August 27, 2025
He is the Lord
Ezekiel 30-34
Wendy L. Park
Big Book Idea
While destruction would come and had come, eventually there would be restoration.
Key Verse | Ezekiel 34:31
"And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God."
Ezekiel 30-34
Chapter 30
A Lament for Egypt
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God:
Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
3
For the day is near,
the day of the LORD is near;
it will be a day of clouds,
a time of doom for
1
30:3
Hebrew lacks doom for
the nations.
4
A sword shall come upon Egypt,
and anguish shall be in Cush,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
and her wealth
2
30:4
Or multitude; also verse 10
is carried away,
and her foundations are torn down.
5 Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, 3 30:5 With Septuagint; Hebrew Cub and the people of the land that is in league, 4 30:5 Hebrew and the sons of the land of the covenant shall fall with them by the sword.
6
Thus says the LORD:
Those who support Egypt shall fall,
and her proud might shall come down;
from Migdol to Syene
they shall fall within her by the sword,
declares the Lord God.
7
And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries,
and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste.
8
Then they will know that I am the LORD,
when I have set fire to Egypt,
and all her helpers are broken.
9 On that day messengers shall go out from me in ships to terrify the unsuspecting people of Cush, and anguish shall come upon them on the day of Egypt's doom; 5 30:9 Hebrew the day of Egypt for, behold, it comes!
10 Thus says the Lord God:
I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt,
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11
He and his people with him, the most ruthless of nations,
shall be brought in to destroy the land,
and they shall draw their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.
12
And I will dry up the Nile
and will sell the land into the hand of evildoers;
I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it,
by the hand of foreigners;
I am the LORD; I have spoken.
13 Thus says the Lord God:
I will destroy the idols
and put an end to the images in Memphis;
there shall no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt;
so I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
14
I will make Pathros a desolation
and will set fire to Zoan
and will execute judgments on Thebes.
15
And I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,
the stronghold of Egypt,
and cut off the multitude
6
30:15
Or wealth
of Thebes.
16
And I will set fire to Egypt;
Pelusium shall be in great agony;
Thebes shall be breached,
and Memphis shall face enemies
7
30:16
Or distress
by day.
17
The young men of On and of Pi-beseth shall fall by the sword,
and the women
8
30:17
Or the cities; Hebrew they
shall go into captivity.
18
At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark,
when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt,
and her proud might shall come to an end in her;
she shall be covered by a cloud,
and her daughters shall go into captivity.
19
Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt.
Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Egypt Shall Fall to Babylon
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and behold, it has not been bound up, to heal it by binding it with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one that was broken, and I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. 24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a man mortally wounded. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Chapter 31
Pharaoh to Be Slain
1 In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:
Whom are you like in your greatness?
3
Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,
with beautiful branches and forest shade,
and of towering height,
its top among the clouds.
9
31:3
Or its top went through the thick boughs
4
The waters nourished it;
the deep made it grow tall,
making its rivers flow
around the place of its planting,
sending forth its streams
to all the trees of the field.
5
So it towered high
above all the trees of the field;
its boughs grew large
and its branches long
from abundant water in its shoots.
6
All the birds of the heavens
made their nests in its boughs;
under its branches all the beasts of the field
gave birth to their young,
and under its shadow
lived all great nations.
7
It was beautiful in its greatness,
in the length of its branches;
for its roots went down
to abundant waters.
8
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it,
nor the fir trees equal its boughs;
neither were the plane trees
like its branches;
no tree in the garden of God
was its equal in beauty.
9
I made it beautiful
in the mass of its branches,
and all the trees of Eden envied it,
that were in the garden of God.
10 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because it 10 31:10 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew you towered high and set its top among the clouds, 11 31:10 Or its top through the thick boughs and its heart was proud of its height, 11 I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. 12 Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it. 13 On its fallen trunk dwell all the birds of the heavens, and on its branches are all the beasts of the field. 14 All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds, 12 31:14 Or their tops through the thick boughs and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, to the world below, among the children of man, 13 31:14 Or of Adam with those who go down to the pit.
15 Thus says the Lord God: On the day the cedar 14 31:15 Hebrew it went down to Sheol I caused mourning; I closed the deep over it, and restrained its rivers, and many waters were stopped. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. 16 I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit. And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the world below. 17 They also went down to Sheol with it, to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were its arm, who lived under its shadow among the nations.
18 Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword.
This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God.”
Chapter 32
A Lament over Pharaoh and Egypt
1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:
You consider yourself a lion of the nations,
but you are like a dragon in the seas;
you burst forth in your rivers,
trouble the waters with your feet,
and foul their rivers.
3
Thus says the Lord God:
I will throw my net over you
with a host of many peoples,
and they will haul you up in my dragnet.
4
And I will cast you on the ground;
on the open field I will fling you,
and will cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you,
and I will gorge the beasts of the whole earth with you.
5
I will strew your flesh upon the mountains
and fill the valleys with your carcass.
15
32:5
Hebrew your height
6
I will drench the land even to the mountains
with your flowing blood,
and the ravines will be full of you.
7
When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens
and make their stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon shall not give its light.
8
All the bright lights of heaven
will I make dark over you,
and put darkness on your land,
declares the Lord God.
9 I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you have not known. 10 I will make many peoples appalled at you, and the hair of their kings shall bristle with horror because of you, when I brandish my sword before them. They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall.
11 For thus says the Lord God: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of mighty ones, all of them most ruthless of nations.
They shall bring to ruin the pride of Egypt,
and all its multitude
16
32:12
Or wealth
shall perish.
13
I will destroy all its beasts
from beside many waters;
and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore,
nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
14
Then I will make their waters clear,
and cause their rivers to run like oil,
declares the Lord God.
15
When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
and when the land is desolate of all that fills it,
when I strike down all who dwell in it,
then they will know that I am the LORD.
16 This is a lamentation that shall be chanted; the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall they chant it, declares the Lord God.”
17 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, 17 32:17 Hebrew lacks in the twelfth month on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 18 “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and send them down, her and the daughters of majestic nations, to the world below, to those who have gone down to the pit:
19
‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?
Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised.’
20 They shall fall amid those who are slain by the sword. Egypt 18 32:20 Hebrew She is delivered to the sword; drag her away, and all her multitudes. 21 The mighty chiefs shall speak of them, with their helpers, out of the midst of Sheol: ‘They have come down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’
22 Assyria is there, and all her company, its graves all around it, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, 23 whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit; and her company is all around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.
24 Elam is there, and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised into the world below, who spread their terror in the land of the living; and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit. 25 They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are placed among the slain.
26 Meshech-Tubal is there, and all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they spread their terror in the land of the living. 27 And they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living. 28 But as for you, you shall be broken and lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword.
29 Edom is there, her kings and all her princes, who for all their might are laid with those who are killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.
30 The princes of the north are there, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down in shame with the slain, for all the terror that they caused by their might; they lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31 When Pharaoh sees them, he will be comforted for all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, declares the Lord God. 32 For I spread terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God.”
Chapter 33
Ezekiel Is Israel's Watchman
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
7 So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
Why Will You Die, Israel?
10 And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
12 And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness 19 33:12 Hebrew by it when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 14 Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.
17 Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. 19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”
Jerusalem Struck Down
21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” 22 Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.
23 The word of the LORD came to me: 24 “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ 25 Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? 26 You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land? 27 Say this to them, Thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. 28 And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. 29 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.
30 As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays 20 33:32 Hebrew like the singing of lustful songs with a beautiful voice and one who plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. 33 When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Chapter 34
Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; 6 they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
The Lord God Will Seek Them Out
11 For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. 21 34:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate I will watch over I will feed them in justice.
17 As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue 22 34:22 Or save my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.
The LORD's Covenant of Peace
25 I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. 30 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. 31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”
Footnotes
[1] 30:3 Hebrew lacks doom for[2] 30:4 Or multitude; also verse 10
[3] 30:5 With Septuagint; Hebrew Cub
[4] 30:5 Hebrew and the sons of the land of the covenant
[5] 30:9 Hebrew the day of Egypt
[6] 30:15 Or wealth
[7] 30:16 Or distress
[8] 30:17 Or the cities; Hebrew they
[9] 31:3 Or its top went through the thick boughs
[10] 31:10 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew you
[11] 31:10 Or its top through the thick boughs
[12] 31:14 Or their tops through the thick boughs
[13] 31:14 Or of Adam
[14] 31:15 Hebrew it
[15] 32:5 Hebrew your height
[16] 32:12 Or wealth
[17] 32:17 Hebrew lacks in the twelfth month
[18] 32:20 Hebrew She
[19] 33:12 Hebrew by it
[20] 33:32 Hebrew like the singing of lustful songs with a beautiful voice and one who plays
[21] 34:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate I will watch over
[22] 34:22 Or save
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ezekiel
Timeline
Author and Date
The first dated message in Ezekiel is from the summer of 593 B.C., four years after Nebuchadnezzar deported the first group of exiles to Babylon. The latest dated oracle is 22 years later, in April 571 B.C. If Ezekiel was 30 years old when his ministry began (1:1), the final vision of the book came when he was about 50.
Theme and Purpose
Ezekiel spoke to a people forced from their home because they had broken faith with their God. As the spokesman for the Lord, Ezekiel spoke oracles that defended his reputation as a holy God (see especially 36:22–23). The primary purpose of Ezekiel’s message was to restore God’s glory before Israel, who had rejected him in front of the watching nations.
Background
Ezekiel prophesied during a time of great confusion following Israel’s exile to Babylon in 597 B.C. A former Judean king was among the exiles (the 18-year-old Jehoiachin), and the Babylonians had appointed a puppet king to the throne in Jerusalem (Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah).
In times of crisis, God sent prophets to bring his message to his people. Judah’s exile was therefore a period of intense prophetic activity. (Jeremiah also served during this time.)
Ezekiel’s fellow exiles were his main audience, but his oracles also communicated to people who remained in Judah.
Key Themes
- As a priest, Ezekiel was deeply concerned with restoring God’s people to holiness. His understanding of the depth of Israel’s sin is clear in his version of Israel’s history (ch. 20). Even the oracles about a restored Israel (chs. 40–48) include a way to deal with the people’s sin so they can survive in the presence of a holy God. Ezekiel’s concern with sin also accounts for the many places where the book echoes the laws given in the Pentateuch, as well as the similarities between Ezekiel’s new temple (chs. 40–42) and the Exodus tabernacle.
- Israel was subject to its national God. However, this God is no tribal deity. He is supreme over all nations. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar, king of mighty Babylon, was simply a tool in God’s hand to accomplish God’s purpose (e.g., 21:19–23; 30:25). God’s absolute supremacy is most clearly demonstrated in the battle against Gog, the final enemy (chs. 38–39), where God alone crushes Gog’s vast hostile forces.
- Ezekiel declares judgment on those clinging to false hope, but offers true hope to those who accept God’s judgment (37:11). He linked God’s judgment with the hope of a new heart and spirit (36:22–32).
- The condemnation of Israel’s “princes” (e.g., ch. 19) finds its hopeful counterpart in the promise of a future “prince” who would rule with justice (34:23–24) and connect the people to God (46:1–18).
Outline
- Inaugural Vision (1:1–3:27)
- Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah (4:1–24:27)
- Oracles against Foreign Nations (25:1–32:32)
- After the Fall of Jerusalem (33:1–39:29)
- Vision of Restoration (40:1–48:35)
The Near East at the Time of Ezekiel
c. 593 B.C.
Ezekiel recorded his visions and prophecies while living near Babylon, where he had been exiled years earlier. By Ezekiel’s time, the Babylonian Empire had conquered almost all of the area along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It would eventually conquer even the land of Egypt, where many other Judeans had fled.
Fact: Tree
A tree represents King Nebuchadnezzar in his dream (4:5–27). Trees can symbolize great kingdoms in the Bible. Ezekiel 31:2–9 compares Assyria to a cedar that shelters the nations. Jesus uses a tree to describe God’s kingdom (Mark 4:32).
Fact: A tree cut down
A tree cut down. The Assyrians believed that a sacred tree, whose roots were fed by a vast underground ocean, brought life to its nation. When Ezekiel talked about this “tree” being cut down (31:1–18), he was symbolically describing the end of once-mighty Assyria.
Fact: Lions and dragons
Lions and dragons. Egypt saw itself as a lion, a nation that hunted and devoured other nations. But Ezekiel compares Egypt to a dragon—a near-sighted crocodile that stirs up muddy waters, attracting attention to itself. Egypt’s boasting will be its downfall, as the Lord sends Babylon to conquer and humiliate it.
Fact: Watchmen
Watchmen. The Lord appointed Ezekiel to be a “watchman” over Israel (33:7). People depended on the watchman not only to remain vigilant but also to sound the alarm if the city was in danger. It was then up to the people to decide whether to heed these warnings or ignore them.
Fact: Shepherds of Israel
God called his people’s leaders the shepherds of Israel. But instead of protecting and providing for their sheep, they abused them. God promised to judge the shepherds, rescue his sheep, and appoint a shepherd like David (34:23; compare John 10:11–18).
Fact: The prince
The prince (44:3) in the visions of restoration is also called God’s servant David (34:23–24; 37:24–25). This prince will rule over God’s people forever. Jesus’ followers viewed him as this promised ruler (Matt. 1:1; Luke 18:38).
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Oracles against the Nations in the Prophets
| Isaiah | Jeremiah | Ezekiel | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Nahum | Zephaniah | Zechariah* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammon | 49:1–6 | 25:1–7 | 1:13–15 | |||||||
| Arabia | 21:13–17 | |||||||||
| Assyria (Nineveh) | 10:5–19; 14:24–27 | (Nineveh) | (Nineveh) | |||||||
| Babylon | 13:1–14:23; 21:1–10; 46:1–47:15 | 50:1–51:64 | 2:9–12? | |||||||
| Damascus | 17:1–6? | 49:23–27 | 1:3–5 | 9:1 | ||||||
| Edom | 21:11–12 | 49:7–22 | 25:12–14 | 1:11–12 | 1–14? | |||||
| Egypt | 18:1–20:6 | 46:2–26 | 29:1–32:32 | |||||||
| Elam | 49:34–39 | |||||||||
| Ethiopia | 2:12–15 | |||||||||
| Gaza | 1:6–8 | 9:5 | ||||||||
| Kedar and Hazor | 49:28–33 | |||||||||
| Lebanon | 11:1–3? | |||||||||
| Moab | 15:1–16:14 | 48:1–47 | 25:8–11 | 2:1–3 | 2:8–11 | |||||
| Philistia | 14:28–32 | 47:1–7 | 25:15–17 | 3:4–8 | 2:5–7 | 9:6 | ||||
| Tyre Sidon | 23:1–18 | 26:1–28:19; 28:20–23 | 3:4–8 | 1:9–10 | 9:2–3 |
*Additional cities /states are denounced in 9:1–8: Hadrach, Aram (v. 1); Ashkelon, Ekron (v. 5); Ashdod (v. 6)
Ezekiel
Ezekiel ministered during the same troubled times as the prophet Jeremiah. He was among the thousands of Judeans exiled to Babylon, where he probably spent the remainder of his life. About five years into the exile, at the age of 30, Ezekiel was called as a prophet. God commanded him to speak the word of God fearlessly to the people, regardless of whether or not they listened. He was appointed as a “watchman” for Israel (3:17; 33:1–9), whose task it was to warn the people that God would punish them unless they repented. Courageous sermons, dramatic visions, and symbolic actions characterized Ezekiel’s ministry. God asked Ezekiel to enact difficult messages, often at a great personal cost. When his wife died, Ezekiel was commanded not to mourn for her, as a sign to Israel (24:15–27). Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel remained a faithful, humble servant despite his difficult life as a prophet. (Ezekiel 33:1–9)
Ezek. 30:2–5 The cry of the day (v. 2) and the announcement that the day is near (v. 3) point to the “day of the Lord” concept seen in 7:10–27 (see notes there). Ezekiel combines this theme with the “sword of the Lord” in a subtle way at 21:8–10, but here the connection is clearer with the reference to the sword.
Ezek. 30:1–19 The third of the seven anti-Egypt oracles is the only undated one. It is comprised of four related prophecies. Each is introduced by Thus says the Lord (vv. 2, 6, 10, 13) and each echoes themes seen elsewhere in Ezekiel’s oracles. Together they announce the fall of Egypt and her allies to Nebuchadnezzar (v. 10).
Ezek. 30:13–19 Since Ezekiel uses so many place names, he obviously knows Egypt well (see 29:14; compare Mic. 1:10–15). Each place is linked to a judgment that will fall upon it. The places and things that are judged amount to a complete rejection of Egyptian religion and politics.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ezek. 30:23 scatter . . . and disperse (see also v. 26). This language appeared in 29:12. The fear of being displaced from the Promised Land is one of the strongest in the OT (e.g., Gen. 11:4; compare Ezek. 28:24–26).
Ezek. 30:20–26 The dates return in this fourth Egypt oracle, locating this unit in April 587 B.C. This oracle contrasts the weakness of Hophra’s forces with the might of Babylon.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ezek. 31:8–9 The garden of God is mentioned three times and compared with Eden (also vv. 16, 18). I (God) made it beautiful, leaving no room for self-admiration (v. 9).
Fact: Tree
A tree represents King Nebuchadnezzar in his dream (4:5–27). Trees can symbolize great kingdoms in the Bible. Ezekiel 31:2–9 compares Assyria to a cedar that shelters the nations. Jesus uses a tree to describe God’s kingdom (Mark 4:32).
Ezek. 31:10–14 Mighty one of the nations, paralleled by the most ruthless of nations, refers elsewhere to Babylon (28:7). Those who once prospered in Egypt’s shadow now leave it.
Ezek. 31:1–18 Ezekiel’s fifth oracle against Egypt dates to June 587 B.C., only a few weeks after the preceding unit. Here the prophet points to Assyria as an object lesson for Egypt. In its dying days, the once-mighty Assyrian Empire looked to Egypt for help against the growing power of Babylon (c. 610 B.C.). Even together they could not withstand the Babylonians. That had been just 23 years earlier, well within living memory. In Isaiah’s prophecies, given even earlier, proud Assyria was destroyed by the Lord (Isa. 10:5–19). This, Ezekiel says, is the fate awaiting Egypt.
Fact: A tree cut down
A tree cut down. The Assyrians believed that a sacred tree, whose roots were fed by a vast underground ocean, brought life to its nation. When Ezekiel talked about this “tree” being cut down (31:1–18), he was symbolically describing the end of once-mighty Assyria.
Ezek. 32:2 Egypt is a dragon, the chaotic beast associated with the Nile’s crocodile (see note on 29:3).
Fact: Lions and dragons
Lions and dragons. Egypt saw itself as a lion, a nation that hunted and devoured other nations. But Ezekiel compares Egypt to a dragon—a near-sighted crocodile that stirs up muddy waters, attracting attention to itself. Egypt’s boasting will be its downfall, as the Lord sends Babylon to conquer and humiliate it.
Ezek. 32:7–8 The darkness on your land alludes to the exodus story (see 30:13–19; also Ex. 10:21–23).
Ezek. 32:14 Egypt’s fall to Babylon (vv. 11–13) provides an opportunity for nature to recover, with the waters and rivers pointing back to v. 2.
Ezek. 32:1–16 This oracle repeats the call to “lament” (vv. 2, 16). The poem is built around the identification of Pharaoh as a “dragon” (v. 2), recalling 29:3 (see note). The date is March 585 B.C., some time after the fall of Jerusalem (see note on 33:21–22).
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ezek. 32:19 The Egyptians practiced circumcision. Thus their place with the uncircumcised would be cause for deep shame.
Ezek. 32:22–23 Assyria is in the uttermost parts of the pit. Ezekiel’s Sheol has levels of shame, and Assyria’s appears to be the deepest. See vv. 26–27.
Ezek. 25:1–32:32 Oracles against Foreign Nations. At this moment in the dramatic downfall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel’s focus shifts. The fate of the city is left hanging as he presents a collection of oracles against foreign nations. Not all the oracles are dated, but most seem to fall within the period 587–585 B.C. (for the exception, see note on 29:17–21). Several other prophetic books include prophecies addressed to nations other than Israel and Judah (e.g., Isaiah 13–23; Jeremiah 46–51; Amos 1–2; Zephaniah 2). The primary purpose of such prophecies is to show that all peoples are under the authority of the King of kings, whether for judgment or for blessing. The reasons for judgment tend to be the same in both the foreign and domestic oracles within a given book. In Ezekiel, Judah and Jerusalem are punished for impurity and oppression, and so are the foreign nations. However, Ezekiel often simply announces God’s opposition to these nations without offering an explicit reason for the opposition. The oracles unfold in three large sections: first, Judah’s nearest neighbors are condemned (Ezekiel 25), followed by extended oracles against Tyre (chs. 26–28) and Egypt (chs. 29–32). Two smaller oracles—one against Sidon, the other looking to Israel’s regathering—are included at the halfway point (28:20–26). In all, seven nations stand condemned.
Ezek. 29:1–32:32 The seventh and last of the nations addressed, Egypt (like Tyre) receives seven oracles. If the chief interest in Tyre was economic, the leading issue for Egypt is military power.
Ezek. 32:17–32 This is the seventh and final oracle against Egypt and the last of the entire foreign-nation oracle collection. It returns to a theme introduced briefly in an oracle on the sinking of Tyre in 26:20, and already used against Egypt in 31:14, 16. In a grand finale, all the nations are gathered together in the pit (32:18), in Sheol (v. 21), the place of the dead. Egypt joins them there, Pharaoh receiving no comfort from the welcome he receives (v. 31). In drawing the nations together in this place over which God alone has power, Ezekiel again demonstrates God’s sovereignty. This oracle occurs two weeks later than the previous one (fifteenth day; compare “first day,” v. 1).
Oracles against the Nations in the Prophets
| Isaiah | Jeremiah | Ezekiel | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Nahum | Zephaniah | Zechariah* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammon | 49:1–6 | 25:1–7 | 1:13–15 | |||||||
| Arabia | 21:13–17 | |||||||||
| Assyria (Nineveh) | 10:5–19; 14:24–27 | (Nineveh) | (Nineveh) | |||||||
| Babylon | 13:1–14:23; 21:1–10; 46:1–47:15 | 50:1–51:64 | 2:9–12? | |||||||
| Damascus | 17:1–6? | 49:23–27 | 1:3–5 | 9:1 | ||||||
| Edom | 21:11–12 | 49:7–22 | 25:12–14 | 1:11–12 | 1–14? | |||||
| Egypt | 18:1–20:6 | 46:2–26 | 29:1–32:32 | |||||||
| Elam | 49:34–39 | |||||||||
| Ethiopia | 2:12–15 | |||||||||
| Gaza | 1:6–8 | 9:5 | ||||||||
| Kedar and Hazor | 49:28–33 | |||||||||
| Lebanon | 11:1–3? | |||||||||
| Moab | 15:1–16:14 | 48:1–47 | 25:8–11 | 2:1–3 | 2:8–11 | |||||
| Philistia | 14:28–32 | 47:1–7 | 25:15–17 | 3:4–8 | 2:5–7 | 9:6 | ||||
| Tyre Sidon | 23:1–18 | 26:1–28:19; 28:20–23 | 3:4–8 | 1:9–10 | 9:2–3 |
*Additional cities /states are denounced in 9:1–8: Hadrach, Aram (v. 1); Ashkelon, Ekron (v. 5); Ashdod (v. 6)
Fact: Watchmen
Watchmen. The Lord appointed Ezekiel to be a “watchman” over Israel (33:7). People depended on the watchman not only to remain vigilant but also to sound the alarm if the city was in danger. It was then up to the people to decide whether to heed these warnings or ignore them.
Ezek. 33:1–9 See also 3:16–21. God, prophet, and people are tightly bound together in these verses. The role of the watchman (33:2, 6, 7) dominates. He must act on what he sees (vv. 3, 6). The whole oracle is addressed to your people. They are responsible to obey the watchman’s warnings (vv. 4–5). The watchman must be alert for God’s actions (If I bring the sword . . . and if he sees, vv. 2–3).
Ezekiel
Ezekiel ministered during the same troubled times as the prophet Jeremiah. He was among the thousands of Judeans exiled to Babylon, where he probably spent the remainder of his life. About five years into the exile, at the age of 30, Ezekiel was called as a prophet. God commanded him to speak the word of God fearlessly to the people, regardless of whether or not they listened. He was appointed as a “watchman” for Israel (3:17; 33:1–9), whose task it was to warn the people that God would punish them unless they repented. Courageous sermons, dramatic visions, and symbolic actions characterized Ezekiel’s ministry. God asked Ezekiel to enact difficult messages, often at a great personal cost. When his wife died, Ezekiel was commanded not to mourn for her, as a sign to Israel (24:15–27). Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel remained a faithful, humble servant despite his difficult life as a prophet. (Ezekiel 33:1–9)
Ezek. 33:11 I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. The Bible is clear that God will punish sin and maintain his holiness and justice. At the same time, God feels sorrow over the punishment and death of creatures created in his image.
Ezek. 33:1–20 On the brink of hope, there is a brief pause to remind Ezekiel and his audience of their mutual responsibilities: vv. 1–9 describes again the role of the prophet as “watchman” (see 3:16–21); 33:10–20 takes another look at individual responsibility (see 18:21–29).
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ezek. 33:21–22 This brief report provides the hinge on which the book of Ezekiel turns. Ezekiel’s muteness was first encountered in 3:22–27, and a precise date had been given when the siege of Jerusalem began (24:1–2, 25–27). The date is now January 585 B.C., about five months after the fall of the city. The arrival of the fugitive confirms the word spoken at the beginning of the siege (24:25–27), affirms Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry, and establishes the work of God in bringing it about. It also gives weight to the words that follow.
Ezek. 33:25–26 You eat flesh with the blood. The Hebrew is literally “you eat over the blood,” a saying used also in Lev. 19:26. The reference is to improper sacrifice.
Ezek. 33:23–29 Ezekiel addresses those left in Judah after its fall. The Judeans’ logic of arguing (v. 24) from God’s blessings to the one (Abraham) to his presumed blessing the many (themselves) is deeply flawed.
Ezek. 33:30–33 Ezekiel’s fellow exiles may have liked his message against Israelites back home (vv. 23–29). Their enjoyment of the rebuke aimed at their land-grabbing relatives ends when Ezekiel accuses them of also being greedy (v. 31). They treat prophetic words as mere entertainment (v. 32) rather than as messages from God that should be obeyed.
Ezek. 34:2–6 Describing rulers as shepherds was widespread in the ancient Near East. David is the model of a shepherd-king (2 Sam. 5:2; Ps. 78:70–72), but the greatest example is God himself (e.g., Ps. 80:1). Jesus identifies himself as the “good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). feeding yourselves. Not only are the shepherds neglecting the sheep; they are benefiting from their positions of power while the flock suffers.
Ezek. 34:11–16 God intervenes to reverse, step by step, the process described above. He repairs the damage caused by the failed shepherds (vv. 2–6, 8) by seeking the scattered sheep (v. 12), gathering and feeding them (vv. 13–14), and ensuring their security (v. 15). On the announcement of God himself as shepherd (v. 15), see note on vv. 23–24.
Fact: Shepherds of Israel
God called his people’s leaders the shepherds of Israel. But instead of protecting and providing for their sheep, they abused them. God promised to judge the shepherds, rescue his sheep, and appoint a shepherd like David (34:23; compare John 10:11–18).
Ezek. 34:23–24 Ezekiel’s announcement of a Davidic shepherd (v. 23; compare 37:24) is similar to Jeremiah’s (Jer. 23:5–6). Ezekiel 34:24 affirms the relationship of God and people. Because it is close to v. 15, some commentators wonder whether the shepherd is divine (v. 15) or human (v. 23). This passage may look forward to the divine-human nature of the Messiah. Such an interpretation would explain John 10:11–18, where Jesus says that he is the “good shepherd.” In doing so, Jesus claims to be both the Davidic Messiah (Ezek. 34:23) and the incarnate God of Israel (v. 15; compare John 1:14). Ezekiel is reluctant to acknowledge any king except God, so he refers to David as prince.
Fact: The prince
The prince (44:3) in the visions of restoration is also called God’s servant David (34:23–24; 37:24–25). This prince will rule over God’s people forever. Jesus’ followers viewed him as this promised ruler (Matt. 1:1; Luke 18:38).
Ezek. 34:1–31 As the move toward restoration continues, Ezekiel describes the nation and its leaders as sheep and shepherds. He addresses the shepherds (vv. 1–16) and then the sheep (vv. 17–31).
Ezek. 34:17–31 The remainder of the chapter is addressed to the flock: vv. 17–22 condemn victimization within the flock; vv. 23–24 return to the provision of a faithful shepherd; and vv. 25–31 describe how spiritual renewal among the people will affect the natural world.
Ezek. 34:25–31 The covenant of peace announced in v. 25 extends to the renewal of the natural world. Compare Isa. 11:1–9, where such peace is part of the messianic age. Covenant curses have been the focus, but the covenant also contained blessings (compare Lev. 26:4–6; Deut. 28:8–14). Showers of blessing refers not only to literal rain but also to abundant blessings from God.
S4:205 Ezekiel 30-34
Listen NowDive Deeper | Ezekiel 30-34
The theme of the book of Ezekiel is "I am the LORD." Of the estimated 70 times the phrase appears in the book, 11 occur in chapters 30-34.
Chapters 30–32 detail the judgment coming upon Egypt and its allies. Just as God controlled the rise and fall of the Assyrian empire, so, too, would God bring down Egypt in its pride and arrogance. Babylon was God's chosen tool for Egypt's destruction.
Chapter 33 reflects back to chapter 3 when Ezekiel was first given the instructions to be a watchman for his people to warn them of their wickedness. God reiterates this warning while giving reminders of his justice. In this chapter, Jerusalem has fallen; and Ezekiel, who has been silent since chapter 3 for a period of seven years, is now able to speak. His warnings from God, acted out through unique visual displays, have come true. However, those who had remained in the land were unrepentant and boasting, thinking they somehow deserved the land, as opposed to those taken into exile. They went through the motions of religiosity, but did not put God's words into practice. God vowed the land would become desolate because of their abominations.
Chapter 34 shows how God viewed Israel. They were his sheep in need of shepherds to guide them, but both the people and leaders wandered away from the Lord, turning instead to idols, the ways of the world, and other nations for their security. Yet, the Lord would be their Shepherd. He would rescue and redeem them from their exile. He would make a covenant of peace with them, return them to the land, and give them showers of blessings. He would be their God, and they would know that he is the Lord.
These chapters give us a beautiful portrait of who God is. He is sovereign and in control. He exalts and humbles nations for his good purposes. He righteously rules and judges. He is our good Shepherd and our Savior who will be revealed through his Son. He will one day make all things new.
He is the Lord.
This month's memory verse
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
– Lamentations 3:21-23
Discussion Questions
1. Are you going through the motions in your daily life without a heart fully surrendered to the Lord?
2. How do you acknowledge the Lord's sovereignty in the good and bad things in life?
3. How is the Lord shepherding you?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you for being a just and righteous God. We thank you for being in control and working through everything. Forgive us when we fall short. Restore us through your goodness. Thank you for being our gentle Savior and shepherd. You are the Lord, and there is none like you. We love you, Lord. Amen.