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King James Version
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069; Behold, I will give H5414 the land H776 of Egypt H4714 unto Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894; and he shall take H5375 her multitude H1995, and take H7997 her spoil H7998, and take H962 her prey H957; and it shall be the wages H7939 for his army H2428.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore Adonai ELOHIM says, 'I will give the land of Egypt to N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel. He will carry off its riches, take its spoil and its prey; and these will be the wages for his army.
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Berean Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army.
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American Standard Version
Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
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World English Bible Messianic
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off her multitude, and take her plunder, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Therefore thus sayth the Lord God, Beholde, I will giue the land of Egypt vnto Nebuchad-nezzar the King of Babel, and he shall take her multitude, and spoyle her spoyle, and take her pray, and it shall be the wages for his armie.
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Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah, Lo, I am giving to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon the land of Egypt, And he hath taken away its store, And hath taken its spoil, and taken its prey, And it hath been a reward to his force.
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 29:19 presents a profound divine decree from the Lord GOD, announcing His sovereign decision to deliver the prosperous land of Egypt into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. This transfer of power encompasses Egypt's vast population, immense wealth, and abundant resources, explicitly designated as "wages" or compensation for Nebuchadnezzar and his army. This recompense is specifically for their arduous and unrewarded thirteen-year siege against the formidable city of Tyre. The verse powerfully underscores God's absolute control over the destinies of nations and His meticulous justice, even in His dealings with pagan rulers who unwittingly serve His overarching purposes.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This prophecy against Egypt's subjugation by Babylon is situated within a larger collection of oracles against foreign nations found in Ezekiel 25-32. Specifically, Ezekiel 29:17-21 forms a distinct, self-contained prophetic unit. What makes this particular oracle unique is its precise dating to the twenty-seventh year of Jehoiachin's exile (Ezekiel 29:17), making it the latest dated prophecy recorded in the entire book of Ezekiel. The verses immediately preceding, Ezekiel 29:17-18, provide the crucial divine rationale for Egypt's impending fate: Nebuchadnezzar's immense and unrewarded efforts during his protracted siege of Tyre. Earlier in the chapter, God had already pronounced judgment on Egypt for its pervasive pride and its consistent unreliability as an ally for Israel, famously likening it to a "staff of reed" that would pierce the hand of anyone who leaned upon it Ezekiel 29:6-7. Therefore, Ezekiel 29:19 functions as God's sovereign solution to Nebuchadnezzar's lack of spoil from Tyre, vividly demonstrating God's direct and active hand in orchestrating the geopolitical events of the ancient world.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The historical backdrop for this prophecy is the tumultuous geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE. Babylon, under the formidable leadership of Nebuchadnezzar II, had rapidly ascended to become the dominant imperial power, having already conquered Judah and initiated the Babylonian exile. Egypt, a long-standing and influential regional power, often referred to as Mitsrayim, frequently served as a rival or an untrustworthy ally to smaller nations like Judah, whose leaders often looked to Egypt for help against Babylon, only to be disappointed. The city of Tyre, a powerful Phoenician maritime hub, was renowned for its immense wealth and seemingly impregnable island defenses. Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Tyre was an extraordinary undertaking, lasting an astonishing thirteen years (c. 586-573 BCE), as explicitly referenced in Ezekiel 29:18. Despite the monumental human and material cost of this prolonged campaign, Tyre's inhabitants, foreseeing its eventual fall, had largely evacuated their most valuable possessions by sea, leaving minimal plunder for the victorious Babylonian army. This precise historical detail provides the essential context for God's declaration that Egypt would serve as just compensation, powerfully highlighting God's direct involvement in the affairs of nations and His strategic use of even pagan rulers to fulfill His divine purposes.
  • Key Themes: This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Ezekiel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it vividly illustrates Divine Sovereignty and Justice. God is not a passive observer but the active, supreme orchestrator of history, meticulously controlling the rise and fall of empires Daniel 4:17. He employs Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king, as an instrument of His judgment and, remarkably, as a recipient of His divine recompense, thereby demonstrating that even those outside His covenant people are subject to His will and righteous justice. Secondly, the theme of Recompense and Reward is prominently displayed. God, in His perfect justice, ensures that labor is duly rewarded. Since Nebuchadnezzar's army toiled exhaustively against Tyre without receiving their deserved "wages" Ezekiel 29:18, God sovereignly designates Egypt as their compensation. This principle extends even to those who unwittingly serve His purposes, revealing a universal aspect of His justice. Thirdly, the verse powerfully reinforces the theme of Prophetic Fulfillment and God's Faithfulness to His Word. This prophecy, delivered well in advance of its historical realization, serves as irrefutable evidence of God's omniscience and the absolute reliability of His declared word Isaiah 46:10.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Lord GOD (Hebrew, ʼĂdônây_ _Yᵉhôvih', H136): This compound divine title (H136 and H3069) is highly significant, emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty and covenant faithfulness. ʼĂdônây (H136) is an emphatic form of "Lord" or "Master," denoting supreme authority and ownership. Yᵉhôvih (H3069) is a vocalization of the divine name YHWH (Yahweh), signifying God's self-existent, eternal nature and His covenant relationship with His people. Together, these terms underscore the supreme authority and unwavering reliability of the one speaking this prophecy, affirming that the declaration originates from the ultimate ruler of all creation, whose word is immutable.
  • give (Hebrew, nâthan', H5414): This primitive root is remarkable for its vast latitude of application in Hebrew, meaning "to give," "put," or "make." In this context, it highlights God's active, intentional, and sovereign act of bestowing the land of Egypt upon Nebuchadnezzar. It signifies not a passive allowance or a mere prediction of an event, but a deliberate, purposeful divine transfer of power and resources, emphasizing God's direct and decisive involvement in the affairs of nations and His meticulous orchestration of history.
  • wages (Hebrew, sâkâr', H7939): Derived from the root sâkar (to hire), sâkâr specifically refers to payment for a contract, salary, or compensation for labor. Its explicit use here frames God's action as a just recompense for Nebuchadnezzar's arduous and unrewarded labor against Tyre. This term reveals God's meticulous and impartial justice, ensuring that even pagan rulers who unwittingly serve His purposes receive their due compensation, thereby demonstrating a universal divine principle of recompense for expended effort.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD;": This authoritative opening phrase immediately establishes the divine origin and absolute certainty of the ensuing prophecy. The introductory "Therefore" directly links this declaration to the preceding explanation of Nebuchadnezzar's unrewarded efforts against Tyre, signaling that what follows is God's just and sovereign response to that specific situation. It unequivocally communicates that the subsequent pronouncement is not mere human speculation but a direct, infallible word from the sovereign Master, Yahweh.
  • "Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;": This is the core declarative statement, revealing God's sovereign and deliberate decision to transfer control of Egypt (H4714, Mitsrayim), a historically powerful and wealthy nation, to Nebuchadnezzar (H5019, Nᵉbûwkadneʼtstsar), the mighty king of Babylon (H894, Bâbel). This declaration powerfully underscores God's ultimate control over the rise and fall of empires, demonstrating His absolute ability to use any ruler, regardless of their allegiance, to accomplish His divine purposes.
  • "and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey;": This tripartite phrase emphasizes the comprehensive and thorough nature of Nebuchadnezzar's impending conquest and the extent of the plunder. "Multitude" (H1995, hâmôwn) refers to the vast population, indicating not only subjugation but also the potential for forced labor or tribute. "Spoil" (H7998, shâlâl) denotes the general plunder and valuable possessions, representing the accumulated wealth of the land. "Prey" (H957, baz) refers to what is seized, often from living things or in battle, emphasizing the complete subjugation and appropriation of all of Egypt's resources. The repetition of the verb "take" (H5375, nâsâʼ, H7997, shâlal, H962, bâzaz) underscores the certainty, completeness, and thoroughness of Babylon's appropriation.
  • "and it shall be the wages for his army.": This concluding clause precisely clarifies the divine rationale behind the conquest. Egypt's wealth, resources, and its very people are explicitly designated as "wages" (H7939, sâkâr) or just compensation for Nebuchadnezzar's army (H2428, chayil) for their arduous, unrewarded siege of Tyre. This highlights God's meticulous and universal justice in ensuring recompense, even for those who are not His covenant people, thereby demonstrating His impartiality in matters of justice and reward for diligent labor.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 29:19 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. The entire verse functions as a Divine Oracle, immediately signaled by the authoritative and formulaic phrase "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD," which unequivocally establishes the absolute truth, certainty, and divine origin of the prophecy as a direct revelation from God Himself. Repetition is prominently featured in the threefold use of the verb "take" ("take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey"). This rhetorical device, a form of Anaphora (though here it's more general repetition of the verb within a sequence), builds intensity and powerfully underscores the completeness, certainty, and thoroughness of Babylon's appropriation of Egypt's resources. Furthermore, the concept of Egypt serving as "wages" for Nebuchadnezzar's army functions as a powerful Metaphor or Analogy. It likens a nation's wealth and people to a payment for services rendered, highlighting God's role as the ultimate dispenser of justice and recompense, even to those who are not His direct covenant servants. This also contains an element of Foreshadowing, pointing with divine certainty to the historical fulfillment of Egypt's subjugation by Babylon, thereby validating the prophetic word and demonstrating God's sovereign control over history.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 29:19 stands as a powerful testament to the absolute and unassailable sovereignty of God over all nations and the meticulous nature of His justice. It reveals a profound truth: God is not confined to working solely through His covenant people, Israel; rather, He actively orchestrates the affairs of the entire world, using even pagan rulers and empires as instruments to achieve His divine purposes. Nebuchadnezzar, despite being a ruthless conqueror and an oppressor of God's people, is paradoxically portrayed as God's unwitting "servant" Jeremiah 25:9, who is justly compensated for his arduous labor. This demonstrates that God's justice extends beyond the covenant community, encompassing a universal principle of recompense for effort, even if the one performing the labor does not acknowledge Him. The prophecy's precise historical fulfillment further underscores the unwavering reliability of God's word and His steadfast commitment to bringing His declared will to pass, regardless of human plans, resistance, or understanding. It reinforces the biblical doctrine that God is the ultimate ruler, and all earthly powers are ultimately subservient to His divine will.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel 29:19 offers profound encouragement and a compelling call to unwavering trust in God's ultimate control. In a world frequently characterized by chaos, injustice, and the seemingly arbitrary rise and fall of powers, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that God remains enthroned, actively governing all affairs with perfect wisdom and righteousness. We are invited to find deep rest and assurance in the knowledge that His sovereign purposes will ultimately prevail, and His justice will be meticulously meted out, even if His methods and timing unfold in ways we do not immediately comprehend. This passage challenges us to look beyond immediate circumstances and the visible actions of human actors, recognizing that behind every event, God is diligently working His perfect and redemptive plan. It fosters a deeper trust in His meticulous care and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, knowing that He sees and accounts for all labor, even that which goes unrewarded by human standards. For believers, this means we can confidently commit our work, our aspirations, and our very lives to Him, knowing that He is a God who justly repays and faithfully fulfills every one of His declared words.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does God's use of a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar challenge or deepen your understanding of divine sovereignty and His methods of working in the world?
  • In what specific areas of your life do you need to trust more fully in God's overarching control, especially when circumstances seem chaotic, unjust, or beyond your understanding?
  • What does God's act of providing "wages" for Nebuchadnezzar's army teach us about God's universal justice, His character, and His economy of recompense?

FAQ

Why did God reward Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king, with Egypt?

Answer: God rewarded Nebuchadnezzar because he had served as God's unwitting instrument in carrying out divine judgment against the city of Tyre, as explicitly stated in Ezekiel 29:18. Despite his immense efforts and the grueling thirteen-year siege, Nebuchadnezzar and his army received no significant spoil or plunder from Tyre, as its inhabitants had largely evacuated their valuables. God, in His meticulous and universal justice, deemed it right to compensate their arduous labor. This demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His consistent principle of recompense, extending even to those who do not explicitly serve Him or acknowledge Him. He uses all people and nations, even those hostile to Him, to accomplish His purposes, and He ensures that even unwitting service is acknowledged and rewarded according to His divine economy and righteous standards.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The profound truth of God's absolute sovereignty over nations and history, so vividly displayed in Ezekiel 29:19, finds its ultimate expression and glorious fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as God sovereignly used Nebuchadnezzar as an instrument to execute His judgment and fulfill His specific purposes, so too does Christ now reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. The "wages" given to Nebuchadnezzar for his arduous labor against Tyre powerfully foreshadow the ultimate recompense and unparalleled reward that Christ receives for His perfect obedience and sacrificial work on the cross. Through His triumphant death and glorious resurrection, Christ achieved a victory far greater and more enduring than any earthly conquest, utterly spoiling principalities and powers and decisively conquering sin, death, and the grave itself. His triumph is the ultimate "spoil" that secures eternal life, an imperishable inheritance, and complete reconciliation with God for all who believe in Him, a reward infinitely surpassing any earthly plunder. The prophetic certainty of Ezekiel's word about Egypt's fate points to the even greater and more glorious certainty of God's promises fulfilled in Christ, who is the Yes and Amen to all God's promises, ensuring that His eternal kingdom will ultimately prevail over all earthly powers and His perfect justice will be fully established for all eternity.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 29 verses 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 thirteen years in the siege of Tyre. During all that time the Egyptians were embroiled in war with the Cyrenians and one with another, by which they were very much weakened and impoverished; and just at the end of the siege of Tyre God delivers this prophecy to Ezekiel, to signify to him that that utter destruction of Egypt which he had foretold fifteen or sixteen years before, which had been but in part accomplished hitherto, should now be completed by Nebuchadnezzar. The prophecy which begins here, it should seem, is continued to the twentieth verse of the next chapter. And Dr. Lightfoot observes that it is the last prophecy we have of this prophet, and should have been last in the book, but is laid here, that all the prophecies against Egypt might come together. The particular destruction of Pharaoh-Hophrah, foretold in the former part of this chapter, was likewise foretold Jer 44:30. This general devastation of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar was foretold Jer 43:10. Observe,

I. What success God would give to Nebuchadnezzar and his forces against Egypt. God gave him that land, that he might take the spoil and prey of it, Eze 29:19, Eze 29:20. It was a cheap and easy prey. He subdued it with very little difficulty; the blood and treasure expended upon the conquest of it were inconsiderable. But it was a rich prey, and he carried off a great deal from it that was of value. Their having been divided among themselves, no doubt, gave a common enemy great advantage against them, who, when they had been so long preying upon one another, soon made a prey of them all. En! quo discordia cives perduxit miseros - What wretchedness does civil discord bring! Jeremiah foretold that Nebuchadnezzar should array himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd puts on his coat, which intimates what a rich and cheap prey it should be.

II. Upon what considerations God would give Nebuchadnezzar this success against Egypt; it was to be a recompence to him for the hard service with which he had caused his army to serve against Tyre, Eze 29:18, Eze 29:20. 1. The taking of Tyre was a tedious piece of work; it cost Nebuchadnezzar abundance of blood and treasure. It held out thirteen years; all that time the Chaldean army was hard at it, to make themselves masters of it. A large current of the sea, between Tyre and the continent, was filled up with earth, and many other difficulties which were thought insuperable they had to struggle with; but so great a prince, having begun such an undertaking, thought himself bound in honour to push it on, whatever it cost him. How many thousand lives have been sacrificed to such points of honour as this as! In prosecuting this siege every head was made bald, and every shoulder peeled, with carrying burdens and labouring in the water when they had a strong tide and a strong town to contend with. Egypt, a large kingdom, being divided within itself, is easily conquered; Tyre, a single city, being unanimous, is with difficulty subdued. Those that have much to do in the world find some affairs go on a great deal more readily and easily than others. But, 2. In this service God own that they wrought for him, Eze 29:20. He set them at work, for the humbling of a proud city and its king, though they meant not so, neither did their heart think so, who were employed in it. Note, Even great men and bad men are tools that God makes use of, and are working for him even when they are pursuing their own covetous and ambitious designs; so wonderfully does God overrule all to his own glory. Yet, 3. For this service he had no wages nor his army. He was at a vast expense to take Tyre; and when he had it, though it was a very rich city, and he promised himself good plunder for his army from it, he was disappointed; the Tyrians sent away by ship their best effects, and threw the rest into the sea, so that they had nothing but bare walls. Thus are the children of this world ordinarily frustrated in their highest expectations from it. Therefore, 4. He shall have the spoil of Egypt to recompense him for his service against Tyre. Note, God will be behind-hand with none for any service they do for him, but, one way or other, will recompense them for it; none shall kindle a fire on his altar for nought. The service done for him by worldly men, with worldly designs, shall be recompensed with a mere worldly reward, which his faithful servants, that have a sincere regard to his will and glory, would not be put off with. This accounts for the prosperity of wicked men in this world; God is in it paying them for some service or other, in which he has made use of them. Verily they have their reward. Let none envy it them. The conquest of Egypt is spoken of as Nebuchadnezzar's full reward, for that completed his dominion over the then known world in a manner; that was the last of the kingdoms he subdued; when he was master of that he became the head of gold.

III. The mercy God had in store for the house of Israel soon after. When the tide is at the highest it will turn, and so it will when it is at the lowest. Nebuchadnezzar was in the zenith of his glory when he had conquered Egypt, but within a year after he ran mad (Song 4), was so seven years, and within a year or two after he had recovered his senses he resigned his life. When he was at the highest Israel was at the lowest; then were they in the depth of their captivity, their bones dead and dry; but in that day the horn of the house of Israel shall bud forth, Eze 29:21. The day of their deliverance shall begin to dawn, and they shall have some little reviving in their bondage, in the honour that shall be done, 1. To their princes; they are the horns of the house of Israel, the seat of their glory and power. These began to bud forth when Daniel and his fellows were highly preferred in Babylon; Daniel sat in the gate of the city; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were set over the affairs of the province (Dan 2:49); these were all of the king's seed, and of the princes, Dan 1:3. And it was within a year after the conquest of Egypt that they were thus preferred; and, soon after, three of them were made famous by the honour God put upon them in bringing them alive out of the burning fiery furnace. This might very well be called the budding forth of the horn of the house of Israel. And, some years after, this promise had a further accomplishment in the enlargement and elevation of Jehoiachin king of Judah, Jer 52:31, Jer 52:32. They were both tokens of God's favour to Israel, and happy omens. 2. To their prophets. And I will give thee the opening of the mouth. Though none of Ezekiel's prophecies, after this, are recorded, yet we have reason to think he went on prophesying, and with more liberty and boldness, when Daniel and his fellows were in power, and would be ready to protect him not only from the Babylonians, but from the wicked ones of his own people. Note, It bodes well to a people when God enlarges the liberties of his ministers and they are countenanced and encouraged in their work.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–21. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 35, 36, and following) And I will bring you into a desert of peoples, and there I will judge you face to face. Just as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, says the Lord. And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will bring you into the bonds of the covenant, and I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked: from their place of residence I will bring them out, and they will not enter the land of Israel, and you will know that I am the Lord. Thus says the Lord: I will do for you who are in Babylon, and now serve idols, what I did for your ancestors in Egypt. I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face, just as I contended with them in judgment when they came out of Egypt. And after I have judged you, I will subject you to my scepter and rule, and I will make a covenant with you and bring you into your land with the bonds of love, so that bound by my love, you will never be able to depart from me. But I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked, who persist in the hardness of their hearts in evil deeds, not for possession, but for rejection. And I will indeed bring them out of the land of their dwelling, so that when they are brought out, they will not enter the land of Israel; but they will perish in various regions. And by the distinction between good and evil, you shall know that I am the Lord, who judges all things. The rest of the discourse hastens, and we briefly go through each point, in order to provide only the meaning to the readers.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 17 onwards) And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare; yet he had no wages, nor his army, for Tyre, for the service that he had served against it. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will give Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the land of Egypt; and he shall take its multitude, and take its spoil, and take its prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor that he has performed for me, says the Lord God. On that day the horn of the house of Israel will sprout, and I will give you an open mouth in the midst of them, and they will know that I am the Lord. It is asked how after the tenth year of the previous discourse, immediately the twenty-seventh year is placed, and in the following years the twelfth and the thirteenth, and in the final description of the temple, the twenty-fifth. But the solution is easy. Because both the prophecy about Egypt and the previous one, and the one that is now being spoken, are covered, although they have been made at different times: yet they are joined together because they prophesy about one province. And we often read in Jeremiah, that times are described in a preposterous order. For the deeds of Zedekiah are reported first, and then those of Joachim who came before him. But in the Psalms, because it is a lyric poem, the order of the events is not sought. So let us speak first according to the letter. When Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre, and because it was surrounded by the sea, he could not join the rams, machines, and vineyards to the walls, he ordered an infinite multitude of the army to carry rocks and mounds, and when the middle sea, or rather the narrow strait, was filled, he made the neighboring shore an uninterrupted island. When the Tyrians saw that the city was now completely finished and that the foundations of the walls were being shaken by the battering of the rams, they loaded onto ships whatever precious things they had in gold, silver, clothing, and various furnishings that the nobility possessed, and carried them to the islands, so that after capturing the city, Nebuchadnezzar found nothing worthy of his hard work. And because he had obeyed God's will in this matter, after a few years of captivity in Tyre, Egypt was given to him; and Tyrus was much more cruel to Egypt. For she was attacking Jerusalem; this one was promising empty assistance. Indeed, it is one thing to deceive weakness with hope: it is another thing to fight against the people of God. Therefore, this is what Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, says: in the siege of Tyre, he made his army serve me, so that I may fulfill my will. Every head is shaved, and every shoulder is made hairless, carrying baskets of earth and stones with which shoulders are shaved, and the head is shaved; and yet neither he nor his army found anything worthy in Tyre. And when he served me in this way, and fulfilled my will against Tyre, therefore I will give him the land of Egypt. Some say that this was accomplished under Nebuchadnezzar; others say under Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who devastated Egypt as far as Ethiopia, to the extent of killing the sacred bull Apis and destroying all their statues. For this reason, they believe that he was turned mad by the chance of a horse and killed himself with his own dagger. Herodotus recounts this history in great detail, describing all of Egypt through its villages, castles, and towns, and revealing the origin of the Nile and the people of that land, as well as the measurement of the land around to the desert of Ethiopia and the shores of the Great Sea, bordering Libya and Arabia. But the cause of the Lord's anger against Egypt is that it deceived His people by not allowing them to hope in God and by provoking Him to anger. On that day when Egypt is captured, the horn of the house of Israel will sprout: undoubtedly indicating a royal lineage. Some refer this to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, who was descended from the line of David through Jeconiah, while others refer it to the ultimate time, when they believe that Elijah will come. But we, by understanding the Lord's horn to be Christ, interpret the present history. And when, he says, this has been accomplished first, then your mouth will be opened, and your prophecy will not hang on uncertain promises, but it will be seen accomplished in action: so that all who hear may know that I am the Lord, of whom it has been said and done. These things, according to the letter, indeed according to the truth, have been spoken as prophecies. Furthermore, from the fact that Nebuchadnezzar received a reward for his good work, we also understand that even the Gentiles, if they do something good, are not overlooked by God's judgment without a reward. Therefore, through Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar is called the dove of God because he served the will of God against the sinful people. 'And I will bring my servant Nebuchadnezzar' (Jeremiah 25).' From this, it is clear that we are condemned in comparison to the Gentiles if they follow the natural law, which we also neglect even though it is written. Paul the Apostle discusses this matter at length in his letter to the Romans. And lest we seem to overlook anything according to spiritual understanding, we inquire where we find this number, that is, the twenty-seventh. In the book of Genesis, Scripture testifies (Gen. VII) that in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the waters of the flood came upon the earth, and after seven months of the same year, which is near the Sabbath, and on the twenty-seventh day of the seventh month, the waters of the flood ceased, and Noah's ark settled on the mountains of Ararat, which are interpreted as Armenia. From this we understand that the number is average and can be applied to both, when in this and the anger of God begins from the flood, and his mercy is shown in the seventh month on the same day. And because among the Hebrews the month, which with us is measured by the Kalends, Nones, and Ides, is calculated according to the course of the moon: whence also in the Greek language it has received the name μήνη, that is, moon, it is said that on the twenty-seventh day of the moon there remained little light, so that his anger may not be without mercy. But when the whole orb of the moon is filled up, then both Easter is celebrated and all the greatest solemnities. Which we have set down strictly, so that we may know that in this number, both good and evil are contained equally. Good for Nebuchadnezzar, to whom his labor is rewarded; evil for the Egyptians, whose destruction is announced.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 27, 29 onwards) Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them: Thus says the Lord God: Moreover, your fathers have blasphemed against me and have treated me with contempt, even as they spurned me. And I brought them into the land that I had lifted my hand to give them ((Vulgate adds: that land)): they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices and presented there the irritation of their offerings, and they placed there the fragrance of their sweetness, and they poured out their ((Vulgate is silent on this)) libations there. And I said to them, 'What is the high place to which you are going?' And its name was called the High Place until this day. Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: As for your fathers, they have provoked Me to anger by their iniquities, by the fact that they have fallen away from Me. So I brought them into the land that I had lifted My hand in an oath to give them.' They saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices. They also presented there the provocation of their gifts, and they set there their pleasing aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings. And I said to them: What is abbana, because you enter there? And they called its name abbana until this day. I wanted, he said, to scatter them in the wilderness, and to give them not good precepts, so that they would sacrifice to idols what they should have offered to me, and consecrate all their first-fruits to them by fire, so that I might kill them and destroy them. But when he says, I wanted, he shows that he did not do what he wanted. And that which follows: 'And they shall know that I am the Lord,' is not found in the Septuagint. For it did not seem fitting to them to know after their destruction that he himself is the Lord. But you, son of man, speak again to them, that is, to the elders of the house of Israel, who have come to inquire of you: Your fathers, from whom you have descended, have also blasphemed against me and held me in contempt; after I brought them into the land which I had given them to possess, they turned against me to provoke me. For when they saw every high hill and leafy tree, they would sacrifice on the mountains and in the groves and thickets, and offer victims to the idols, and pour out libations. And when I saw this, I said to them: What is this, Bama? for it is called high: or why do you enter into such a place which you have chosen for yourselves in all the hills, so that even today these places are called Bamoth, and the ancient error retains its original name? Regarding Bama, which we translate as excelsum, there is an error in the Septuagint edition, where it is written as ἀββανὰ, which does not resonate in the Hebrew language. Bama can mean 'in which' if the two syllables are divided into two words, but in the present context, that sense does not fit. However, wherever it is written in the Books of Kings and Chronicles: 'The people still sacrificed and offered incense on the high places,' Bama in the singular and Bamoth in the plural mean 'high places.'
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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