Ezek. 30 The desolation of Egypt and her helpers, Ezek. 30:1–19. The arm of Babylon shall be strengthened to break the arm of Egypt, Ezek. 30:20–26.

Howl ye, inhabitants of Egypt, and whoso are near enough in friendship and alliances to fall under the like calamities. Woe worth the day! Ah the day! O sad and miserable times.

The day; the time of such distresses, as never the like known by you. Near; it will begin in your overthrow in the Cyrenian and Libyan deserts in very little time next it will continue in your civil war, and finally end in the Babylonish conquest: some two years, and you shall be miserably routed…

The sword: see Ezek. 29:8. In Ethiopia; next neighbour and ally to Egypt; they shall tremble at so great danger, so near, and they uncertain whether it will come on them, but very certain to be ruined if it does come, and as certain that they have cause to suspect it will come on them.

Ethiopia, Heb. Cush, which are commonly thought to be the Ethiopians in Africa, but some more inquisitive geographers have found them originally and chiefly in Arabia, which was either subject or ally to Egypt in its prosperity; and these were, as Ezek.

They also that uphold Egypt; either the princes, counsellors, and martial men in Egypt, or those abroad, that favour her and help her. The pride of her power; the glory of all her strength, of which she was proud. Shall come down; be trodden under foot.

They, all those before mentioned, shall be desolate; as much wasted as any of them that are most wasted. Her cities, of Egypt, equally wasted with other cities that have been sacked, as Jerusalem, Tyre, Zidon, Rabbath, &c.

They shall know; all that act, and all that suffer, in this tragedy, shall by the evidence of the things be enforced to own God’s hand, and ascribe justice, and truth, and glory to him. A fire; that war, which like increasing fire consumeth all.

In that day; the day of God’s severe but just judgments, and Egypt’s fatal desolation. Messengers; such as having seen and escaped the sword, shall tell the dismal news. From me; by my permission and providence they shall go, as if sent by me.

The multitude; the numerous families and tribes. To cease; to dwindle and decrease. By the hand; by the army, power, and conduct of Nebuchadrezzar.

He; Nebuchadrezzar. His people; his own subjects, not hired soldiers. The terrible: this is the description of them, Hab. 1:7, a fierce and cruel people, as Ps. 137:8–9. Shall be brought, by the hand of God, using means for that end, as before noted, Ezek. 29:4.

I will make the rivers dry; either by some extraordinary drought, or rather by means of that mighty lake, which drew so much water from Nilus, that all their canals were ever after shallow, and the lake, as the oracle foretold, helped their enemy, and hurt their friends; or the Chaldeans might…

I will also destroy; God did it by the Babylonians; those proud and impious nations did triumph over the gods of the conquered, and out of contempt of them burnt them or broke them, as is well known; so Sennacherib threatened, 2 Chron. 32:19, Isa. 37:19, Isa.

Parthos: see Ezek. 29:14. Set a fire in Zoan: it may be literally understood, that Zoan, Tanis, for that is its name, should be burnt down to ashes; or metaphorically, of war, and civil dissensions. No; a very great and populous city, situate on one of the mouths of Nilus, and on the sea, Nah. 3:8.

Will pour my fury: see Ezek. 21:31. Sin; either Sain, or more likely Pelusium, which was a frontier, and secured the entrance of Egypt from the desert of Sin, was the key of Egypt, and therefore always well fortified and strongly garrisoned; it was called Damtiata.

Will set fire: see Ezek. 30:14, Ezek. 20:47. Sin: see Ezek. 30:15. Great pain: see Ezek. 30:9. No: Ezek. 30:14–15. Rent asunder; her walls, and towers, and fortresses battered, torn, and broken through by the continued violence of engines, and by the assaults of the soldiers. Noph: see Ezek. 30:13.

The young men: it is probable these might be a select army of valiant youths in one body, collected out of these two cities, that resolved to break the Chaldean army, or fall in the enterprise; or else that they did to the utmost defend the walls, and were put to the sword when the city was taken…

Tehaphnehes; a great and goodly city of Egypt. Tachapanes, Tachpanes, Tahapanes, Tahpanes, Chanes, and Hanes, Isa. 30:4, are names given it, and this from a queen of Egypt of that name in Solomon’s time, 1 Kings 11:19–20.

The eleventh year of Jeconiah’s captivity, three months and two days before Jerusalem was taken, Jer. 52:4. In the first month; the fourth day of our April.

I have often told thee I would break, now I tell thee I have broken, partly by the victory of the Chaldean over Pharaoh-necho, partly by the victory the Cyreneaus got over Pharaoh-hophra to raise the siege, from which attempt he fell with shame and loss, but more by civil wars.

In the former verse God had broken the arm, in this he will break the arms of Pharaoh, he will show he is still against Pharaoh, and will break him more and more. The strong; that part of his kingdom which remains entire.

See Ezek. 29:12, Ezek. 20:23, where are the same expressions.

These two foregoing verses are a repetition of God’s threats against Pharaoh, and of his promises to assist Nebuchadnezzar in the war, and every thing plain in them. Will strengthen; give the first strength, and continue it with new supplies, so that with strength from God he shall proceed.

See Ezek. 30:23.