Ezekiel 31:1

CHAPTER XXXI

This very beautiful chapter relates also to Egypt. The prophet

describes to Pharaoh the fall of the king of Nineveh, (see the

books of Nahum, Jonah, and Zephaniah,) under the image of a

fair cedar of Lebanon, once exceedingly tall, flourishing, and

majestic, but now cut down and withered, with its broken

branches strewed around, 1-17.

He then concludes with bringing the matter home to the king of

Egypt, by telling him that this was a picture of his

approaching fate, 18.

The beautiful cedar of Lebanon, remarkable for its loftiness,

and in the most flourishing condition, but afterwards cut down

and deserted, gives a very lately painting of the great glory

and dreadful catastrophe of both the Assyrian and Egyptian

monarchies. The manner in which the prophet has embellished his

subject is deeply interesting; the colouring is of that kind

which the mind will always contemplate with pleasure.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI

Verse Ezekiel 31:1. In the eleventh year] On Sunday, June 19, A.M. 3416, according to Abp. Usher; a month before Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans.