Ezequiel 31
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 31:1-9
31:1 See note at Ezek. 29:1. The date is 587 B.C. 31:2-3 "say to Pharaoh. . ." The literary unit dealing with YHWH's judgment on Egypt began in chapter 29 and continues through chapter 32. Therefore, it is surprising to have "Assyria" addressed in Ezek. 31:3. Assyria is mentioned in Ezek. 32:22-33. There are two options. Pharaoh is to view YHWH's judgment on Assyria (i.e. a tall tree, cf. Isa. 2:13; 10:18-19) as an example of what will befall him and his nation (Jewish Study Bible, p. 1101 and NET Bible, p. 1512, #3). The Hebrew text, אשור (BDB 78), is corrupt and must be emended to "I will liken you to a cedar" (RSV), שור (BDB 1003 II, Qal IMPERFECT plus "cedar," BDB 72) a variant spelling of "cypress" (i.e. "box-wood," type of cedar, אשׁור, BDB 81, KB 1677, cf. Ezek. 27:6) The UBS Text Project, p. 101, gives "Assyria, a cedar" an "A" rating. Assyria, אתור (BDB 78) a cedar, תאשׁור (BDB 81) Another word for "cedar" appears after "Assyria" in the MT, which is spelled ארז (BDB 72), see 2,a, above. 31:3-9 The nation (i.e. I think this whole context is about Egypt, not Assyria) is described as beautiful branches for shade very tall (i.e. MT, NKJV, Peshitta, "among thick boughs' LXX, NRSV, NET, "among the clouds") deep roots into good water watered other trees protection for many animals (i.e. nations) greater than the trees of Eden many branches In essence this is the "global/cosmic tree" imagery (cf. Psalm 80; Daniel 4). Trees were places of special reverence and respect. They often served as holy sites (e.g. Gen. 35:4,8; Josh. 24:26; palm tree, Jdg. 4:5; oaks of Ophrah, cf. Jdg. 6:11,19; 1 Kgs. 13:14; 1 Chr. 10:12) and also sites of fertility worship (e.g. 1 Kgs. 14:23-24; Hosea 4:13). However, this cosmic tree symbolized a universal motif. It, of course, is a hyperbole in this context describing Egypt (see note at Ezek. 31:2-3). YHWH allows nations to rise and He causes nations to fall (i.e. Jer. 1:10; 18:2-9). In YHWH's garden His trees continue to grow and bear fruit (cf. Ezek. 47:12; Rev. 22:2). Heaven is symbolized as a beautiful, fruitful garden (cf. Genesis 2 and Revelation 22). Special Topic: Trees Special Topic: Eden 31:4 "the deep" This is the Hebrew term tehom (BDB 1062, KB 1690) personified (cf. v. 15). See full note online at Gen. 1:2, "the deep." Special Topic: ANE Creation and Flood Myths Special Topic: Waters 31:8 NASB, NJB, JPSOA "cypresses" NKJV, NRSV, TEV "fir trees" REB, NASB margin "juniper" LXX, NEB "pines" The UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 162-163, identifies this (BDB 141) as an Aleppo pine, which is the largest conifer in the Mediterranean area. They can reach over 50' in height. Its wood is hard enough to use as building material (cf. 1 Kgs. 5:8,10; 6:15,34; 2 Chr. 2:8; Isa. 14:8; Ezek. 27:5; 31:8). It is used to characterize a nation in Hosea 14:8; Zech. 11:1-3. NASB, NRSV, TEV, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "the plane trees" "the chestnut trees" "silver firs" The UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 166-167, calls this a "plane tree." The Hebrew (BDB 790) root means "stripped" of bark (cf. Gen. 30:37). It is native to Palestine and grows near a water source. They are large and long-lived. 31:9 "Eden" Eden is a geographical location (i.e. in Ugaritic, "a plain") in Genesis 2-3 which contained a special garden planted and prepared by God for His highest creation (i.e. made in God's image and likeness, cf. Gen. 1:26-27), mankind (cf. Gen. 2:8). The special garden is alluded to in Isa. 51:3; Ezek. 28:13; 31:9,16,18(twice); 36:35; and Joel 2:3. Apparently the word means "abundance" from an Aramaic root. In Hebrew (BDB 727 III, 792 II) the root means "delight" or "pleasure." After Genesis the term is imagery for a well watered, fruitful place. Special Topic: Eden
Ezequiel 31:10-14
31:10 Again, like Tyre (i.e. Ezek. 28:2,17), Assyria (cf. Isa. 10:12), and Babylon (cf. Isa. 14:11-14; Dan. 4:30; 5:20-23), the sin which caused YHWH to act was pride, arrogance, hubris! It is the essence of self-centeredness. It is the fruit of Eden (see Special Topic: The Fall of Mankind). Maybe this is why Ezekiel uses the Garden of Eden imagery to characterize Tyre, Ezek. 28 Egypt, Ezek. 31 The word "greatness" or "magnify" (BDB 152) is most often used of YHWH (e.g. Deut. 3:24; 5:24; 9:26; 11:2; 32:3; Ezek. 38:23), but here it is used of human pride. Israel, Isa. 9:9 Assyria, Isa. 10:12 Egypt, Ezek. 31:2,7,8,18 Edom, Ezek. 35:13 Moab, Jer. 48:26,42 the king, Dan. 11:36-37 31:11 "despot of the nations" "the most terrible of the nations" LXX, NRSV, NJB, REB "the presence of the nations" "a foreign ruler" "the mightiest of the nations" "the mighty one of the nations" The MT has a CONSTRUCT of BDB 18 and 156 ("a mighty one of the nations"). The key term (BDB 18, KB 40) means "leader," "chief," originally "ram." The same term is used of the tree in Ezek. 31:14 (cf. Isa. 1:27-31). ▣ "he will thoroughly deal with it" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 793, KB 889), which denotes intensity or completeness. This refers to YHWH's agent of judgment on Egypt. ▣ "I have driven it away" This same VERB (BDB 176, KB 204, Piel PERFECT) was used of Adam and Eve being driven from Eden (cf. Gen. 3:24) of Cain (cf. Gen. 4:14) of Egypt exiled from her homeland by YHWH 31:12 "alien tyrants of the nations" This is the same phrase that is used in Ezek. 28:7; 30:11; 32:12 to refer to the army of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Neo-Babylon. ▣ "all the peoples of the earth have gone down from its shade" This is typical prophetic hyperbole. Egypt did have many allies and many mercenaries in her army (cf. Ezek. 31:12-13). 31:14 The destruction of Assyria, Tyre, Egypt, and later Neo-Babylon itself should be a graphic warning to other prideful, power-hungry nations (cf. Ezek. 31:15-18). Death finally sends all fallen humans to their grave (i.e. "to the earth beneath. . .those who go down to the pit"). Special Topic: Where Are the Dead?
Ezequiel 31:15-17
31:15-18 This paragraph mixes imageries. Sheol (i.e. "the deep"), Ezek. 31:15-18 (cf. Isa. 14:8-11; see Special Topic: Sheol, I. B.) Egypt as a river nation (i.e. "held back its rivers"), Ezek. 31:15 Lebanon darkened, Ezek. 31:15 all the trees of the field wilt away, Ezek. 31:15,16b The trees of Eden and Lebanon are parallel and represent nations. There is a recurrent play on water in this paragraph. the deep, Ezek. 31:15 rivers, Ezek. 31:15 many waters drinkers of water (i.e. trees of Eden), Ezek. 31:16 Special Topic: Waters 31:16 "I made. . ." The NASB repeats this VERB twice, but in the MT it is two VERBS. BDB 950, KB 1271, Hiphil PERFECT BDB 432, KB 434, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, cf. Ezek. 26:20 Both of these VERBS show the sovereign actions of YHWH. He sets up nations; He humbles nations. All history is in His hand. Notice the three "I" VERBS of Ezek. 31:15. ▣ "go down to the pit" This idiom is found in Ezek. 26:20; 32:18,24,29. It denotes Sheol, which refers to the holding place of the dead until judgment day (see Special Topic: Sheol, I. B.) The question is, "Are there levels of Sheol?" Ezek. 26:20, "the lower parts of the earth" Ezek. 31:18, "in the midst of the uncircumcised" The first is simply a parallel, but the second may denote a worse place (cf. Ezek. 28:10; 32:24,29,30). Special Topic: Degrees of Rewards and Punishment 31:17 "those who were its strength" "those who were its strong arm" NRSV, NET "its allies" (cf. v. 6) "its offspring" "those among the nations" "its supporters" "his seed" "its posterity" The MT has "and his arm" (BDB 283). The LXX, Peshitta, and NJB assume the same consonants but different vowels, "seed" (BDB282). The UBS Text Project, p. 104, gives the MT a "C" rating (considerable doubt). ▣ "lived under its shade" See Special Topic: Shadow As a Metaphor for Protection and Care
Ezequiel 31:18
31:18 The prophet is addressing Egypt in terms that described her greatness. Now he asks Egypt, are you a great tree also? YHWH will cut down Assyria, Egypt, and later Neo-Babylon. ▣ "the uncircumcised" See note at Ezek. 28:10. Special Topic: Circumcision