Ezek 31

EZEKIEL 31 - Pharaoh as a felled cedar of Lebanon

OVERVIEW

• Ezekiel (chapters 25-32) includes prophecies that addressed the surrounding pagan nations of Israel, also found in Isaiah (13-19) and Jeremiah (46-51)

• This series of prophecies, with one exception, was delivered at the time of the fall of Jerusalem, shortly before or after the capture of the city; they were to be a warning to the nations not to exult in their neighbor Israel’s fall <C33>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Ezekiel filled ch 31 with a metaphor/analogy comparing Egypt to a huge tree that dominates the world; he reasoned that just as a strong tree like Assyria fell (609 BC) so can Egypt fall (568 BC) <M130>

Ezekiel 31:2-3 NIV

[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, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage.

Ezekiel 31:18 NIV

[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, with those killed by the sword. “ 'This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.' ”

Ezekiel 32:19 NIV

[19] Say to them, 'Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.'

** Trees are symbolic of nations, kingdoms, and empires in several places in the Bible <H994>; many support the symbolism of the trees representing Israel

Daniel 4:10-12 NIV

[10] These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. [11] The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. [12] Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

Ezekiel 17:22-24 NIV

[22] “ 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. [23] On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. [24] All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “ 'I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. ' ”

Ezekiel 31:2-3 NIV

[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, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage.

Judges 9:7-15 NIV

[7] When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. [8] One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' [9] “But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?' [10] “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.' [11] “But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?' [12] “Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.' [13] “But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?' [14] “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.' [15] “The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'

** All things are possible with God, for He can “dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish”

Ezekiel reasoned that just as a strong tree like Assyria fell (609 BC) so can Egypt fall (568 BC) <M130>

Ezekiel 17:22-24 NIV

Ezekiel 31:3,8-9 NIV

[3] Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage. [8] The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor could the junipers equal its boughs, nor could the plane trees compare with its branches---no tree in the garden of God could match its beauty. [9] I made it beautiful with abundant branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God.

Ezekiel 31:10-12 NIV

[10] “ 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud 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, [12] and the most ruthless of foreign nations cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys; 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.

Ezekiel 32:10 NIV

[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 before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.

** God, once again, brought down the proud; the example mentioned in Ezekiel 31 involved the humbling of Assyria to the point of God casting it aside

Ezekiel 31:10-11,14 NIV

[10] “ 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud 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, [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 for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.