Ezekiel 29 - Introduction

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1.

Why does Ezekiel devote such a large section of his book to the overthrow of Egypt?

2.

Chronologically, what is the relationship of the Egyptian oracles to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.

3.

What metaphors are used in this section to describe Pharaoh?

4.

What evidence is there here of the self-deification of Pharaoh?

5.

In what way had Egypt been a staff of reed to the house of Israel?

6.

How long would Egypt be politically desolate?

7.

What evidence is there that Nebuchadnezzar actually invaded Egypt? that he took Egyptians captive?

8.

HOW did Ezekiel describe Egypt after its restoration?

9.

Why did God decree that Nebuchadnezzar should conquer Egypt?

10.

What would become of the gods of Egypt in the day of national judgment? How was this fulfilled?

11.

How did Ezekiel use Assyria as a warning lesson to Egypt?

12.

How does Ezekiel picture the mighty nations in Sheol? How far can this be pressed for valid doctrine regarding the afterlife?

13.

What did Ezekiel mean by dying the death of the uncircumcised?

Special Study
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S INVASION OF EGYPT

The Old Testament prophets devote more verses to Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Egypt than to that king's conquest of Jerusalem.[451] However, whereas Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Jerusalem is recorded in various documents dating to the sixth century, his invasion of Egypt has been ignored by the ancient historians. Consequently, most Biblical critics before 1900, and a few since that date, have pointed to the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Egypt as an example of error in prophetic anticipation. In the first edition of the illustrious Cambridge, Ancient History, H. R. Hall categorically asserted:

[451] Op cit. p. 108.

We have no warrant to suppose that the Babylonian king ever carried out great warlike operations against Amasis [Pharaoh of Egypt], far less that he conquered or even entered Egypt either personally or by proxy.[452]

[452] Cambridge Ancient History, III, 1925, p. 299.

The first Biblical prophecy of the fall of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar is found in Jeremiah 46. Here Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned by name (Jeremiah 46:13) as is also the Pharaoh he would defeat, Pharaoh Neco (609-593 B.C.). Four Egyptian cities are mentioned here Migdol, Noph (Memphis) and Tahpanhes in northern Egypt, and No (Thebes) in southern Egypt.

Some twenty years after the destruction of Jerusalem Jeremiah again alludes to the invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 43:12-13). This oracle emphasizes the destruction of the gods of Egypt. Two Egyptian cities are specifically mentioned Tahpanhes and Beth-shemesh (also called On or Heliopolis).

In his third prophecy against Egypt, dated somewhere between 587 and 585 B.C. Ezekiel names Nebuchadnezzar as the agent of God's judgment on the land of the Nile. The destruction of the idols of Egypt is specifically mentioned (Ezekiel 30:1-19). In another Egypt oracle dated to 571 B.C. Ezekiel again names Nebuchadnezzar as the invader of Egypt.

The evidence that Nebuchadnezzar did in fact invade Egypt is threefold. First, Josephus[453] relates that in the fifth year after the destruction of Jerusalem (582 B.C.) Nebuchadnezzar fell upon Egypt, slew their king and set up another in his place, Some of the Jewish refugees in Egypt were taken captive back to Babylon. The second piece of evidence is in the form of a small fragment of a Babylonian chronicle first published by Pinches. It shows that Nebuchadnezzar launched an attack against Egypt in his thirty-seventh year, 567 B.C. This text can be found in Ancient Near Eastern Texts edited by James Pritchard, p. 308, The third piece of evidence was pointed out by Driver. A statue in the Louvre represents Nes-Hor, governor of Southern Egypt under Pharaoh Hophra (589-664 B.C.). The inscription thereon seems to state that an army of Asiatics and northern peoples which apparently had invaded Egypt intended to advance up the Nile valley into Ethiopia. However, this invasion of southern Egypt was averted by the favor of the gods. So states Nes-hor.[454]

[453] Antiquities of the Jews. X. 9.7.

[454] Cited in Smith EBP p. 122