Ezekiel Chapter 30: A Bible Commentary By Charles R. Sabo

???????????????Ezekiel: A Bible Commentary

?????????????????????????????????????????? Chapter 30

Ezekiel 29-30 should be read and interpreted as two weaved-together judgments against Egypt. Many pastors and theologians misinterpret these two chapters correctly, because they do not understand the time-indicators within them. As I had explained in 29:8-16, the prophecy concerning the Tower of Syene can only be associated with the end-times events, because it had not been until 1970 A.D. that the Tower of Syene had ever existed, after Ezekiel’s prophecy. Then, when we have a break in the word, and the king of Babylon is brought in, that becomes the other time indicator.

Chapter 29:1-7 spoke of a prophecy against Pharaoh-Hophra of Egypt, then 29-8-16 took readers forward to the end-times with the time-indicator being the Tower of Syene (29:10). Ezekiel 29:17-21 disclosed the payment for the Babylonians for their services, because they spent thirteen years seizing and destroying mainland Tyre (chapter 26). The Lord announced that His payment to the Babylonians was to be Egypt.

Chapter 30:1-9 brought us back to the future, while showing us our time-indicator as the Tower of Syene in 30:6. After leaving the future annihilation of northern Africa for two verses (30:10-11), Ezekiel took us back to the future “day of the Lord” (30:6), which was first mentioned in 29:8-16, and then again in 30:1-9. The disclosure of verses 30:10-11, verified the fulfillment of the committed payment to Babylon mentioned within 29:17-21. The declaration of judgment against Pharaoh-Hophra in 29:1-7 became entwined within these two chapters, weaved into verses 29:1-7, 29:17-21, 30:10-11, and then 30:20-26. Meanwhile, the end-times judgment against Egypt is weaved within 29:8-16, 30:1-9, and 30:12-19. Readers need to realize the two time-indicators (Tower of Syene & king of Babylon) before ever getting proper interpretation of these two chapters.

Ezekiel 30:1 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying: The English translators have mistranslated the Hebrew verb “hāya” as a Niphal perfect verb, when the manuscript is actually inflected as a Qal imperfect verb; this should be an ongoing action, which would be a continuation of God’s word immediately after verse 29:21. The conjunction “again” was added to this, when it was not called for in the original manuscript. The proper translation of this verse should say: “The word of the?Lord?continued unto me, saying,” which means that there was very little time elapsed between 29:21 and 30:1.

Ezekiel 30:2 Son of man, prophesy and say, “Thus says the Lord God; Howl you, Woe worth the day!” The translators should not have used the expression “worth the day” in the translation of “????????.” The proper translation is a prepositional phrase interpreted as: “to the day” or “for the day.” The prophecy begins with an address to a particular party to “howl” or “wail.” The wailing would be in the words: “Woe (Oh) for the day.” Ezekiel was commanded to speak prophecy towards the focused upon people who would mourn and howl the words: “Oh, for the day!”

Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. We can find here that the day of the Lord is near, which is identified with it being a cloudy day and the time of the heathen. The Lord had used the expression day of the Lord in Ezekiel 13:5, when He was using that term to reference the specific day of the destruction of Jerusalem (Av 9, 587 B.C.). Because we know that this day was in the past, we must conclude this to be a different day of the Lord. ?Because a definite article is being used,?we can see that it is “the” time of the heathen; it must be specific to one time period, which is understood to be referring to the Seventieth Week of Daniel 9:27. During that seven-year time period, the Lord will punish the heathen of the entire Earth. Joel 2:2 identifies the day of the Lord with “a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,” while he explains the invasion of the great and strong people; these same great and strong people can be linked to the Revelation 9:1-11 locust people (their faces were as the faces of men [Rev. 9:7]) who rise out of the smoke of the Bottomless pit.[1] For the next few chapters, I will call these “the great and strong locust people,” which links their descriptions together from both Joel 2:1-11 and Revelation 9:1-11.[2]

?Specifically, the “day of the Lord” is addressed to be “at hand” in Joel 1:15; 2:1, Isaiah 13:7, Zephaniah 1:7, and Ezekiel 12:23. Misguided Gentile believers could very easily read the Old Testament prophets and begin to spread word that the day is “at hand” already. One can search the internet today and find many false prophets that insinuate that the “day of the Lord” was in the past, or even “at hand” right now, even as I write this book. The “day of the Lord” is referred to within the Book of Joel five different times. Because it is referenced so often, one must associate certain passages as events of that time to come. The “day of the Lord” is a common theme among the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 2:12, 13:6, 9, Jer. 46:10, Ezek. 13:5, 30:3,?Amos 5:18, 20, Joel 1:15, 2:1, 11, 31, 3:14, Obad. 1:15, Zeph. 1:7, 14, Zech. 14:1, Mal. 4:5); it can be understood to be a time when God will vindicate His people and bless their endeavors, but the prophets also imply it to be a time of great judgment, which would bring destruction and terror.[3] The expression “day of the Lord” does not consist of one twenty-four hour day, but as many as seven years of judgment. There are, however, some references to the day of the Lord that can possibly be pointing to an occurrence that happens on a single day. One can find the expression “in that day” many times in the Book of Isaiah, which points to a timeframe similar to the expression “day of the Lord.” It is much different to say “on that day,” rather than “in that day;” an event that will happen “on that day” is more specific to a single day, while “in that day” refers to an undetermined timeframe, which could be of an upcoming time period, or in the last days of the present Earth.[4]

Ezekiel 30:4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. Because of the event prophesied within 29:8-12, we can find that the sword (weapons) is to defeat the Egyptians in the end-times (29:8), while the great pain of the nuclear fallout will devastate the people of Sudan (formerly Ethiopia), when the Aswan Dam is to be hit with a strategic nuclear strike. Isaiah 19:4-12 prophesies the aftermath of the nuclear strike upon the Aswan Dam in the end-times; Egypt will be badly weakened, while the wicked are to be destroyed, and a remnant is to be saved (Is. 19:15-19). The removal of Egypt’s multitude does not imply a captivity, but a removal of people out of existence within her multitude of people, while her foundations (leadership, military, and economy) will be broken due this decimation.

?Ezekiel 30:5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword. The reference to Chub (??????) may have been Ezekiel referring to the scattered people of Nubia (?????), which I had explained from the map on page 342 (29:10). Knowing that we live within the time of the last generation, one can then look to the current events and pay attention to events involving Israel and the surrounding regions. If the king of the north (Dan. 11:40-45) is most likely alive right now, what country is he ruling over? Daniel 11 has been consistent with the prophecy concerning rulers from a particular dynasty, or region. It should be consistent for this end-times prophecy in Daniel 11:36-45 as well. The king of the south is always going to be the king (or ruler) of Egypt. The king of the north is always going to be the ruler of Syria, or that region. I want to point out that, as we look to current events in 2022, we should realize that the king of Syria is Bashar Al-Assad. He only still has his throne (or office), because Vladimir Putin of Russia is defending it for him. Vladimir Putin had already, recently, sent 150,000 Russian soldiers to defend Assad (Dec. 2015).

The king of the north, in Daniel 11:40-45, can clearly be seen with a certain perspective based on what the Scriptures have revealed. The prophecy of the Battle of Gog of Magog in Ezekiel 38-39 fits this Daniel 11:40-45 prophecy perfectly. I will bring to you the complete understanding that the king of the north is Gog of Magog of Ezekiel 38-39.

Looking at Daniel 11:40, one must ask the question: “Why would the king of the south (Egypt) push against the Antichrist?” Since the events have not happened as of yet, one can only speculate. I propose an order of events prophesied to occur, which could cause the king of Egypt to push back at Antichrist.

There are several end-times prophecies that are well known, but have not been pieced together to properly explain Daniel 11:40. There is a prophecy in Psalms 83, which proclaims that the surrounding countries of Israel will come together as a tumult (uprising) against Israel. As we read through Psalm 83, we can refer to those people groups mentioned and place them on a map; we should notice that they are the current countries of the Islam states who desire to destroy Israel. So, it seems that the Psalm 83 prophecy is already happening (Ps. 83:1-8 [tumult]). This prophecy has not yet moved onto the war, which will occur as stated in Psalm 83:9-18; this will conclude the prophecy; notice that the prophecy declares that Israel will destroy the armies of these surrounding countries, even though they are outnumbered, because God is to give Israel help supernaturally.

While the pot is simmering with the threats to wipe Israel off the map, there has not been any major event to start the war of Psalm 83. There has to be a spark to ignite the flame, or last straw to break the camel’s back. Many believe that spark to be a fulfillment of a very near prophecy: “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap” (Is. 17:1). With the fighting going on in Damascus, while Russia has defended Syria, a nuclear event may be very close. It may not even be Israel who sends this nuclear missile, but we know someone will (Is. 17:1).?As we have noticed, within the evil world media, Israel always gets the blame.

To cause the conclusion of the Psalm 83 war, God will perform a supernatural victory over Israel’s enemies, while the surrounding nations involved will lose their entire military. The nations mentioned in the Psalm 83 prophecy consist of the Palestinians (or Gaza), parts of Jordon, parts of Saudi Arabia, parts of Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Their militaries will be destroyed; meanwhile, there will be some very angry Islamic countries still remaining. I believe that this may be the event, which brings turmoil to the world, which could bring the rapture of the church. After approximately a half billion born-again Christians are removed from the world, the world will be in such pain, as many mourn after the unexplained loss of so many people. The middle-east will need an event to stop the attack on Israel; a major battle would be stewing, after the annihilation of so many Muslim brothers. The covenant of Daniel 9:27 will occur as the prince (Antichrist) will step in and bring peace.

As the Antichrist has drawn his line (seven-year covenant) between the angry Muslim countries and Israel, the king of the south (Egypt) will refuse to abide in the seven-year covenant. Revenge will cause Egyptians to charge after Israel; the king of the north (Gog of Magog) will defend the seven-year covenant, while in loyalty to the new world king.

40?And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Dan. 11:40)

Gog of Magog (king of the north) will bring one of the most powerful militaries to go against Egypt and the supporters from the other countries (and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over). Gog of Magog (Russia) will pass over the other countries, in order to stamp out the rebellion and get to those in Egypt. He will most likely be the one who will send the nuclear blast to the Aswan Dam (29:8-12), which may be encouraged by Antichrist. ?

41?He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Dan. 11:41)

The king of the north (Gog of Magog) will pass down through Israel (He shall enter also into the glorious land) and will destroy the attackers and overthrow the government regimes except for those descendants of Edom, Moab and Ammon, which are now located within Jordon and Gaza.

42?He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43?But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Dan. 11:42-43)

The defeat of Egypt, and the other rebellious countries, will bring peace to the lands surrounding Israel. Israel will feel secure for the first time, since they had been brought back to their land in 1948. They will become a land of un-walled villages, which has never been the case (Ezek. 38:11).?Russia will have defeated Egypt and taken booty of the riches, which would still remain in Egypt (Dan. 11:42-43). Notice in the end of Daniel 11:43, where a very significant statement is prophesied. The Libyans and Ethiopians will be at the steps of Russia (Gog of Magog). If Libya and Sudan (Ethiopia) defend Africa from the invading Russians, they will be at the steps of Gog of Magog, until they are defeated. ?Defeated militaries usually are forced to fight in behalf of their conquerors, or they die; that will be their choice, to fight for the Antichrist (king of Dan. 11:36-39), or die. Any adversary of Gog of Magog (king of the north) will be defeated.

With the disclosure within Ezekiel 30:5, the military of Lydia will not march to fight for the Antichrist and Gog of Magog, but most likely will all fall by the sword (weapons) at the hands of the strengthened Russian military. The militaries that will be defending their land in Africa (the men of the land that is in league) will fall, except the remaining militaries of Libya and Sudan (Ethiopia), who will march in behalf of the Russian military under Gog of Magog.

Ezekiel 30:6 Thus says the Lord: “They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down, from the Tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, says the Lord God.” The translators used the English preposition “from” for the Hebrew preposition “min [??]” which is defined as: “by reason of.” The pride of Egyptian power shall come down, by reason of the Tower of Syene. Those that fight on behalf of (uphold) Egypt, because of the nuclear strike on the Aswan Dam in Syene (29:8-12), will fall by the sword (weapons) to the Russian military of Gog of Magog and Antichrist. This is for sure to come to pass, because the Lord had said it.

Ezekiel 30:7 And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted. The pronoun “they” refers to “they that uphold Egypt” from the previous verse. These militaries are listed within verse 30:5, which consist of Ethiopia (within Sudan), and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub (Nubia [within Sudan]), and the men of the land that is in league together (be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate). They will have been weakened by the nuclear fallout, and then devastated in the battles against Russia (king of the north). The pronoun “her” refers to Egypt, which is the focus of this prophecy (30:6) (her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted).

Ezekiel 30:8 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed. The devastation has been prophesied here, as well as in Daniel 11:40-43. Because the Lord had declared it 2,600 years ago, it will come to pass, then they shall know that God is the Lord who has control over everything.

?Ezekiel 30:9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it comes. The expression “in that day” references back to that time known as the day of the Lord, referenced back in 30:2. The Lord God (from me) will send messengers in ships, who will come upon them, “to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning (Is. 18:2).”

?That send ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, you swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! (Is. 18:2)

????? Isaiah 18:2 indicates that there will be ambassadors (messengers) coming by sea from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. The focus within Isaiah 18 is that there will be a need for these messengers to come. The fact that they will travel via hand-made vessels (vessels of bulrushes) would indicate that the time will be urgent and desperate (Go, you swift messengers). The devastation of Ezekiel 29:9-11 will cause the Cushites (a people terrible from their beginning hitherto) to be in turmoil and despair. The words “meted out,” is derived from the Hebrew verb “qav-qav,” which is defined as “loyal and hardworking.” These hard-working Cushites will have been trodden down, or trampled, which may be due to the desolation that will have fallen upon them. The desolation will have scattered them and peeled (mowrat), or refined them into a humble people desiring for help. The land will have been decimated with radioactivity and the Nile River will be flowing through the entire region freely in all directions (land the rivers have spoiled). The translated verb “spoiled” is translated from the Hebrew verb “baza'” and is defined as “to divide, or cut through,” which definitely will be happening within this horrific time. The water from the rivers will be where the highest level of radioactivity will be found.

What is it that is so urgent for the Lord to send these messengers swiftly? The world will have gone through seven years of evil, as well as seven years of God’s supernatural judgments, during the Seventieth Week of Daniel. These humbled, loyal people of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia will be in need of good news. The horrific event of the devastation of northeastern Africa will cause those in Jerusalem to understand their desperation and will seek those people in Northeast Africa (Cushites) and will teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: (Is. 18:1) ?

Isaiah 18:1 must not be spiritualized, but we must look at the literal interpretation first. When fowls fly, they leave a shadow on the ground below them. If there are a great number of big birds of prey (waiting for carrion) flying over land, they will leave a tremendous movement of shadows over that land (land shadowing with wings). If one looks to the map of Ethiopia, it is full of rivers, and so the land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia is away from the many rivers in Ethiopia; this leaves the coast of the Red Sea, or across the Red Sea. I say this, because Isaiah 18:2 indicates that the messengers will be traveling by sea. One factor that must be taken into account, within Isaiah 18:1, is that the fowls in the air will be in a specific place; this is prophesied by other prophets. Due to the fact that verses 4-6 imply events pertaining to the final judgement on the Earth, we have to look at the fowls being in that place ready for that judgment to come. ?

?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;

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. (Rev. 19:17-18)

Since “all” of the fowls of heaven will be all gathered to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2) at the Second Coming of Christ for Armageddon, then these shadows of wings are over Armageddon, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. Knowing, what the following verses in Isaiah 18:4-6 have to say, provides clues that this prophecy is happening right before the triumphant appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming.

Ezekiel used the Hebrew noun “?al?āla,” which was translated as “pain;” this noun is defined as: “pain, trembling, terror, writhing, anguish.” The remaining Cushites in northeast Africa will be afraid, but the Lord will send His messengers to comfort them and cause many of them to have faith in the Lord.

Ezekiel 30:10 Thus says the Lord God; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Knowing that Ezekiel 30:1-9 is to happen during the time, which focused on the devastation of the Aswan Dam and the Tower of Syene (see 29:8-13), then the timing of verses 30:10-11 takes us back 2,600 years earlier. It would be foolish to believe that this Tower of Syene (30:6) existed during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, because we know that there had never been a tower in Syene until 1970 A.D.

Ezekiel took us back to a prophecy that was to occur during his lifetime. This verse calls for a multitude of the population of Egypt to cease. This does not imply that King Nebuchadnezzar had defeated and reigned over Egypt, but implies that he went into Egypt and collected on the Lord’s payment for his services over mainland Tyre. It was the booty that he collected, which was his payment, while not claiming any of the Egyptian lands. Ezekiel wrote 29:17-21 on Nisan 1, 571 B.C, when he began to write of the upcoming judgments against the Egyptians. ?

Therefore thus says the Lord God; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadnezzar 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. (Ezek. 29:19)?

An interpreter has to make conclusions, based on information provided. The separation, between 29:17-21 and 30:10-11, were prophesied intermingled with the destruction of the future Egyptians of the times of the Tower of Syene (after 1970 A.D.) in between them as written (30:1-9). The Tower of Syene is God’s time-indicator for His prophecies here in Ezekiel 29-30. If you combine 30:1-9 with the Babylonian invasion 2,600 years earlier, you will bring false conclusions and unverifiable false history. The Lord expects the interpreters of His holy words to be researched and use their common sense and logic to make the right conclusions. When Ezekiel presents a new coming of the word of the Lord, we must be sure of the timing of the prophecy stated every time. The prophet Isaiah prophesied of the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians within Isaiah 9:1-5, then switched to a messianic prophecy to occur between 700-2,700 years later in 9:6-8, then went back to the original timing of the prophecies within 9:1-5 and concluded chapter 9. This can occur throughout the Bible, so we are to look at the Lord’s clues to His timing and intent.?

Egyptian history has failed to acknowledge the Babylonian invasion of Egypt, because it was such a terrible loss, which their Pharaohs did not allow to be written of within their historical records. Though I cannot find anywhere in the history books of any confirmation that Nebuchadnezzar went to Egypt and took spoils, nor did he claim it as his (secular history has ignored this). It is entirely possible, that the demise of Pharaoh Hophra, when he gathered his loyal mercenaries and brought them to a civil war in MoMemphis (Kom el-Hisn), which eventually led to his own death (29:1-7). The year of that time was approximately 570 B.C., which was one year after Ezekiel wrote this prophecy (Nisan 1, 571 B.C). The Lord gave the land of Egypt to the king of Babylon, but he never claimed the land as his own. The siege and claiming of the booty in Egypt may have been all that this king wanted. 2 Kings 24:7 is pretty specific, when it declares that the king of Babylon took spoils from the rivers of Egypt back to the Euphrates River in Babylon. The writer of 2 Kings 24:7 (believed to be Jeremiah) wrote as a historian and recorded that invasion there ?

And the king of Egypt came not again anymore out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt. (2 Kgs. 24:7)

?Ezekiel 30:11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain. As I have commented upon within 30:10, the confirmation of this event was written within 2 Kings 24:7 (believed written by Jeremiah). King Nebuchadnezzar had merged the defeated militaries into his own, while he brought them into Egypt to collect their payment of servitude to the Lord (29:17-21) from their efforts of the thirteen years siege and destruction of mainland Tyre (586-573 B.C.). The timing of that event was approximately 570 B.C., which was one year after Ezekiel wrote this prophecy (Nisan 1, 571 B.C). While King Nebuchadnezzar was still seizing and destroying mainland Tyre, he may have sent troops into Egypt after Ezekiel announced Babylon’s payment (29:17-18) for that siege and destruction.

The Lord’s word is always true, therefore, this prophecy was sure to have occurred, because He had declared it. Secular historians tend to omit biblical history such as this, so they would not have to explain the accuracy of the prophecies. We should trust in God’s word, thus believing that it was going to occur, then was verified in 2 Kings 24:7 that it did happen. The Babylonians went into the land of Egypt and destroyed the land (villages and cities), and drew their swords against the people of Egypt. They filled the land with the slain, just as the Lord has declared it. King Nebuchadnezzar had taken the Babylonians, along with their payment (spoils) back home to Babylon. ?

And the king of Egypt came not again anymore out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt. (2 Kgs. 24:7)

?2 Kings 24:7 was written by Jeremiah (606 B.C.), in order to convey that the people of Judah (King Jehoiakim was taken captive by Babylon [2 Chron. 36:6]) never again saw Pharaoh-Necho of Egypt within their land anymore. The disclosure by Jeremiah 37:6-9 disclosed another Pharaoh (Hophra) coming to help King Zedekiah, before the fall of the city and the Temple of Jerusalem. The king of Babylon had heard of the coming of the Egyptians, and left without a confrontation. The Lord was not going to allow unnecessary deaths, because of the wickedness of King Zedekiah. The insertion of 2 Kings 24:7 by Jeremiah was prophecy and partially fulfilled that day, but the booty taken by the invasion of Babylon over the river of Egypt was yet into the future. It can also be said that Pharaoh-Hophra never came again to the land of Israel as well, because he died in 570 B.C.

Ezekiel 30:12 And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the Lord have spoken it. After leaving the future annihilation of northern Africa for two verses (30:10-11), Ezekiel took us back to the future “day of the Lord” (30:6), which was first mentioned in 29:8-16, and then again in 30:1-9. The disclosure of verses 30:10-11, verified the fulfillment of the committed payment to Babylon mentioned within 29:17-21. The declaration of judgment against Pharaoh-Hophra in 29:1-7 became entwined within these two chapters, weaved between 29:1-7, 29:17-21, and then 30:10-11, 20-26. Meanwhile, the end-times judgment against Egypt is weaved within 29:8-16, 30:1-9, and now 30:12-19.

Because of the nuclear blast that is to fall upon the Aswan Dam, where the Lotus Tower of Syene sits, the water of Lake Nassar will be scattered in many directions. The Nile River will be rerouted by this event, which will cause dried up rivers, and thus the land of northwest Africa will be waste (Is. 19:5-7). The wickedness of land squatters (strangers) will come into play throughout northeast Africa, while the death of the original owners will make the land available to them. Because the Lord had spoken this prophecy, it shall happen.

Ezekiel 30:13 Thus says the Lord God; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. ?Noph is sometimes called Moph (Hos. 9:6), which is the former location to the ancient city of Memphis (Greek/Latin form). This was located a few miles north of current day Cairo. Zoan (Geza) was the burial location of the Pharaohs, which was a few miles north of Noph. Noph existed until the Arabians of A. D. 641 destroyed it, thus became the new city of Fostat, which is now Old Cairo.?

The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. (Is. 19:13)?

Isaiah 19:13 states that both the princes of Zoan (Geza) and the princes of Noph (now Old Cairo) are deceived fools; the seduction of Egypt is the same seduction experienced throughout the Earth. The leaders of a nation are always the main spiritual influence on that nation. The spiritual direction of a nation will hinge on the influence, which the leadership will support, or force upon the people. The deceived, foolish princes of Egypt have and are leading their people astray from their Creator.?

The?Lord?hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. (Is. 19:14)

When the people are not listening to God, nor acknowledging Him as the One who has created all things and the One who is in total control, He turns them over to a perversion (or perverse spirit). Because the princes of Egypt were perverting the spiritual awareness of God, God gave them over to that perversion and they became more evil and perverted, because He has given them over to it. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Rom. 1:28). The evil manifests because they do not know God, nor do they fear Him (Rom. 1:29-32).

Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. (Is. 19:15)

This judgment is a financial decimation of the nation of Egypt. The people and the land will be so badly damaged, from the war and the nuclear attack, the nation will cease from being a nation within the world economy; they will fail to even have their own economy. ?

Ezekiel 30:14 And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No. We will find within verse 29:16, that the house of Israel will be watching over them within the land of Egypt (Pathros). Mizraim’s fifth son was Pathrus while his descendants were called the Pathrusim (Gen. 10:14). They settled in northern Egypt, and can be associated with ancient Pathros, Egypt. The city?

?of Thebes was called “Nō,” which is from the ancient Egyptian word “niw,” meaning “city;” It lies 900 km. (560 miles) south of Cairo on the banks of the Nile River. The city of Zoan is also known as “Giza.” The ancient city of Panthros will be desolate, while the city of Thebes (No) will have judgments executed within; the city of Giza (Zoan) will be burned with fire.

Ezekiel 30:15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No. The eighth son of Canaan was Sin, and his descendants were called Sinites (Gen, 10:17). Though there is no absolute information concerning this son of Canaan, I lean towards the Sinites being of the Wilderness of Sin. It is stated in Ezekiel 30:15 that Sin is the stronghold of Egypt. The Wilderness of Sin is positioned further south on the route followed by the people of Israel from Egypt to Mount Sinai (Ex. 16:1;?17:1;?Num. 33:11,?12). Though I cannot be absolutely dogmatic with this, the fact is, no one can be dogmatic on the whereabouts of the Sinites.

It is believed that this city of Sin was also known as “Pelusium,” which was the east frontier city (strength) of Egypt. Though this city was originated by a son of Canaan, it should be understood that Canaan was also a son of Ham, and his older brothers were Cush, Mizraim, and Phut. “And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.” (Gen. 10:6) It is entirely reasonable that this son of Canaan settled in the Sinai Peninsula and his city was called Sin, while his wilderness was called the Wilderness of Sin, and his mountain was Mt. Sinai, while ruling over the Sinites.

This fury from the Lord, onto the city of Sin, will be as a result of both nuclear fallout, along with the losses against Russia (king of the north) while defending northeastern Africa (Dan. 11:40-43). The multitudes of the city of No (Thebes) will die from nuclear fallout, as well as the initial nuclear blast, based on her proximity to the Aswan Dam.

Ezekiel 30:16 And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily. The great fire will be a literal judgment from the nuclear hit on Aswan Dam (29:8-12), which will cause fire and destruction throughout Egypt, while the allegorical fire will be God’s fiery wrath upon the wicked heathen of Egypt. Noph is sometimes called Moph (Hos. 9:6), which is the former location to the ancient city of Memphis (Greek/Latin form). This was located a few miles north of current day Cairo. The daily distresses could be famine, disease, pestilence, and nuclear fallout. Noph (Memphis) is situated in close proximity to Nile River, yet the river’s water flow will change (Is. 19:6). The daily distresses may even have to do with the military encounters and lawlessness that will fall upon that location. The eastern defense of Egypt has always fallen heavy onto the Sinai Peninsula and the Wilderness of Sin. As we have already covered, the Russian military (king of the north) will be the ones responsible for this destruction of Egypt (Dan. 11:40-43). The military of the king of the north (Gog of Magog) will push through Sin and will be brought great pain from their losses.

?Ezekiel 30:17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity. The city of Aven is also known as the city of On, which is northeast of Giza, while Pibeseth is a little further northeast of On. As we can see on the map, this will be a military hotspot for the conquest of the king of the north, while he will slaughter many by the sword (weapons). This captivity mentioned could be some that will be taken by Russia to strengthen their forces, otherwise the captivity of thousands would be a non-strategic move for these Russian aggressors.

?Ezekiel 30:18 At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt, and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her; as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity. The city of Tahpanhes can be recognized as the city that the remnant kidnapped Jeremiah and Buruk and took them to Egypt, after the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer. 43:7-9; 44:1). Since we are now discussing the end-times judgment of Egypt, then this city of Tahpanhes will be deeply affected by the outcome of the end-times events. The optimism and beliefs of the people of Tahpanhes will be dimmed by the loss of leadership (yokes of Egypt), which boasted much pomp (prideful arrogance) at one time (pride because of strength); this pomp of Egypt (1st sentence her) will be removed. Then, as for Tahpanhes (2nd sentence her), this cloud can be literal, spiritual, or both. Since the darkness of the first sentence was most likely spiritual, then the cloud may imply hopelessness. The captivity of the women (daughters) may be something that might occur, as men in the Russian military will like these beautiful Egyptians.

? ??????Ezekiel 30:19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the Lord. Seeing that this prophecy had been written in Ezekiel for over 2,600 years, the fulfillment has been ignored by not only the Egyptians, but the world as well; the Lord has implied that these Egyptians will know that the God of Israel is the Lord of all the Earth.

Ezekiel 30:20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The last date change for Ezekiel and receiving the word of the Lord occurred in 29:17. Amazingly, the rest of chapter 30 came to Ezekiel fifteen years before the previous twenty-four verses. It was the eleventh year of the captivity of King Jehoiachin and Ezekiel by the Chebar River in Babylon. It was the sixth year of the priesthood of Ezekiel, which began on Tammuz 5, 593 B.C. (in the estimated secular year). Since we know that Ezekiel was called into his priesthood at age 30 (Ezek. 1:1), then we can conclude that Ezekiel was fifty-two years old when he wrote Ezekiel 29:17-30:19, which was on Nisan 1, 571 B.C (29:17). On Nisan 7, 587 B.C, the Lord had brought him the word of this declaration of judgments, when Ezekiel was thirty-six years old.

The weave between the two different judgments of Egypt concludes here, when 30:20-26 brings the final account of the payday received by the Babylonians, when they went into Egypt around 570 B.C. and took spoils in Egypt, killed multitudes of Egyptians (29:19), as well as the death of Pharaoh-Hophra. This account brings the conclusion to 29:1-6, when King Nebuchadnezzar had brought the final judgments of that era against Egypt. Ezekiel 29:17-21 introduced the reason why the Babylonians had been given the sixth-century B.C. Egyptians for their spoils. The chapters 29-30 judgments against the Egyptians have to be interpreted with great care, so as not to confuse them.

Ezekiel 30:21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword. If we look back to 29:1-6, my commentary acknowledges the Egyptian Pharaoh going to war with the people of Cyrene, where Pharaoh lost the war, and then faced a betrayal by his men. It is believed that Pharoah-Hophra came back to Egypt to fight against the rebellion. The appearance of King Nebuchadnezzar was never written of, except within the Bible. We do know that the word of God can be trusted, more than secular Egyptian historical accounts can be, since Egyptian secular history usually only points out their wins and not their losses.??

Thus says the Lord; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life. (Jer. 44:30)

After the loss in Cyrene, the frustrated soldiers rebelled against the Pharaoh; Hophra sent his commander Amasis to subdue the rebellion, but the Egyptian army crowned the general as their king (you shall not be brought together); because of Pharaoh’s pride (scales), many of his soldiers (fish) lost their lives. This caused Hophra to gather his loyal mercenaries and brought them to a civil war in MoMemphis (Kom el-Hisn),[5] which eventually led to his own death. In all, the Lord brought this judgment against the great dragon (Pharaoh-Hophra), because of his pride (scales). The dead bodies laid on the battleground without burial, and were eaten by the animals and scavenger birds of the heaven (I have given you for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven).?

The defeat in Cyrene, and the loss of the trust from his military (I have broken the arm of Pharaoh), was prophesied here; it was the Lord God who caused the defeat in Cyrene to occur. Though it cannot be confirmed, the prophet Daniel may have informed King Nebuchadnezzar about the Ezekiel 29:17-31 (571 B.C.) declaration of payment to the Babylonians, which would bring them marching into Egypt with a badly defeated Egyptian military. Knowing that the Lord would see to it that they got their payday promised, may have given them the confidence to march in and seize what the Lord had declared was theirs. ??

?Though 30:21 implies a physical injury (broken the arm), it may have also implied imagery of Pharoah-Hophra’s power as a king. Here, King Nebuchadnezzar was informed that Pharaoh-Hophra was going to be badly weakened (it shall not be bound up to be healed), which would make it easy pickings for the Babylonians to get paid by the Lord. The Lord’s imagery implied that the Pharaoh was not going to reconcile with his military (to make it strong to hold the sword), nor be given a chance to mend his wounded reign over his people (to put a roller [bandage] to bind it).

Ezekiel 30:22 Therefore. thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.” Though the Lord had twice mentioned the breaking of the arm (30:21) and arms (30:22), we should look to this as the imagery being stated. The broken arms should be understood to be Pharaoh’s sovereign power over his people, while “the strong” would be his soldiers; that which was broken, would be Egypt’s unity as a nation. In all, the opportunity was prepared by the Lord, so that the Babylonian military would have very minimal losses (if any). The Egyptians were badly broken, so much so, that they could not fight a strong battle, because the Lord had caused “the sword to fall out of his hand.”

Ezekiel 30:23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. This dispersion of the Egyptians (among the nations) might have been a Babylonian Captivity, since spoils of war are commonly taken in slave trade. Usually, such a scattering of people occurs from captivities taken by the victor. These scattered Egyptians were given a taste of their own medicine, since they had been heavily involved in the slave trade for nearly a millennium.

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. Just as the Lord had put His sword in the sheath of each Babylonian in the destruction of Jerusalem (21:3-5), He had implied here that it would be King Nebuchadnezzar carrying the Lord’s sword; this implies here that it was the king of Babylon that would have killed Pharaoh-Hophra himself by using the sword of God given to him.

This prophecy in itself provided much confidence to King Nebuchadnezzar and his captains, because the Lord promised to strengthen his arms. This is the imagery of a strengthened sovereign rule by him, because his arms would be strengthened. It is understood that the Pharaoh had raced back to MoMemphis (Kom el-Hisn) from Cyrene with mercenaries that he gathered; though he may have been hurt (broken arm [30:21]), the imagery of the Lord breaking both arms (30:22) indicates that his sovereign rule was broken, while his physical arm may have been severe enough to cause him to groan in pain. The implication of disclosing that Pharaoh’s groans were of a deadly (fatally) wounded man implies that Pharoah-Hophra died at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar when he had groaned before him.

Ezekiel 30:25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt. This pretty much summarizes the previous four verses. The conjunction “but” was incorrectly used here, when this summary is not an exclusion, therefore it needs to be a conjunction appropriate for the introductory of this summary. I find that the conjunction “thus” fits well.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s power was strengthened, while Pharaoh’s was broken (arms of Pharaoh shall fall down). Those who would have read of these prophecies would all be able to realize that it was the Lord God who had the king of Babylon carry His sword and stretched it out upon the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 30:26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the Lord. This is a proclamation, which repeated what was implied in 30:23, so that when it came to pass, the scattering and dispersion of the Egyptians was declared by the Lord on Nisan 7, 599 B.C.

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[1] Sabo, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, 27-28.

[2] Sabo, Revelation of Jesus Christ, 133-138.

[3] John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1-39 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986), 126. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[4] Sabo, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, 27-28.

[5] Ibid.