And (DA)they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living. 28 But as for you, you shall be broken (DB)and lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword.

29 (DC)“Edom is (DD)there, her kings and all her princes, who for all their might are laid with those who are killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

30 “The princes (DE)of the north are there, all of them, and all the (DF)Sidonians, who have gone down in shame with the slain, (DG)for all the terror that they caused by their might; they lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and (DH)bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

31 “When Pharaoh sees them, he (DI)will be comforted for (DJ)all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, declares the Lord God. 32 (DK)For I spread terror (DL)in the land of the living; and he shall be laid to rest among (DM)the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God.”

Footnotes
  1. Ezekiel 31:3 Or its top went through the thick boughs
  2. Ezekiel 31:10 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew you
  3. Ezekiel 31:10 Or its top through the thick boughs
  4. Ezekiel 31:14 Or their tops through the thick boughs
  5. Ezekiel 31:14 Or of Adam
  6. Ezekiel 31:15 Hebrew it
  7. Ezekiel 32:5 Hebrew your height
  8. Ezekiel 32:12 Or wealth
  9. Ezekiel 32:17 Hebrew lacks in the twelfth month
  10. Ezekiel 32:20 Hebrew She
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A cedar in Lebanon (31:1-18)

The cedars of Lebanon were famous for their height and beauty. Even the trees in the Garden of Eden could not rival them. Assyria was once like such a tree--but she was brought low. Pharaoh also was proud and powerful, and Egypt was the envy of all nations. But just as the majestic cedar of Lebanon would be cut down to fall ignominiously to the earth, so the Pharaoh would be killed with the sword and left to lie among the uncircumcised. The 'uncircumcised' refers to those with no spiritual life and no eternal hope. Such death is tragic.

2. A lament for Pharaoh (32:1-32)

Pharaoh was like a lion or a crocodile--but he would be caught in the net and thrown out to die. Egypt would fall under the sword of Babylon (11), and join the other nations--Assyria, Elam, etc.--which had perished because of their sins.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, help me to serve you with a humble heart, knowing that you are the ruler of all people and nations. Help America to repent and turn to you.

One Word: The proud will be brought low