Ezekiel 31:3

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. BEHOLD, THE ASSYRIAN WAS A CEDAR IN LEBANON. He illustrates the pride and the consequent overthrow of the Assyrian, that Egypt may the better know what she must expect. CEDAR IN LEBANON - often eighty feet high, and the diameter of the space covered by its boughs still greater: the symmetry perfect. (Compare the similar image Ezekiel 17:3; Daniel 4:20; when Nebuchadnezzar is compared to such a tree in the dream which he saw). WITH A SHADOWING SHROUD - with an over-shadowing thicket. HIS TOP WAS AMONG THE THICK BOUGHS - rathe...

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....

Verse Ezekiel 31:3. _BEHOLD, THE ASSYRIAN_ WAS _A CEDAR_] Why is the _Assyrian_ introduced here, when the whole chapter concerns _Egypt_? Bp. _Lowth_ has shown that אשור ארז _ashshur erez_ should be translated _the tall_ _cedar, the very stately cedar_; hence there is reference to his _lofty top_; and all the following description belongs to _Egypt_, not to _Assyria_. But see on Ezekiel 31:11....

Fifth prophecy against Egypt: a warning to Pharaoh from the fate of the Assyrians. The Assyrian empire, after having been supreme in Asia for four centuries, had been overthrown by the united forces of the Babylonians and Medes, in the year of the battle of Carchemish (605 b.c.), which had broken the power of Egypt. This gives force to the warning to Egypt from Assyria’s fall. Ezekiel 31:4 HIS PLANTS - Rather, her plantation. The water represents the riches and might which flowed into Assyria. Ezekiel 31:5 WHEN BE SHOT FORTH - Or, when the deep water sent forth its streams. Ezekiel 31:8...

EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 31:1 IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR, etc. June, B.C. 586. Two months all but six days had passed since the utterance of Ezekiel 30:20, when Ezekiel was moved to expand his prediction of the downfall of Egypt into a parable which is partly a _replica _of these in Ezekiel 17:1. and Ezekiel 19:1, and which also finds a parallel in Daniel 4:10. EZEKIEL 31:2 The parabl

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...

Ezekiel 31:1. Pharaoh's greatness is described in the first part of the chapter (Ezekiel 31:1). He is compared to the Assyrian, once so powerful and proud. The fall and desolation of the proud monarch under the picture of a tree follows in Ezekiel 31:10. The overthrow of Egypt and the resulting consternation among the nations is predicted in the last section of this chapter (Ezekiel 31:15). Ezekiel 32:1. The lamentation over Pharaoh is contained in Ezekiel 3

EZEKIEL 31. FALLEN IS THE MIGHTY CEDAR. In this striking poem, Pharaoh (= Egypt) is likened to a cedar of surprising height and beauty, fed by the waters of the deep (_i.e._ the Nile) and giving shelter to birds and beasts (_i.e._ protection to dependent peoples). For beauty, height, luxuriance no tree (= nation) could compare with it it was the envy of all (Ezekiel 31:1). (In Ezekiel 31:3 delete the Assyrian, and read simply, there was a cedar, etc. For thick boughs read clouds with LXX. In Ezekiel 31:4 for the trees of the field, read its soil.) But the mighty Nebuchadrezzar, with his terrible army, will send it crashing with a blow, boughs and branches will be scattered over mountain and valley, those who

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos_. App-6 THE ASSYRIAN. Ginsburg thinks this should read _teashshur_ (=. box. tree) instead of. _ashshur_ (= an Assyrian). There is no article; and Egypt is the subject here, not Assyria. See note on Ezekiel 27:6, and compare Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 60:13. The subject is the proud exaltation of Egypt, which is likened to. box or cypress, exalting itself into. cedar of Lebanon. SHROUD. foliage....

_the Assyrian_was _a cedar_ It is evident that the Assyrian has nothing to do here; any comparison of Egypt to Assyria is without motive. Besides Ezekiel 31:3 is repeated in Ezekiel 31:10, and spoken of Egypt (cf. Ezekiel 31:18). The word "asshur" here is the name of a tree, either the same as teasshur (ch. Ezekiel 27:6), or this form should be read. Render: _Behold a stately cedar in Lebanon_(lit. a teasshur of a cedar); or, behold a sherbin, a cedar in Lebanon the more general "cedar" being added after the species. _a shadowing shrowd_ The "shroud," usually "forest," must refer to the closely interwoven branches, ha