The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 396
25:2, 3 against the Ammonites. These people lived on the edge of the desert E of the Jordan River and N of Moab. They had joined Babylon against Judah about 600 B.C. (2 Kin. 24:2ff.). In 594 B.C., together with other nations, they tried to influence Judah to ally with them against Babylon (Jer. 27:2ff.). Ezekiel 21:18–20 indicates that Babylon came after them. There is no record of an attack, so they must have surrendered (21:28; Zeph. 2:8–11). They were of incestuous origin (cf. Gen. 19:37, 38) and often hostile toward Judah (cf. Judg. 10; 1 Sam. 11; 2 Sam. 10, 12; Jer. 49:1–6; Lam. 2:15; Amos 1:13–15). God judged this people because of their enmity against Israel (vv. 3, 6). They expressed malicious pleasure at the dishonoring of the temple, desolation of the land, and dispersion of the inhabitants.
25:4 I will deliver you…to the men of the East. Perhaps this meant the coming of Babylon from the E which would devastate Ammon in either 588–86 B.C. or 582/81 B.C. Or it could refer to their land being occupied by the various nomadic tribes living beyond the Jordan.
25:5 Rabbah. This important Ammonite capitol (cf. Amos 1:14), now called Amman, is about 25 mi. NE of the upper tip of the Dead Sea, E of the Jordan River.
25:7 cause you to perish. Ammonites would be destroyed and eliminated from their land. Yet, Jer. 49:6 assures a later return of a remnant of these scattered people.
25:8–11 Moab and Seir. The origin of these people is given in Gen. 19:37, 38. Their land was the area S of the Arnon River along the lower region of the Dead Sea. Cf. Is. 15, 16; Jer. 48; Amos 2:1–3. The Babylonians destroyed cities there in 582/81 B.C. The reason for judgment (v. 8) also included their gloating over Israel’s fall, as well as their scorn in saying Israel was like all other people with no privileged position before God. Both Ammonites and Moabites became absorbed into the Arabian peoples.
25:8 Seir. Another name for the adjacent Edomite area (Gen. 32:3; 36:20, 21, 30), dominated by Mt. Seir and a mountainous, extremely rugged, rocky country. Her judgments are given in 25:12–14.
25:12 Edom. Cf. chap. 35; Is. 21:11, 12; Jer. 49:7–22; Amos 1:11, 12; Obadiah; Mal. 1:3–5. These people lived S of Moab from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah. These people had been almost annihilated by David (2 Sam. 8:14), but won back independence during the reign of Ahaz (ca. 735–715 B.C.). Their revenge was hostility to Israel constantly (cf. Gen. 27:27–41; Is. 34:5–7). The reason for judgment is Edom’s disdain when the Israelites were devastated in 588–86 B.C. They acted like a cheering section for Babylon, “raze it, raze it” (Ps. 137:7; Lam. 4:21, 22).
25:13, 14 against Edom…by the hand of My people Israel. The Arab tribe called Nabateans invaded Edom in 325 B.C.; but it was the Jewish forces of Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C. and John Hyrcanus in 126 B.C. which fully subjugated Edom. Jews even compelled Edomites to submit to their religion. All 3 of these nations (Ammon, Moab, and Edom) have disappeared as separate nations into the Arab peoples.
25:13 Teman; Dedan. Reference is to key Edomite towns. Teman (Teima) was possibly 200 mi. E of the Dead Sea in the Arabian Desert in the northern expanse of Edom’s territory. Dedan was maybe located 100 mi. S of Teman, yet far E of the Red Sea.
25:15–17 the Philistines. Cf. Is. 14:29–33; Jer. 47; Joel 3:4; Amos 1:6–8; Obad. 19; Zeph. 2:4–7; Zech. 9:5. The reason for their judgment was perpetual enmity, and vengefulness against Israel, which perpetuated the “old hatred” from as far back as Judg. 13–16. They constantly harassed and oppressed Israel until David broke their power during Saul’s reign (1 Sam. 17). They repeatedly rose up and were subdued by Israel. Nebuchadnezzar invaded their land (Jer. 47).
25:16 Cherethites. They originated in Crete and became part of the Philistine nation (see note on 1 Sam. 30:14), with some serving in David’s bodyguard (2 Sam. 8:18; 15:18).
25:17 great vengeance. This was fulfilled at the time of Babylon’s invasion of 588–86 B.C. or 582/81 B.C. (cf. Jer. 25:20; 47:1–7).
Ezekiel 26
26:1 the eleventh year. In 586 B.C., the 11th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, on the tenth day of the fifth month, Jerusalem was captured.
26:3, 4 I am against you, O Tyre. The judgment of this city covers 3 chaps. (26–28), indicating its importance to God. Cf. Is. 23; Amos 1:9, 10. Tyre was an ancient city of the Phoenicians, appearing for the first time in Josh. 19:29. During the reigns of David and Solomon it had great influence. Hiram, its king, was a friend to David (2 Sam. 5:11), who helped him and Solomon in building operations (cf. 1 Kin. 5:1–12; 1 Chr. 14:1; 2 Chr. 2:3, 11). Later, Tyrians sold Jews into slavery (cf. Joel 3:4–8; Amos 1:9, 10). God would move “many nations” to invade Tyre, the commercial center of the Mediterranean (cf. 27:3), in successive attacks pictured by wave following wave. Babylon (v. 7) besieged Tyre from 585–573 B.C.; later came Alexander’s Grecian army in 332 B.C. Babylon had devastated the coastal city, but many Tyrians escaped to an island fortress which withstood attack. The later Grecian attackers “scraped” all the remaining “dust” and rubble and dumped it into the sea, building a causeway to the island nearly a half mile out. They also brought ships and overcame the fortress defenders in a devastating assault on Tyre. The predictions in chaps. 26–28 have been fulfilled with amazing literal accuracy.
26:5, 14 for spreading nets. Tyre became a fishing city, a place to spread fishing nets for centuries, until the Saracens finally destroyed what was left in the fourth century. Since then the once great center of Mediterranean commerce has been a nondescript village.
26:7–14 Here is a vivid description of the original devastation by Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar called “king of kings” (v. 7) because so many other rulers were subject to him. God had given him universal rule (cf. Dan. 2:37). Verses 8 and 9 describe the siege, vv. 10–14, the devastation.
26:12 They will plunder. After Nebuchadnezzar in v. 7 and “he” and “his” in vv. 8–11, “they” in v. 12 appears to broaden the reference to others among the “many nations” (v. 3). At this point, “they” are not only Babylonians, but also Alexander’s army which later heaped debris from the ruins into the sea to advance to the island stronghold (cf. Zech. 9:3, 4).
26:13 songs…harps. According to Is. 23:16, Tyre was famous for musicians.
26:15–18 So important a center of commerce could not be destroyed without affecting all the nearby nations. All the nations around the Mediterranean would consider Tyre’s fall a calamity. According to customs of mourning, rulers would descend from their thrones and disrobe.
26:19–21 Tyre’s destruction is compared to a dead person placed in the grave.
Ezekiel 27
27:1–11 a lamentation for Tyre. The whole chap. is a lamentation, describing Tyre as a great trade ship destroyed on the high seas. The proper names indicate the participants in commerce with Tyre.
27:5–9 fir trees from Senir. The area is the Amorite designation for Mt. Hermon, to the NE from the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee. Lesser known places were: Elishah (v. 7), believed to be in Cyprus; Arvad (v. 8), an island city off the Mediterranean coast N of Byblos; and Gebal (v. 9), a name also used for Byblos, N of today’s Beirut. “Ashurites” (v. 6) were the Assyrians, who had skilled wood workers.
27:10, 11 men of war. These places provided mercenary soldiers for the Phoenician army to defend Tyre.
27:11 Arvad. See note on vv. 5–9. Gammad. A place often identified as northern Syria.
27:12 Tarshish. This verse begins the description of the commercial glory of Tyre. Most likely this place refers to Tarshishah in southern Spain, a Phoenician colony famous for silver (Jer. 10:9).
27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech. Javan was Ionia, a large area in Greece. The other two, in Asia Minor, may be the Tibarenoi and Moschoi mentioned by the writer Herodotus, or slave-trading cities called Tabal and Mushku by the Assyrians.
27:14 house of Togarmah. Beth-Togarmah is identified with Armenia in NE Asia Minor, which is modern Turkey.
27:15 Dedan. Probably Rhodes.
27:17 Minnith. An Ammonite town (Judg. 11:33).
27:18 Helbon. Today it is called Halbun, 13 mi. N of Damascus.
27:19 Dan. A Danite area is not meant; but translators are not sure which areas are designated by this and Javan. cassia. A perfume.
27:21 Kedar. Refers to nomadic Bedouin tribes.
27:22 Sheba and Raamah. These were cities in the SW extremity of Arabia (Gen. 10:7; 1 Chr. 1:9).
27:23 Haran, Canneh, Eden. All were Mesopotamian towns; Canneh may have been in northern Syria, the Calneh of Amos 6:2, or the Caino of Is. 10:9. Assyria…Chilmad. These were also in Mesopotamia.
27:25 ships of Tarshish. The large cargo carrying sea ships that sailed across the Mediterranean.
27:26, 27 the east wind broke. This pictures Tyre’s fall aptly as a shipwreck on the seas. The sea, the place of her glory, will be her grave. “The east wind” is a picture of Babylon in its power from the E (cf. 13:11–13).
27:28–35 the cry. This maintains the metaphor of Tyre as a ship and turns particularly to men lamenting her ruin, for their livelihood has been tied to the commerce she represents. Verses 30–32 describe common actions signifying mourning.
27:36 There will be some who scorn with malicious joy.
Ezekiel 28
28:1–19 This section concerning the king of Tyre is similar to Is. 14:3–23 referring to the king of Babylon. In both passages, some of the language best fits Satan. Most likely, both texts primarily describe the human king who is being used by Satan, much like Peter when Jesus said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matt. 16:23). The judgment can certainly apply to Satan also.
28:2 to the prince of Tyre. Since “prince” is sometimes used to mean “the king” (37:24, 25), the “prince” in v. 2 is the “king” in v. 12, Itto-baal II. The prophet is dealing with the spirit of Tyre more than just the king. This prophecy is dated shortly before the siege of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar (585–573 B.C.). I am a god. Many ancient kings claimed to be a god, and acted as if they were (v. 6). When this king claimed to be a god, he was displaying the same proud attitude as the serpent who promised Adam and Eve they could be like God (Gen. 3:5).
28:3–5 wiser than Daniel. This is said in sarcastic derision of the leader’s own exaggerated claims. Here is an indicator that Daniel, who had been captive for years in Babylon, had become well known.
28:6–10 strangers against you…aliens. The reference is to invading Babylonians, and later the Greeks. (cf. chap. 26). God was the true executioner.
28:11–19 This lament over “the king of Tyre” reached behind to the real supernatural source of wickedness, Satan. Cf. Matt. 16:21–23, where Peter was rebuked by the Lord, as under Satanic control and motivation.
28:12 the seal of perfection. The Lord led Ezekiel to address the king as the one to be judged, but clearly the power behind him was Satan. This phrase must be associated with Satan as one perfect in angelic beauty before he rebelled against God. But, it can also relate to “perfection” in the same context of Tyre’s enterprise, topmost in its trade to the ancient world (27:3, 4, 11), glorious in her seafaring efforts (27:24), and the crowning city (Is. 23:8), i.e., “perfect” as Jerusalem also is said to be (16:14; Lam. 2:15). Full of wisdom. This referred to Satan’s wisdom as an angel and to Tyre’s wisdom (skill) in trade (cf. 27:8, 9; 28:4).
28:13 You were in Eden. This could be Satan in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1–15), or it might refer to Tyre’s king in a beautiful environment, a kind of Eden. Every precious stone. This depicts Satan’s rich investiture (Gen. 2:12), and/or Tyre’s king possessing every beautiful stone as Solomon had (1 Kin. 10:10). workmanship of your timbrels. This could refer both to Satan’s once being in charge of heavenly praise and to Tyre’s beautiful musical instruments used in celebration (26:13). you were created. Satan, however, is more likely to have such wealth and beauty, wisdom, and perfection at his creation than this earthly king would have at his birth.
28:14 anointed cherub. This refers to Satan in his exalted privilege as an angel guarding (i.e., covering) God’s throne, as cherubim guarded Eden (Gen. 3:24). Satan originally had continuous and unrestricted access to the glorious presence of God. I established you. This was true of both Satan, by God’s sovereign permission, and Tyre’s king. You were on the holy mountain. A high privilege is meant, whether referring to Satan before God in His kingdom (mountain, cf. Dan. 2:35), or Tyre’s monarch described in a picturesque analogy, as Assyria can be described as a cedar in Lebanon (31:3) to convey a picture of towering height.
28:15 perfect in your ways. This verse was not completely true of the king, but it was accurate of Satan before he sinned. Till iniquity was found in you. Satan’s sin of pride (cf. Is. 14:14; 1 Tim. 3:6) is in view here.
28:16 The description transitions to feature the king of Tyre, describing his demise, as he followed the pattern of Satan himself.
28:17–19 I laid you before kings. It would be difficult to relate this to Satan. The earthly king of Tyre, in his downfall, would be knocked or cast to the ground, cut down, and lie before the gaze of other kings. From Is. 23:17 there is the implication of a revival under Persian rule (Neh. 13:16). Two hundred and fifty years after Nebuchadnezzar, Tyre was strong enough to hold off Alexander for 7 years. The Romans made it a capital of the province. Gradually it disappeared and its location is not prominent.
28:21 Sidon. Sidon (vv. 20–24) is a sister seaport to Tyre in Phoenicia, 23 mi. N. Even in the time of the judges (Judg. 10:6), the corrupting influence of this place had begun. It was the headquarters for Baal worship.
28:22, 23 judgments in her. God is to bring bloodshed and pestilence on people there, probably at the time He brings an invasion against Tyre.
28:24 no longer…a pricking brier. This is a summary of the judgment scenarios so far revealed (chaps. 25–28). The enemies of Israel would be so devastated by God that 1) they would no longer be pestering Israel, and 2) they would see that the God who judges them is the true God of Israel.
28:25, 26 When I have gathered. In this brief excursus of hope, God promised to restore Israel to the land of Palestine (cf. chaps. 34, 36–39; Is. 65:21; Jer. 30–33; Amos 9:14, 15). This looks to Messiah’s earthly kingdom.
Ezekiel 29
29:1 the tenth year. 587 B.C. is the 10th year after Jehoiachin’s deportation. It is a year and two days after Nebuchadnezzar had come to Jerusalem (24:1, 2; 2 Kin. 25:1) and 7 months before its destruction (2 Kin. 25:3–8). This is the first of 7 oracles against Egypt (cf. 29:17; 30:1; 32:1; 32:17).
29:2 against all Egypt. Cf. Is. 19; Jer. 46:1–26. Egypt was to fall, even though it could be pictured as a water monster (vv. 3–5), a towering tree like Assyria (31:3), a young lion (32:2), and a sea monster (32:2–8). The judgment looks ahead to 570 B.C. when the Greeks of Cyrene defeated Pharaoh (Apries) Hophra and 568/67 B.C. when Babylon conquered Egypt.
29:3 great monster. Most likely the crocodile is the figure used for the king. Crocodiles were worshiped by the Egyptians, and lived in their rivers. “Rahab” is a general term used for a monster which often symbolized Egypt. See notes on Pss. 87:4; 89:10; Is. 30:7.
29:4 fish of your rivers. This figuratively represents the people who followed Pharaoh and who were a part of God’s judgment on Egypt as a whole (vv. 5, 6a).
29:6 a staff of reed. The Israelites had depended on Egyptians in military alliances as people lean on a staff that gives way, failing them. Egypt had betrayed the confidence of Israel as God said they would (cf. Jer. 17:5, 7). Because Israel never should have trusted Egypt does not lessen Egypt’s judgment.
29:9 The River. The Nile River was the water supply for all Egypt’s crops. See note on v. 19.
29:10 from Migdol to Syene. This covered the entirety of Egypt, since Migdol (Ex. 14:2) was in the N and Syene in the southern border of “Ethiopia.”
29:11, 12 uninhabited forty years. Although difficult to pinpoint, one possibility is that this period was when Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, reigned supreme in Egypt (vv. 19, 20), from ca. 568/67 B.C. to 525 B.C. until Cyrus gained Persian control.
29:13–16 I will gather the Egyptians. Egypt regained normalcy as is currently true, but never again reached the pinnacle of international prominence she once enjoyed.
29:17 the twenty-seventh year. This is 571/70 B.C. as counted from the captivity of Jehoiachin in 597 B.C., about 17 years after the prophecy in vv. 1–16.
29:18 labor…against Tyre. In ca. 585–573 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years before subduing the city (cf. Ezek. 26:1—28:19). Tyrians retreated to an island bastion out in the sea and survived, not giving Babylon full satisfaction in spoils (“wages”) equal to such long struggle.
29:19 I will give the land of Egypt. To make up for Babylon’s lack of sufficient reward from Tyre, God allowed a Babylonian conquest of Egypt in 568/67 B.C. Babylon’s army had worked as an instrument which God used to bring down Egypt.
29:21 I will cause the horn…to spring forth. Cf. 23:25, 26. God caused Israel’s power to return and restored her authority as the power in an animal’s horn (cf. 1 Sam. 2:1). Though other nations subdued her, her latter end in messianic times will be blessed. I will open your mouth. Most likely this refers to the day when Ezekiel’s writings would be understood by looking back at their fulfillment. His muteness had already ceased in 586/585 B.C. when Jerusalem fell (cf. 33:21, 22).
Ezekiel 30
30:3 the day of the LORD is near. This is a common expression for God’s judgment, especially His future judgment (cf. Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11; 3:14; Zech. 14:1; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:10). God’s judgment “day” for Egypt embraces a near fulfillment in Babylon’s 568/67 invasion (v. 10; 32:11), as well as the distant day of the Lord in the future tribulation period when God calls all nations to judgment (Dan. 11:42, 43). See note on Is. 2:12.
