Ezekiel Chapter 31
Wednesday, 03/11/26 at 08:13
Solitary Man
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Eze 31:1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel is given another word for Egypt that is 2 months after the previous one. The date is the month before the fall of Jerusalem.
Eze 31:2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude (haw-mone – noise, tumult, crowd); Whom art thou like in thy greatness (go-del – magnitude, stoutness, from a root meaning to twist, magnify)?
The overall theme of this word is as follows. Regardless of how lofty and exalted you think your empire has become, it is destined to fall. Assyria shall be discussed for comparative purposes. Assyria was an empire that rivalled Egypt in power and glory, but it was crushed. So too shall Egypt be. Even though Egypt would survive in some diminished form while Assyria would not, the truth that God wants to hammer home is the certain destruction of all the kingdoms of the earth. Whether great or small, short lived or long, all are under the dominion of the Lord.
Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
The fact that God is the one who decides who gets to sit on which throne is mentioned three times in verses 17, 25 and 32 of Daniel chapter 4. This current Pharaoh named Hophra needed to be reminded of that, it seems.
As I pondered this section of Ezekiel concerning Egypt, I sensed in my heart that there is something more to discover than a mere recounting of God’s promise to diminish Egypt. Up until now, we have discussed how the main reason why Yahweh seemed to be executing these fierce judgments, whether on Judah or Tyre or Egypt or any other nation, was so that men would know that Yahweh is the Lord. The Lord in all these cases is Yehovah. Yehovah means the eternal, or self existent one. In other words, sending punishments and retributions for the sinful deeds of mankind was to remind man that there was the one true God who saw all, and who held every man accountable for their actions. I have already remarked upon how frequently Yehovah wanted us to know that this was his primary reason for doing these terrible things to sinful man.
But now, in these last 2 chapters concerning Egypt, that phrase is entirely omitted, saving one mention in Ez 32:15. That is, these 2 chapters contain judgments whose purpose is not the revelation of God to man. That gives us a clue that something else is going on here.
If we then examine the symbols that God uses to describe the fate of Egypt, in chapter 31 we see that Assyria and the garden of Eden take center stage. In chapter 32 sheol, or hell, is prominent. This tells us that Yahweh is trying to communicate something a little deeper than a regurgitation of Egypt’s doom.
There is another hint in that Egypt is said to be brought down to the grave along with those who are uncircumcised. Egypt was a nation that practised circumcision, but it was not as a sign of a covenant cut with Yehovah, as the Israelites practiced. But still, God chooses to use the language that seems to separate Egypt from the rest of the Gentiles. In fact, some verses treat Egypt as distinct from the Gentiles, but another verse will call him as a young lion amongst the Gentiles. In other words, Egypt is a Gentile, but somewhat set apart.
So what could that mean spiritually? Remember that we said that Egypt represented the flesh. Here is a direct reference to the idea:
Exo_16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Although flesh pots here represent meat filled cooking pots, I believe the word here is a divine inspiration of translation. Same with the next verse:
Heb_11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Egypt is where we all came from. When we were dead in our sin, our flesh ruled us. We wallowed in the flesh pots of Egypt. But Christ redeemed us out of Egypt, even as the Exodus is a perfect type of our salvation.
But as the people murmured in the wilderness, so too does the carnal Christian chafe under the commandments and the discipline of the Lord. Paul warns us about this:
1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
I’ve included the passage in its entirety so that none of the context is lacking. God commands us to search for and discern the patterns in his word. We are to apply the appropriate pattern to the appropriate situation in our life. If we see the Exodus as our escape from Egypt, then the wilderness wanderings are our struggle in this life in order to reach the promised land.
Notice that many did not make it. The temptations proved too much for them. And God’s standards were much higher than what is taught in the churches today. But Paul also wanted us to understand that no temptation was too difficult to overcome. He was saying that every one of these disobedient Israelites could have chosen to obey God but they did not. They chose to desire the things that they had left behind in Egypt. And these carnal believers were destroyed.
The majority of teachers teach that this was a type of a carnal Christian losing their rewards, not their salvation. But if that is the case, then what was Canaan? Was not Canaan the promised land? Is not the promised land heaven? If we would agree with these preachers, then the promised land is whatever rewards God has for us in heaven, not heaven itself.
I don’t see how that interpretation holds true. From my understanding, that really stretches things beyond rational reasoning. No, Canaan is heaven. Heaven is our promised land. I know the prosperity preachers would try to make health and wealth in this life our promised land, but we all know that is false doctrine propagated by covetous souls.
To be fair, some would argue that there were giants in the promised land, and one had to fight them to inherit the land. To me, to take possession of our heavenly inheritance means that we will have to overcome much. But since the giants were actually found in Canaan itself, one could certainly argue for an alternate symbolism of Canaan meaning our struggle in this life, or some such thing. I lean toward the wilderness being our struggle to overcome the flesh, and Canaan being our ultimate destination. But one could also argue that once you have overcome the pull of the flesh in the wilderness, you are now equipped to go and fight in order to possess the land. Thus Canaan is both the obtaining of the promises of God and the ultimate reward for a life of service in the army of the Lord.
Those that were destroyed in the wilderness were all redeemed. They were all saved. But all the adults did not make it to Canaan. And why was that? Because they had too much of Egypt in them. The flesh pots of Egypt were being carried around in their hearts. As soon as some discomfort struck, their unsanctified souls immediately conjured up images of what they had left behind in Egypt.
Their children were able to enter Canaan. And why was that? Because they were too young to have been immersed in the ways of Egypt. Their souls were not filled with the seductions and the illusions of that land of fleshly delights.
Paul confirms this meaning in the following passage:
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
A new believer may be carried away by the lusts of the flesh. He carries so much of Egypt with him, that it will take some time to shake off the old ways of conducting himself, and learn how to conduct himself under the rules of the new kingdom. But he is expected to make progress. Those who refuse, and continue to engage in wilful sin, refusing to let go of the ways of the old Egyptian way of doing things, should expect the worst sort of punishment. He should expect nothing but hell fire.
Egypt in the next 2 chapters shall be spoken of as being circumcised, but they are Gentile. They shall be spoken of as being a part of the Gentiles, but somehow also separate and distinct from them.
Does this not perfectly describe the carnal Christian? One foot in the world, and one foot out? Part of the body of Christ, yet recognizably Egyptian in their lifestyle? As we have seen that Egypt represents the flesh, I believe God takes it one step further in these next 2 chapters. Since he is not pronouncing judgment to make men believe that he is the Lord anymore, then the focus shifts to teach us a deeper spiritual truth.
We have already seen that the theology of Ezekiel is the most anti ‘once saved always saved’ book in the entire bible! I believe that the hidden message in these 2 chapters follows along that similar line. We shall see what happens to the carnal Christian, the one who cannot leave Egypt behind. Like the typical lost pagan (represented by Assyria), this lukewarm, backsliding believer will end up in the same abode of the dead as the lost Assyrian. And in that place you will naw-kahn. This is an important word, and we will deal with its proper meaning when we encounter it. Suffice it to say that I strongly believe that the King James translators chose the wrong nuance for this word in this section in the places where it is found.
Getting back to the text, God asks Pharaoh a sort of rhetorical question. He wants to know who do you think you are like in your greatness? I think God is referring to Egypt’s grandeur at the height of their civilization, not their current diminished state. Pharaoh would most likely answer by claiming that no one was like us. But God will provide the answer.
Eze 31:3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud (of silence), and of an high stature; and his top (highest branch) was among the thick boughs.
Remember that the battle of Carchemesh in 605 BC was primarily between Babylon and Assyria. It broke the power of Assyria once and for all. Assyria had been the dominant power for four centuries. It must have seemed invincible in its day. Egypt had joined the battle attempting to assist Assyria. Egypt’s power was also broken in that day, though Nebuchadnezzar would have to finish them off after the siege and fall of Jerusalem.
Egypt had a front row seat at the breaking of this great Assyrian empire, one that for four centuries certainly rivalled any power that Egypt had wielded in its heyday. Assyria was the subject of several prophets, including Jonah, Nahum, and Zephaniah. Since they were the dominant power when many of the prophets ministered, it stands to reason that they would be in the middle of God’s prophetic word, when it came to the heathen.
Yahweh wants Egypt to understand that Assyria was an empire unrivalled in its day. It was compared to the cedars of Lebanon, sort of the gold standard of trees in that day. It would be like comparing it to the redwoods of California today. Unrivalled and unparalleled in beauty and strength.
Branches could refer to the provinces and kingdoms conquered. Assyria provided shade, or protection, to all those nations subject to it. The kingdom grew to a height that no one could match. His highest branch was among the thickest, or greatest kingdoms, even of all time. Some commentators phrase it by saying that his top was among the clouds.
Eze 31:4 The waters made him great (gaw-dal – twist, magnify, proudspoken), the deep (teh-home – abyss) set him up on high (room – raised) with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
Commentators believe that the waters refer to the river Tigris and its tributaries. If we continue this water based analogy, then the deep most likely means the prodigious underground sources of water that would feed their life giving rivers. They would water all that was in the kingdom.
Symbolically, the meaning is clearer. Waters often refer to the multitudes. Perhaps the fallen one that came from the abyss that was the true ruler of Assyria had set him on his throne (though always under the providence of the Almighty). This wicked one would have many demonic helpers that would be sent out to strengthen the kingdom, as little streams of water are sent out from the main river to water all the plants in a field.
Eze 31:5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long (prolonged) because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
The strength of the demonic power that protected and exalted him, as well as the labor and resources of the multitudes of people that they conquered, all contributed to his rising above all other empires.
We have seen verses in Daniel where it is said that God gives these earthly kingdoms to whoever he wills. But what about Jesus little talk with the devil?
Luk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luk 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Luk 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
Luk 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
The best way to understand this is that God gave Adam dominion over the earth. Adam turned over that dominion to satan in the garden. After Babel, God also gave over spiritual governorship of the Gentile nations to 70 ‘sons of God’, or fallen ones (Deut 32:8, Septuagint translation). They rule in subjection to their master satan. But above all of that, God reserves the right to raise or destroy any particular ruler he so desires. He called Nebuchadnezzar his servant and Cyrus his shepherd. It is not said that he raises up every ruler, but he always retains veto power. So while the book of Daniel speaks of God being the sole arbiter of earthly thrones, as a general principle this is correct. But as far as the day to day administration of all the various kingdoms of this world, it should be generally understood that the prince of the power of the air does exert control via his subordinates. But as we saw in Job, he regularly has to report in to the throne room of Yahweh. Satan does not have complete autonomy in directing the affairs of men and nations, though sometimes it sure seems that way, does it not?
So to claim that every ruler has been placed there by God cannot be proven with absolute certainty. Otherwise it makes a mockery of the temptation of Jesus, if satan did not have any kingdoms to actually give to Jesus. I see this as sort of a way that God can insert his man into a nation or a region, where certain evil spirits continue to rule. They can be greatly suppressed, as when a godly king is on the throne. Or they can be empowered, when an ungodly ruler rules in wickedness. So even though Nebuchadnezzar was installed by God, that does not mean that there was not an evil prince of Babylon that still sat on the throne in the heavenlies.
Eze 31:6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations (go-ee – gentiles).
We can look at this literally, which was certainly true, but it makes much more sense to look at the birds and the beasts as representing every tribe in the land, both good and bad. This kingdom was huge, it was sprawling, and it became the abode of most everyone in the known, civilized world at that time. All great nations were either under his control, or sought alliance with him.
Eze 31:7 Thus was he fair (yaw-faw – beautiful, bright) in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
God concludes that this was once a great kingdom. I don’t think it means that it was a gentle and kind kingdom, likened to a beautiful damsel, but it had a certain worldly glory and splendor that all men of power lust after and admire. Assyria drew life giving sustenance from many great kingdoms in their own right, even as the root of a tree is given sustenance by the waters it drinks from.
Eze 31:8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide (overshadow) 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.
Now it starts to get weird. We will now bring the garden of Eden into the picture.
On the surface, Assyria is being compared to the garden of Eden for its beauty and perfection as a glorious earthly empire. This is a very hyperbolic comparison, and not unknown in the scripture. It is saying that Assyria was so superior to any other kingdom, that if you were to plant something in Eden that represented the glory and beauty of the Assyrian empire, its beauty would surpass any tree found in Eden. Perhaps a comparable statement today would be: ‘That man has so many talents, that the number of stars in the universe pale in comparison’. An absurd statement on the surface, but one that gets its point across.
If we look at the fir trees and the chesnut trees and the ‘any tree in the garden of God’ as various nations and peoples, the verse is saying that none hold a candle to the tree of Assyria.
Eze 31:9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
God gave Assyria many peoples and nations to adorn himself with. All the other trees in the garden, or all the rest of the nations not under his dominion, would envy him.
Eze 31:10 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
Some say that God has made an abrupt change in address, in that now he is addressing this current Pharaoh. Some believe this because of the phrase ‘This is Pharaoh’ in the last verse in the chapter:
Eze 31:18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down (yaw-rad) with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts (takh-tee) of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised (aw-rale) with them that be slain (khaw-lawl) by the sword. This (hoo – the same) is Pharaoh and all his multitude (haw-mone), saith the Lord GOD.
But to me, this would make no sense. Yahweh has gone to great lengths in speaking about Assyria. He is using this tree and garden of Eden analogy. He will continue in this vein, speaking about how this tree is going to be cut down. To think that Yahweh is now referring to Pharaoh without saying so, is untenable in my estimation.
Instead, we need to translate the word ‘hoo’ not as ‘This’, but as ‘The same’, which Strong’s Concordance allows. In other words, Pharaoh and Egypt will experience the same fate as Assyria. If so great an empire as Assyria can be crushed, so can Egypt. And indeed, Assyria had just been crushed. First in 625, when Nineveh fell. Then in 605, where Egypt shared in the defeat.
So what would you guess led to Assyria’s downfall? Too much cruelty? Too much torture being employed? Assyrians were known for particularly vicious things, such as skinning people alive. But no, God does not mention any of that. It call comes down to pride once again, does it not?
Eze 31:11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen (go-ee); he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness (reh-shah – moral wrongness).
Yehovah’s main man throughout this entire book of Ezekiel is Nebuchadnezzar, so that is who the mighty one is. From God’s point of view, it is a sure thing that Assyria will be dealt with. In fact, it had already occurred! While pride was what caused Assyria’s downfall, their accumulated wickedness did not escape God’s notice, and now they had to pay the price.
Since Egypt will suffer the same fate, that means that this is the fate of the Christian who refuses to let go of the ‘Egypt’ in him. You will be delivered into the hands of the heathen, who will destroy you.
Eze 31:12 And strangers (zoor – foreigners), the terrible (aw-reets – fearful, tyrannical) of the nations (go-ee), have cut him off (kaw-rath – to cut as in a covenant), and have left (naw-tash – pound, smite) him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen (naphal – thrown down), and his boughs are broken by all the rivers (aw-feek – strong one, hero, channel) of the land (eh-rets – world, earth); and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
All of this is in the past tense, which helps to confirm that Yahweh is simply recounting the destruction of Assyria via the hand of Babylon. Egypt has not yet been fully destroyed, but the last verse promises the same fate.
The tree comparison continues. Not only is Assyria cut down, but all those nations that were a part of this kingdom, or were in alliance with it, such as Egypt. At the end, everyone who was attached to her in any manner abandoned her. Such is the fate of the wicked. Once your power wanes, everyone cannot run away from you fast enough.
Eze 31:13 Upon his ruin (map-peh-leth – fall, decadence) shall all the fowls of the heaven remain (lodge), and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:
While the previous verse tells us that everyone abandons the waning tyrant, once that tyrant is no more, they all rush back to try and get a piece of the spoils. That is simply human nature, is it not? Flatter those in power, abandon them when it looks like someone else is now the top dog, and once it’s safe to do so, rush back and pick their bones clean. Kind of reminds me of so many stories I have heard about terrible relatives. They ignore their relation, until it’s time to settle the estate. Then they all flock there and fight to the death to obtain the biggest piece of the pie that they can!
For the saint that refuses to clean up their act, your old friends want nothing to do with you. They abandon you when you state that you are going to follow Jesus. But when you fall back into sin, they rush back. Some to mock you, others to drag you fully back into the old lifestyle and ultimate perdition.
Eze 31:14 To the end (for the purpose of) 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 (takh-tee – lowermost) of the earth (eh-rets), in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down (yaw-rad – descend) to the pit (bore – dungeon, prison).
The purpose for God wanting Assyria’s empire to be picked clean is that he does not want anyone else to get the idea that it is their turn to rule. God has already picked his man in Nebuchadnezzar. The kingdoms of this world are to be turned over to him. Yahweh has some great plans for him, as Daniel and 3 other Hebrew boys are going to write some tales during his reign that will last for all eternity. Everyone that was in alliance with Assyria is destined to be crushed, such as Egypt. If this Pharaoh had any grand illusions that now a revival of Egyptian power would take place, God is going to quickly abuse him of that notion.
Now we begin to slide into the mysterious portion of this chapter. Yehovah is not satisfied to simply say that Assyria and all its soldiers are going to die. God wants to speak about the place of the dead. It is below our feet. Way below. It is where all the dead people go. It descends, not ascends. It is described as a pit, or a dungeon.
If we did not have Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus, we would have no idea where the righteous dead went after they died, at least as far what occurred before the cross. We would have assumed they went straight to heaven. But until Jesus’ blood cleansed heaven itself, and the souls that were washed in it, no man was allowed there. Thus Jesus spoke to us of a place called Abraham’s bosom.
Yahweh is not dealing with the righteous dead in this passage. From now until the end of the next chapter, understand that we are speaking of the damned. Israelites would not have had a great understanding of the afterlife. They spoke of joining their fathers. What that meant in their mind was uncertain. I am sure there were many theories that they held on to.
Eze 31:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down (yaw-rad) to the grave (sheol – hades, subterranean place of the dead) I caused a mourning (aw-bal – lament, bewailing): I covered the deep (teh-home – abyss) for him, and I restrained the floods (naw-hawr – stream, river) thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted (ool-peh – mourned) for him.
Naw-hawr is used 108 times and it is almost always translated as rivers. But in certain contexts, floods is appropriate. This verse is speaking of things of the afterlife, in the abode of the dead, so floods may be what is intended.
The commentators do not stray from a straightforward allegorical interpretation that focuses on the tress being Assyria and its subject nations, or those that were its allies. Thus when Assyria fell, as depicted as one being sent to sheol, the grave, or hell, all Assyria’s rivers and trees mourned and lamented. That is, all its subjects, its conquered peoples, and its allies bewailed Assyria’s fate. The floodwaters, or the streams of the wealth of the nations that fed it, was stopped up. Commerce came to a grinding halt. Some think Lebanon represented Assyria itself, since Assyria is being compared to the famous cedars of Lebanon. Others see Lebanon as signifying Syria, a close ally of Assyria.
All that is likely not far off the mark. The primary meaning is one of seeing the Assyrian empire as a great forest, such as the great cedar forest of Lebanon. But if we make our focus on the going down to Hades, then the mourners are said to be those who are already there. This theme will definitely be evident in the next chapter. I believe there is a double meaning here. As those on earth mourn the loss of the one who fed and protected them, so those in the underworld are moved when a great empire is brought down. We shall see that thought developed more fully in the next verse.
Eze 31:16 I made the nations (go-ee) to shake (raw-ash – fear, quake, tremble) at the sound of his fall (map-peh-leth – ruin), when I cast him down (yaw-rad) to hell (sheol) with them that descend (yaw-rad) into the pit (bore): and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted (naw-kham – sigh, breathe strongly, repent, rue) in the nether parts (takh-tee) of the earth (eh-rets).
A passage that speaks of the downfall of Babylon echoes similar sentiments:
Isa 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
Isa 14:5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.
Isa 14:6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
Isa 14:7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
Isa 14:8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.
Isa 14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
Isa 14:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
Isa 14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
In the Isaiah passage, Assyria’s instrument of judgment (Babylon) will also face a very similar fate. Hell is said to be stirred up when Babylon comes to join them.
Carrying the traditional interpretation to this verse, all of the trees in the forest, of which Assyria is the most glorious, will tremble at its descent into the underworld. This great empire will go the way of all empires and all men. The trees of Eden would be looked at as a metaphor for the richest and most glorious kings of the earth. The choicest and best of Lebanon would be the highest officials, the elite of Assyria itself, who is being called Lebanon for reasons already noted above. All that drink water is everyone whose livelihood depends on the Assyrian empire. So much commerce revolved around this kingdom.
The last phrase could be taken a couple ways. The word naw-kham has 2 primary distinct meanings. If we choose comforted, then all these subjects who in one way or another were under the thumb of Assyria’s rulership, and who were already destroyed by the Babylonians, shall take solace that the one who ruled over them with an iron fist at least shares the same eternal fate. If we take the other meaning, one of sighing, breathing strongly in mourning, those who rue what occurred, these even in hell will mourn and cry over the loss of the empire that brought them such riches. If the word was meant to mean repent, then perhaps when they see how they all have been thrown into hell, they shall regret that they were tied up with an empire that was struck down like any common man.
Herein lies the difficulty of attempting to discern the correct meaning of some metaphorical passage, when the metaphor used is not in use anymore, or comes from an alien culture. For example, I remember when I was still working, and there was a coworker who had recently come from China. His English was very poor. When I would use a phrase such as ‘don’t rock the boat’, he had absolutely no idea what I meant! What did a boat have to do with anything? He could only try to understand me literally. So in the same way, we hear a story about the cedars of Lebanon, and the trees of Eden, and everyone else is drinking water, and we are left with applying our best guess, based on our modern day understanding of parables and metaphors, and not based on those in use 2500 years ago.
I think we have made a decent effort thus far in grasping the main points of the story. That still leaves the question of why Yahweh is choosing to go on and on about this judgment of Egypt? Why would the exiles in Babylon really care? I suppose one could make the argument that many Judeans would have escaped there before the final siege, and certainly the rebels who would assassinate Babylon’s puppet ruler after the siege would also flee there. Yahweh would want to make it clear that Egypt is in line for the same fate as Judah.
But the language used still begs the question. It is rare that the underworld is spoken of like this. What I propose is my own theory. Could Abraham’s bosom in the heart of the earth actually be the garden of Eden that God allowed to descend, so that it could serve as a temporary resting place for the righteous souls before Christ opened the way to heaven? Would these last 3 verses hint at this? I am not saying that this is so, but I throw it out there simply as food for thought.
Eze 31:17 They also went down (yaw-rad) into hell (sheol) with him unto them that be slain (khaw-lawl – pierced, polluted, profaned) with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen (go-ee).
Basically all those who assisted the tyrannical regime will share the same fate. Anyone who looks to man, and compromises his values in order to get ahead in this life, shall suffer the same fate as the one they have placed their trust in.
Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. All those trees of Eden, the best of Lebanon, and all who drank at her streams, Yehovah has thrown into hell with her.
So for all those who say that yes, our governments were evil with their freedom destroying covid mandates and hospital protocols, but I had nothing to do with that, did you go along with it? As a police officer, did you arrest people for not wearing a mask, or give them a ticket for an outrageous amount of money? As a doctor and a nurse, did you ventilate someone, knowing you were destroying their lungs and guaranteeing a kill rate of 90% or higher? As a church, did you bar the unvaxxed, set up a jab clinic in your basement, and take covid money to keep your doors shut, when people were committing suicide in record numbers, due to extreme fear and loneliness? This verse says that you will suffer the exact same fate as those wicked men whom you submitted to.
Eze 31:18 To whom art thou thus like (can be compared to) in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down (yaw-rad) with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts (takh-tee) of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised (aw-rale) with them that be slain (khaw-lawl) by the sword. This (hoo – the same) is Pharaoh and all his multitude (haw-mone), saith the Lord GOD.
Some think the first line in the verse now magically refers to Egypt, who is being compared to Assyria, but that makes no sense. No, the judgment on Assyria concludes in this verse. The language used seems to indicate that rather than Assyria being spoken of as being as beautiful as any tree of Eden, the sense seems to be the opposite, if the King James translation is correct. Since Assyria is said to be like the trees of Eden, I believe a better translation would go like this:
As far as being compared to the glory and greatness of the trees of Eden, you shall descend with the trees of Eden to the lowest regions of the earth. That continues the same thought that just like the best of the best, you are all going to die and end up in the same place. This is the 2nd time that the trees of Eden are said to reside in the heart of the earth. Exactly where the garden of Eden went after Adam was kicked out, no one knows. Perhaps this is a hint.
Assyria is going to reside in hell next to all the uncircumcised. This is another reason why some think Egypt is spoken of here, since they did practice circumcision, just like the Hebrews. But again, the context does not make sense if we suddenly switch to Egypt. The uncircumcised here means the godless and the wicked. Now Assyria was not circumcised, nor were they righteous. About the only righteous deed that they could boast of was repenting at the preaching of Jonah around 760 BC. The idea here is just like any other wicked man, nation, or empire, Assyria will suffer the same fate.
Now, when we get to the final sentence of the chapter, we can now definitively say that Yahweh is now speaking of Egypt. A better translation would be: ‘The same is Pharaoh and all his clamorous mob, saith Adonai Yehovah. In other words, hear this story of Assyria. An empire that rivalled yours in greatness and power. It has been cast down into hell, along with everyone associated with her. And you and your allies will suffer the exact same fate. Even if your total destruction by Babylon has not quite happened yet, it will come. You can take it to the bank.
You carnal Christians, heed the tale of Assyria. You, who carry so much of the things of Egypt in your heart, repent! Do not allow yourselves to suffer the same fate as this once great and glorious nation. You were made great and glorious by the shed blood of Jesus Christ that washed away your sin. Do not throw it all away just because the ‘flesh pots’ of Egypt are still tugging at your soul.
I hope that we have shed some light on this somewhat quirky chapter. We still have one more to go.
Solitary Man
https://solitaryman.substack.com/
