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Ezekiel Chapter
Thirty-one
Ezekiel 31
Chapter Contents
The glory of Assyria. (1-9) Its fall
and the like for
Egypt. (10-18)
Commentary on Ezekiel 31:1-9
(Read Ezekiel 31:1-9)
The falls of others
both into sin and ruin
warn us not
to be secure or high-minded. The prophet is to show an instance of one whom the
king of Egypt resembled in greatness
the Assyrian
compared to a stately
cedar. Those who excel others
make themselves the objects of envy; but the
blessings of the heavenly paradise are not liable to such alloy. The utmost
security that any creature can give
is but like the shadow of a tree
a scanty
and slender protection. But let us flee to God for protection
there we shall
be safe. His hand must be owned in the rising of the great men of the earth
and we must not envy them. Though worldly people may seem to have firm
prosperity
yet it only seems so.
Commentary on Ezekiel 31:10-18
(Read Ezekiel 31:10-18)
The king of Egypt resembled the king of Assyria in his greatness:
here we see he resembles him in his pride. And he shall resemble him in his
fall. His own sin brings his ruin. None of our comforts are ever lost
but what
have been a thousand times forfeited. When great men fall
many fall with them
as many have fallen before them. The fall of proud men is for warning to
others
to keep them humble. See how low Pharaoh lies; and see what all his
pomp and pride are come to. It is best to be a lowly tree of righteousness
yielding fruit to the glory of God
and to the good of men. The wicked man is
often seen flourishing like the cedar
and spreading like the green bay tree
but he soon passes away
and his place is no more found. Let us then mark the
perfect man
and behold the upright
for the end of that man is peace.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Ezekiel》
Ezekiel 31
Verse 2
[2] Son of man
speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt
and to his
multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
His multitude — His numerous subjects.
Verse 3
[3] Behold
the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair
branches
and with a shadowing shroud
and of an high stature; and his top was
among the thick boughs.
A cedar — Like the most goodly cedar for strength and beauty.
Verse 4
[4] The waters made him great
the deep set him up on high
with her rivers running round about his plants
and sent out her little rivers
unto all the trees of the field.
The waters — Cedars grow great by the
water-courses.
The deep — The sea sent out her waters
which gave being to the
rivers
that watered him.
His plants — The provinces of this mighty
kingdom
that were like plants about a great tree.
All the trees — To all his subjects.
Verse 5
[5] Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of
the field
and his boughs were multiplied
and his branches became long because
of the multitude of waters
when he shot forth.
All the fowls — All kind of men
nobles
merchants
husbandmen.
Made their nests — Settled their
habitations.
In his boughs — In his kingdom
in the cities and
towns of it.
All great nations — No nation that was
great at that time
but
sought the friendship of this kingdom.
Verse 8
[8] The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the
fir trees were not like his boughs
and the chesnut trees were not like his
branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
The cedars — The greatest kings.
Garden of God — In the most fruitful gardens.
Hide — Could not ever top
and shade him.
The fir-trees — Lesser kings
and kingdoms
were
not equal to his boughs.
Nor any tree — All summed up
none like him in
all the kingdoms of the world.
Verse 11
[11] I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the
mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out
for his wickedness.
Him — The proud king of Assyria
Sardanapalus.
The mighty one — Arbaces
who first struck at the
root of this Cedar
might well be styled the mighty one of the heathen
since
he could bring together four hundred thousand of Medes
Persians
Babylonians
and Arabians.
Verse 12
[12] And strangers
the terrible of the nations
have cut him
off
and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches
are fallen
and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all
the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow
and have left him.
Strangers — Foreigners.
Verse 14
[14] To the end that none of all the trees by the waters
exalt themselves for their height
neither shoot up their top among the thick
boughs
neither their trees stand up in their height
all that drink water: for
they are all delivered unto death
to the nether parts of the earth
in the
midst of the children of men
with them that go down to the pit.
To the end — All this is designed to be a
warning to mortals.
All the trees — The emperors
kings
or
flourishing states.
By the waters — Planted most commodiously
and
furnished most abundantly with power and wealth.
The children of men — As common men
of no
quality or distinction.
Verse 15
[15] Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to
the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him
and I restrained the
floods thereof
and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn
for him
and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
He — The king of Assyria.
A mourning — There was much lamentation.
Fainted — Probably there were portentous signs in the sea
and
great waters
and the rivers
and among the trees.
Verse 16
[16] I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall
when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the
trees of Eden
the choice and best of Lebanon
all that drink water
shall be
comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
Shake — All that heard the noise of his fall
trembled at it.
Cast him down — Brought the king and kingdom
as
a dead man to the grave among them
that before were dead and buried.
All the trees — All kings
and particularly the
greatest.
All that drink water — Enjoyed great power
riches
and glory.
Comforted — He speaks to the dead with
allusion to the manner of the living
who rejoice to see the proud brought low.
Verse 17
[17] They also went down into hell with him unto them that be
slain with the sword; and they that were his arm
that dwelt under his shadow
in the midst of the heathen.
They also — His neighbouring kings.
Hell — Perished with him
and went to those whom God had
slain for their pride and wickedness.
They that were his arm — His loyal and
faithful subjects and friends
on whom he relied
and by whom he acted.
Verse 18
[18] To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness
among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden
unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the
uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his
multitude
saith the Lord GOD.
Yet — Thou shalt be like them in thy fall.
Thou shalt lie — As unclean
despised
loathsome
and under a curse.
This is — This will be their end.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Ezekiel》
31 Chapter 31
Verses 1-18
The Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon.
The cedar in Lebanon
I. The soul that
will not grow down must be cut down. Trees that are to stand the storm must
send their roots deep into the earth. A man that is to face successfully the
storms of life must have a downward growth of humility and faith. “He that
humbleth himself shall be exalted."
II. The true
teacher of man is greater than a monarch whose position only gives him power.
Pharaoh must go to school to Ezekiel. A man is more than a king. (A London
Minister.)
The Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon.
The cedar in Lebanon
I. The soul that
will not grow down must be cut down. Trees that are to stand the storm must
send their roots deep into the earth. A man that is to face successfully the
storms of life must have a downward growth of humility and faith. “He that
humbleth himself shall be exalted."
II. The true
teacher of man is greater than a monarch whose position only gives him power.
Pharaoh must go to school to Ezekiel. A man is more than a king. (A London
Minister.)
Verse 17
They . . . that dwelt under His shadow in the midst of the
heathen.
Under God's shadow among the heathen
Whatever may be the primary meaning of these words
they have a
very blessed application to those who have gone forth from so many Christian
families into heathen lands. For no choice of their own
and simply in
obedience to their King's command
hundreds of our sons and daughters have gone
forth to dwell in the midst of the heathen. They have taken up their home amid
conditions which they would not have chosen had it not been for the
constraining love of Christ
and the imperative need of dying men; and as fond
relatives and friends regard their lot from a distance
they are often filled
with anxious forebodings. May they not be involved in some sudden riot
and
sacrificed to a frenzy of hate? May not the sanitary conditions and methods of
life be seriously detrimental to their health or morals? "Oh
if only I
could be there
" you sigh. Hush! Christ is there; as near them as He is to
you
casting over them the shadow of His presence
beckoning them to His secret
place. He is the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land; or like the canopy of
cloud that hovered over the camp of Israel by day
screening it from the torrid
glare. Do not fear to trust your loved ones to the immortal Lover
who fainteth
not
neither is weary. The hand that would harm is arrested and paralysed when
it attempts to penetrate that safe enclosure. (F. B. Meyer
B. A.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》
31 Chapter 31
INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 31
This
chapter contains a confirmation of the preceding prophecy
of the ruin of the
king of Egypt
by the example of the king of Assyria
to whom he was like in
grandeur and pride
and would be in his fall. The time of the prophecy is
observed
Ezekiel 31:1
the prophet is ordered to
give the following relation to the king of Egypt
Ezekiel 31:2 in which the king of Assyria
is compared to a large and flourishing cedar
for the extent of his dominions
the prosperous state of his empire
and his exaltation above all other princes
which drew upon him their envy Ezekiel 31:3
wherefore because of his
pride
his heart being lifted up with these things
Ezekiel 31:10
ruin came upon him; which is
described by the instruments and manner of it
and the effects following it;
mourning and fear in some
solace and comfort to others
and destruction to his
associates
Ezekiel 31:11
wherefore Pharaoh is called
upon to consider all this
who was like to him in greatness and pride
and
should have the like fate with him; nor could his greatness any more secure him
than it did the Assyrian monarch
Ezekiel 31:18.
Verse 1
And it came to pass in the eleventh year
.... Of
Zedekiah's reign
and Jeconiah's captivity:
in the third month
in the first day of the month: the month
Sivan
which began on the twentieth of our May
and answers to part of May
and
part of June; this was about seven weeks after the former prophecy
and about
five weeks before the destruction of Jerusalem; according to Bishop UsherF14Annales
Vet. Test. A. M. 3416.
this was on the nineteenth of June
on the first day of
the week
in 3416 A.M. or before Christ 588:
that the word of the Lord came unto me
saying; as follows:
Verse 2
Son of man
speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt
.... To
Pharaohhophra
the then reigning king; not to him personally by word of mouth
for the prophet was now in Chaldea; but by delivering out a prophecy concerning
him
and which he might have an opportunity of sending to him:
and to his multitude; the multitude of his
subjects
of which he boasted
and in whom he trusted:
whom art thou like in thy greatness? look over all the
records of time
and into all the empires
kingdoms
and states that have been;
draw a comparison between thyself and the greatest potentate that ever was;
fancy thyself to be equal to him; this will not secure thee from ruin and
destruction; for as they have been humbled
and are fallen
so wilt thou be:
pitch for instance on the Assyrian monarch
whose empire has been the most
ancient
extensive
and flourishing
and yet now crushed; and as thou art like
him in greatness
at least thou thinkest so
so thou art in pride
and wilt be
in thine end; to assure of which is the drift of the following account of the
king of Assyria.
Verse 3
Behold
the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon
.... Here grew
the tallest
most stately
broad and flourishing ones. This sense is
that he
was as one of them; comparable to one
for his exaltation and dignity; for the
largeness of his dominion
the flourishing circumstances of it
and its long
duration; that empire having lasted from the times of Nimrod unto a few years
of the present time; for this is to be understood
either of the monarchy
itself
or of Esarhaddon; or rather of Chynilidanus
or Saracus
the last king
of it. The Septuagint
and Arabic versions render it the "cypariss"
in Lebanon; but not that
but the cedar
grew there
and which best suits the
comparison:
with fair branches; meaning not children
nor nobles
nor
subjects; but provinces
many and large
which were subject to this monarch:
and with a shadowing shroud; power
dominion
authority
a mighty army sufficient to protect all that were under his
government
and subject to it:
and of an high stature: exalted above all the
kings and kingdoms of the earth:
and his top was among the thick boughs; his kingly
power
headship
and dominion
was over a multitude of petty princes and
states
comparable to the thick boughs and branches of a tree: or
"among
the clouds"; as the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it; above the
heights of which the Assyrian monarch attempted to ascend
Isaiah 14:14.
Verse 4
The waters made him great
.... The waters of the
river Tigris
near to which stood the city of Nineveh
the metropolis of the
Assyrian monarchy; the traffic brought by which river made it rich and great
and the whole empire
and the king of it:
the deep set him up on high
with her rivers running round about
his plants; the vast trade by sea
the profits and commodities of which were
conveyed through various rivers
which ran about the provinces of the empire
which were as plants in a field; and by which they were enriched
and the whole
empire
and the king of it
were raised to a prodigious pitch of wealth and
power:
and sent out little rivers to all the trees of the field; so that the
common people
comparable to the trees of the field for their number and
usefulness
all received profit and advantage hereby: or else by waters and the
deep may be meant the multitude of people
as in Revelation 17:15
which increased his
kingdom
filled his provinces
supplied his colonies
and enlarged his power
and riches. The Targum is
"by
the people he was multiplied; by his auxiliaries he became strong; he subjected
kings under his government; and his governors he appointed over all the
provinces of the earth.'
Verse 5
Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field
.... His majesty
grandeur
and glory
were advanced above all princes
nobles
and people; all
ranks and degrees of men
let them be compared to trees taller or lower:
and his boughs were multiplied
and his branches became long; the provinces
of his empire became more numerous
and were spread far and near
and reached
to distant countries:
because of the multitude of waters
when he shot forth; either the
vast number of people
which were daily increasing
and were sent out to people
distant colonies
newly subdued or planted; or because of the great traffic
which was carried on in different parts
and the advantages arising from it.
The Targum is
"therefore
he was lifted up in his strength above all the kings of the earth
and his army
was multiplied
and his auxiliaries prevailed over many people
through his
victories'
Verse 6
All the fowls of the heavens made their nests in his boughs
.... People
from all parts of the world
under the whole heavens
flocked to his dominions
and settled themselves in one province or another; promising themselves
protection
prosperity
and peace under his government:
and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth
their young; even people of a more savage disposition
being either conquered
by him
and placed in his provinces; or coming thither of their own accord
took up their residence there
built houses
planted vineyards
married wives
begat children
and settled their families there:
and under his shadow dwelt all great nations; under his
protection
care
and government
many large kingdoms and states were; yea
all
were either subject to him
or sought to be his friends and allies: this
explains the above figurative expressions. The Targum is
"by
his army he subdued all the strong towers; and under his governors he subjected
all the provinces of the earth; and in the shadow of his kingdom dwelt all the
numerous people.'
Verse 7
Thus was he fair in his greatness
.... Amiable
lovely
delightful to look upon in the greatness of his majesty
in his royal glory and
dignity:
in the length of his branches; in the extent of his
empire
and the provinces of it:
for his root was by great waters; his kingdom was well
established
firmly rooted among a multitude of people; from whom he had a
large revenue to support his throne and government
and the dignity of it; by
tribute
taxes
customs
and presents; and through the large trade and traffic
of his subjects in different parts
from whence he received great profit and
advantage. The Targum is
"and
he became victorious by his auxiliaries
by the multitude of his mighty ones
so that his terror was upon many people.'
Verse 8
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him
.... That is
could not rise so high as this cedar
and overtop him
and obscure his glory;
even those that were most excellent
which grew in Eden
near to which Babylon
stood
and where a mighty king dwelt. The sense is
that the greatest kings and
potentates in the whole world
which is like a garden planted by the Lord
were
not equal to the king of Assyria
and much less exceeded him in grandeur
wealth
and power:
the fir trees were not like his boughs: lesser kings
and princes
comparable to fir trees for the beauty
regularity
order
and
flourishing condition of their kingdoms; yet these were but petty states
and
not to be compared even with the provinces of the king of Assyria:
and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; lesser states
still: which
though well set
and well spread
and full of people
yet not
answerable to some countries that were in the provinces that belonged to the
Assyrian empire:
not any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty; no king
prince
or potentate whatever in the whole world
was to be compared to him for
royal majesty and greatness. The Targum is
"mighty
kings could not prevail against him
because of the strength of his power
which he had from the Lord; rulers could not stand before his army
and mighty
men could not prevail against his auxiliaries
because of the strength of power
he had from the Lord; there is none like to him in his strength.'
Verse 9
I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches
.... Or
provinces
the extensiveness of his dominions: all his power and strength
riches and wealth
grandeur and glory
and the vast dominions he was possessed
of
were all from the Lord; as whatever kings have are
though they are too apt
to ascribe it to themselves; but all are from him
by whom kings reign:
so that all the trees of Eden
that were in the garden of God
envied him; all the kings of the earth
though they dared not openly speak
against him
or oppose him; yet they inwardly grieved at and secretly grudged
his grandeur and majesty
superior to theirs
and wished themselves in his
stead; and could gladly have done anything
were it in their power
to eclipse
his glory
and bring him lower. This is the case of all that are in any
eminence
or are conspicuous to others
or in any exalted station above others
be it what it will; whether they have superior gifts and endowments of mind; or
greater riches
and larger possessions; or are in high places of honour
trust
and profit. The Targum is
"I
have made him beautiful by the multitude of his mighty ones; and all the kings
of the east trembled before him
because of the strength of his power
which he
had from the Lord.'
Verse 10
Therefore thus saith the Lord God
.... Having described the
greatness of the Assyrian monarch; now follows the account of his fall
and the
cause of it
pride:
because thou hast lifted up thyself in height; this is
either an address to Pharaoh king of Egypt
who
though he did not rise up so
high as the Assyrian monarch in glory and grandeur; yet he lifted up himself
and thought himself superior to any; which reason he must be brought down: or
the words are directed to the Assyrian monarch
by a change of person frequent
in Scripture; who
though he was raised by the Lord to the height of honour and
dignity he was
yet ascribed it to himself:
and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs; the multitude
of provinces over which he became head and governor; See Gill on Ezekiel 31:3
and his heart is lifted up in his height; with pride
insolence
and contempt of God and men; of which see the instances in Isaiah 10:8.
Verse 11
I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of
the Heathen
.... Or
into the hand of the mightiest of the nationsF15ביד אל גויים
"in manum fortissimi gentium"
Pagninus
Junius & Tremellius
Polanus; "potentissimi"
Piscator. ; the mightiest prince among them.
Some understand this of Arbaces the Mede
by whom Sardanapalus had been
defeated long before this time: others of Merodachbaladan king Babylon
by whom
Esarhaddon the Assyrian monarch was vanquished; or rather Nebuchadnezzar
who
was called Nabopolassar; who
in the first yearF16Seder Olam Rabba
p. 69. of his reign
in conjunction with Cyaxares king of Media
took Nineveh
the metropolis of the Assyrian monarchy; and this was by the appointment of
God
and under the direction of his providence
and through the success he gave
to the arms of these princes
according to his own decrees and prophecies. Some
render it
"into the hand of the god of the nations"F17"In
manum dei gentium"
Montanus
Starckius; "deo gentium"
Castalio. ; yet meaning either Cyaxares or Nebuchadnezzar; so called because of
their great power and might
and which they had from the Lord:
he shall surely deal with him; or
"in doing he
shall do to him"F18עשו יעשה לו "faciendo faciet
ei"
Pagninus
Montanus; "faciendo faciebat ipsi"
Starckius. ;
he shall do with him as he pleases he shall easily manage him
though so
powerful; and deal with him according to his deserts; or
as the Targum
he shall
take vengeance on him
as he did:
I have driven him out for his wickedness; out of his
court and palace; out of his royal city Nineveh; out of his kingdom and
dominions; and he shall reside and reign no more there; and all this for his
wickedness
pride
and oppression
and other sins: when God strips men of their
honour
riches
power
and dominion
it is because of their abuse of them; for
some sin
or sins
or wickedness they have been guilty of
both against him and
men; and therefore it is but just and righteous in him to dethrone such
princes
and drive them from their seats.
Verse 12
And strangers
the terrible of the nations
have cut him off
.... Cut off
the boughs and branches of this cedar
and cut him down to the ground; that is
utterly destroyed him
his empire and monarchy: these "strangers"
were the Medes
who lived in a country distant from Assyria; and "the
terrible of the nations"
the cruel and merciless Chaldeans
the soldiers
of the king of Babylon's army; see Ezekiel 30:11
and have left him upon the mountains
like a tree
cut down there
and its boughs and branches lopped off
which roll down from
thence into the valleys
and by the rivers of water signifying his depression
from a high and exalted state to a very low one
as follows:
and in all the valley his branches are fallen
and his boughs are
broken by all the rivers of the land; signifying that many
provinces and countries under his dominion were broken off
and by force taken
away from him; or they broke off and revolted of themselves
and either set up
for themselves
and recovered their former power and authority; or gave up
themselves to the conqueror. The Targum is
"and
in all valleys his army fell
and his auxiliaries were scattered by all the
rivers of the land:'
and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow
and
have left him: those that joined themselves to his empire
put themselves under
his protection
or sought his friendship and alliance
now withdrew themselves
from him
and left him alone to shift for himself; as frightened birds and
beasts will do
when a tree is cut down and fallen
in the boughs or under the
shadow of which they dwelt. The Targum paraphrases it
"from
the shadow of his kingdom.'
Verse 13
Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain
.... Or
"on his fall"F19על מפלתו "super prolapse ejus"
Cocceius;
"super cadivum truncum ejus"
Junius & Tremellius. ; the fall of
this tree: and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches as when a
tree is cut down
and its lopped off branches and boughs lie here and there
either the birds and beasts that before dwelt in it or under it
though for a
while frightened away
return unto it; or others come: the birds come and sit
upon the boughs
and pick up what they can find on them; and the beasts browse
upon the branches: this may signify that even those people who before put
themselves under the protection of this monarch
or sought alliance with him
now preyed upon his dominions; or the Medes and Babylonians
the conquerors
seized on the provinces of the empire
and plundered them of their riches
The
Targum understands it literally of the fowls of the heaven
and the beasts of
the field
feeding upon the carcasses of the slain; which is no bad sense of
the passage; thus
"upon
the fall of his slain all the fowls of heaven have dwelt
and upon the
carcasses of his army all the beasts of the field have rested.'
Verse 14
To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt
themselves for their height
.... The end proposed by the Lord in the
destruction of the king of Assyria
and the use to be made of it
is this; that
the kings of the earth take warning hereby
who rule over a multitude of
people
comparable to waters
and who abound in riches and wealth; that they
are not elated with pride and vanity
because of their exalted estate
their
grandeur
and dignity; and do not behave insolently against God
on whom they
depend; nor haughtily and in an oppressive manner towards their own subjects
over whom they rule:
neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs; affect
universal monarchy
as he did; and set up themselves over all kingdoms and
states
as he had over them
and make all subject to them:
neither their trees stand up in their height
that drink water; that is
kings and potentates
who rule over the people
and are supplied and supported
by them in their exalted stations
by the tribute and taxes they pay them and
so abound in riches and power
should not trust in the height of honour and
power they are raised to
and treat contemptuously God and man; but consider
what they are
that they are but men
and are in slippery places
where there
is no standing long
and especially when death comes
as follows:
for they are delivered unto death in the nether parts of the earth; they are
mortal by nature
as other men; they are appointed to die
and will be
delivered into the hands of death
when the time is come
who will not spare
them because of their crowns and sceptres; and when they will be laid in the
grave
in the lowest parts of the earth
who used to sit upon elevated thrones
of state:
in the midst of the children of men
with those that go down to
the pit; the grave
where they are upon a level with the poorest and
meanest of their subjects. The Targum is
"that
all the kings of the east might not be lifted up with their strength
nor
exercise tyranny over the kingdoms; nor all that hold a kingdom lift up
themselves in their own strength
for all are delivered unto death
&c.'
Verse 15
Thus saith the Lord God
in the day when he went down to the grave
.... The
Assyrian monarch; when his monarchy was destroyed
and he ceased to be king
and was stripped of all his majesty
power
and authority
and was as one dead
and laid in the grave
and buried:
I caused a mourning: that is
for him
in the
waters
and among the trees
among the people and the kings of the earth
as
follows:
I covered the deep for him; with mourning
with
thick darkness
which set him up on high Ezekiel 31:4
and I restrained the floods thereof
and the great waters were
stayed; which made him great
Ezekiel 31:4
signifying by all this that
the kingdoms of the world
comparable to the sea
of which his monarchy
consisted
and all the inhabitants and people of them
comparable to floods and
great waters
were affected with the fall of this great monarch
and thrown
into consternation by it; not knowing what the event of things would be
stood
still
and knew not what course to take; all business was stopped
especially
all traffic by sea
and all trade and commerce every where; a stagnation of
everything for a while:
and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him; where he was
a cedar
Ezekiel 31:3
this may respect the whole
empire he was head of
particularly the kingdom of Syria
on the borders of
which Lebanon was; and was a part of the Assyrian empire
which must mourn and
be concerned at the fall of it:
and all the trees of the field fainted for him: all the kings
of the earth that were in alliance with him
or subject to him
trembled for
fear that their destruction would be next; or as doubtful and concerned what
would be their condition
under the yoke of another. The Targum is
"tribulation
covered the world
and the provinces were forsaken
and many people trembled
and all the kings of the people smote the shoulder because of him.'
Verse 16
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall
.... As
when
a large cedar was cut down and fell in Lebanon
the noise of it was heard at a
distance; so when this mighty monarch and monarchy fell
the nations of the
world
and the kings of them
heard of it far and near
and shook through fear
of what would be the consequence
lest they should fall also in like manner:
when I cast him down to hell
or "the
grave"
with them that descend into the pit; in common with other men
that die
and are buried: it may refer to his subjects and soldiers that
perished with him
who were slain by the sword
and were buried with him
and
he with them; no distinction being made between them:
and all the trees of Eden
the choice and best of Lebanon
all
that drink water; the greatest kings and potentates of the world
the chief and
principal of the Assyrian empire; all that ruled over multitudes of people
and
partook of their wealth and riches
and were supported in grandeur and dignity;
who had been in the state of the dead before this time:
shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth; when they see
so mighty a monarch depressed
and brought as low as they
into the same state
of meanness and contempt; as it is some kind of solace for persons in distress
to have partners with them: this is a poetic expression
representing the dead
as rejoicing to see others in the same condition with themselves. The Targum
is
"all
the kings of the east
the governors
and those that are rich in substance
all
that hold a kingdom
are comforted in the lower part of the earth.'
Verse 17
They also went down to hell with him
.... To the
grave with him; many of his nobles
princes
generals
soldiers
and subjects:
unto them that be slain with the sword; to be buried
and lie with them who had fallen by the sword
as a just punishment for their
iniquities:
and they that were his arm; either that leaned on
his arm
were dependents upon him; or his ministers
his instruments
whom he
employed under him as his deputies
to govern the several provinces that
belonged to him; or rather his allies and auxiliaries
who helped and assisted
him on occasion:
that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the Heathen; in the midst
of the nations subject to the Assyrian empire; such who put themselves under
the protection of it
lived comfortably under it
and continued with it to the
last; these shared the same fate as that did. The Targum is
"his
governors are broken
whom he strengthened in the midst of the kingdom.'
Verse 18
To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the
trees of Eden?.... Among all the kings and potentates of the earth; pitch on
whom you will
say which of them all
even the greatest of them for majesty and
glory
for wealth and riches
power and authority
and extent of dominion
you
are equal to; name the king of Assyria
if you please
before described
though
you are not equal to him; and if you were
this would not secure you from ruin;
since
as great as he was
he fell
and so will you: this is said to Pharaoh
king of Egypt
and is an application of the preceding parable to him;
suggesting
that let him be as high as any ever was
or he could imagine
himself to be:
yet shall thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the
nether parts of the earth; the grave
and lie in the same depressed
and humble state as the greatest monarchs that ever were on earth do:
thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised; the wicked
as the Targum; the uncircumcised in heart; who belong not to God
or his
people
and have no communion with either
but are shut out of the kingdom of
heaven
and have their portion with devils and damned spirits:
with them that be slain by the sword; in a way of
judgment for their sins:
this is Pharaoh
and all his multitude
saith the Lord God; this account
represents Pharaoh
his grandeur
his pride
and his ruin; this shows what will
be the end of him
and of his numerous subjects. The Septuagint and Arabic
versions render it
"so will be Pharaoh"
&c. in like manner will
he fall
and all his people with him; for the Lord God has said it
and it
shall assuredly come to pass. The Targum is
"to
whom art thou like now in glory and greatness among the kings of the east? and
thou shall be brought down with the kings of the east into the lower part of
the earth; in the midst of sinners thou shalt sleep
with those that are slain
by the sword; this is Pharaoh
and all his multitude
saith the Lord God.'
── John Gill