1 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!

3 For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.

4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.

5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.

6 Thus saith the Lord; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord God.

7 And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.

8 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed.

9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh.

10 Thus saith the Lord God; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.

11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.

12 And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the Lord have spoken it.

13 Thus saith the Lord God; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.

14 And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.

15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.

16 And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.

17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity.

18 At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.

19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.

22 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.

23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.

25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.

26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Commentary

Verse 1

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
Bible Cross References
Ezekiel 29:17 Ezekiel 29:21 Ezekiel 30:2

Verse 2

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ye - Inhabitants of Egypt.
Bible Cross References
James 5:1 Isaiah 13:6 Isaiah 15:2 Ezekiel 21:12 Ezekiel 30:1 Joel 1:5 Joel 1:11

Verse 3

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
A cloudy day - So times of trouble are called. Of the heathen - The time when God will reckon with the Heathens.
McArther Bible Commentary
the day of the Lord is near. This is a common expression for God's judgment, especially His future judgment (cf. Joe 1:15; Joe 2:1, Joe 2:11; Joe 3:14; Zec 14:1; 1Th 5:2; 2Th 2:2; 2Pe 3:10). God's judgment day for Egypt embraces a near fulfillment in Babylon's 568/67 invasion (Eze 30:10; Eze 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 Isa 2:12; 1Th 5:2.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 13:6 Ezekiel 7:19 Ezekiel 13:5 Ezekiel 30:18 Ezekiel 32:7 Ezekiel 34:12 Joel 1:15 Joel 2:1 Obadiah 1:15 Zephaniah 1:14

Verse 4

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ethiopia - The neighbour and ally to Egypt. Take away - Into miserable captivity. Her foundations - Their government, laws, and strong holds.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 18:1 Ezekiel 29:19 Ezekiel 38:5 Daniel 11:43 Zephaniah 2:12

Verse 5

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Lydia - Not the Asiatic, but the Africans placed between some part of Cyrene and Egypt. The mingled people - The hired soldiers from all parts, a confused mixture of nations. And Chub - The inhabitants of the inmost Libya; perhaps they may be the Nubians at this day. The men - All the allies of Egypt. With them - With the Egyptians.
McArther Bible Commentary
Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia. See notes on Eze 27:10-11; Eze 29:10. Chub. An unidentified nation, along with the "mingled people" and "men of the lands." These also may have been mercenaries in Egypt's army, like the previous ones in this verse.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 18:1 Jeremiah 25:20 Jeremiah 25:24 Jeremiah 50:37 Ezekiel 27:10 Ezekiel 38:5 Daniel 11:43 Nahum 3:9

Verse 6

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Upheld - Those that favour and help her. The pride - The glory of all her strength.
McArther Bible Commentary
Migdol … Syene. See note on Eze 29:10.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 20:3 Isaiah 49:12 Ezekiel 33:28

Verse 7

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
They - All those before mentioned.
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 25:18 Ezekiel 29:9 Ezekiel 29:12

Verse 8

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Destroyed - The fire that consumes nations is of God's kindling: and when he sets fire to a kingdom, all they that go about to quench the fire, shall be consumed by it.
McArther Bible Commentary
helpers. All of Egypt's alliances and their arms will be useless in the day of God's judgment.
Bible Cross References
Psalm 58:11 Ezekiel 22:31 Ezekiel 29:6 Ezekiel 29:9 Ezekiel 30:14 Ezekiel 30:16 Ezekiel 39:6 Amos 1:4 Amos 1:7

Verse 9

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Messengers - Such as having escaped the sword, shall tell the news. From me - By my permission and providence. In ship's - Messengers by ships might carry the news to both the Ethiopian, Asian, and African, by the Red - sea. As in the day - During the mighty havock made by the Chaldeans. It - A like storm.
McArther Bible Commentary
Apparently, the Egyptians will flee the horrors to Ethiopia and increase that nation's fear of its own inevitable judgment.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 18:1 Isaiah 18:2 Isaiah 19:17 Isaiah 23:5 Isaiah 47:8 Ezekiel 32:9 Ezekiel 32:10 Ezekiel 38:11 Ezekiel 39:6

Verse 10

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
McArther Bible Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar was God's instrument.
Bible Cross References
Ezekiel 29:19 Ezekiel 30:24 Ezekiel 31:2 Ezekiel 31:11

Verse 11

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
His people - His own subjects, not hired soldiers.
Bible Cross References
Ezekiel 28:7 Ezekiel 30:24 Ezekiel 31:11 Ezekiel 31:12

Verse 12

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The rivers dry - Probably the Chaldeans diverted them, and so their fortified towns wanted one great defence. Sell - Give it up entirely.
McArther Bible Commentary
rivers dry. Apart from the Nile River and its branches, Egypt was a barren desert. Her life depended on an annual inundation of the land by the flooding Nile.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 19:4 Isaiah 19:5 Ezekiel 29:3 Ezekiel 29:9 Ezekiel 31:12

Verse 13

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Noph - Memphis, now Grand Cairo, the chief city of the country. A prince - Either an Egyptian born, or independent, and over all Egypt. A fear - Consternation and cowardice.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 2:18 Isaiah 19:13 Jeremiah 2:16 Jeremiah 43:12 Jeremiah 44:1 Jeremiah 46:14 Jeremiah 46:19 Jeremiah 46:25 Ezekiel 29:15 Ezekiel 30:16 Hosea 9:6 Zechariah 10:11

Verse 14

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
In Zoan - Zoan shall be burnt down to ashes. In No - A great and populous city situate on one of the mouths of the Nile.
McArther Bible Commentary
Pathros. The large region south of Memphis. Zoan. This key city of the Nile delta's eastern portion was called Tanis by Greeks.
Bible Cross References
Psalm 78:12 Psalm 78:43 Isaiah 11:11 Isaiah 19:11 Isaiah 19:13 Jeremiah 44:1 Jeremiah 44:15 Jeremiah 46:25 Ezekiel 29:14 Ezekiel 29:19 Ezekiel 30:8 Ezekiel 30:15 Ezekiel 30:16 Ezekiel 30:19 Nahum 3:8

Verse 15

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Sin - Pelusium, which was the key of Egypt, and therefore always well fortified, and strongly garrisoned.
McArther Bible Commentary
Sin. The name referred to ancient Pelusium, a key city at the tip of the Nile River's eastern arm near the Mediterranean Sea. Since, (1) "No" (Thebes) and "Sin" were at opposite borders of Egypt and (2) so many cities are named, the passage speaks of judgment on the entire land.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 16:1 Ezekiel 30:14 Ezekiel 30:16

Verse 16

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Shall be rent - Her walls, and towers, and fortresses broken through by the violence of engines, and by the assaults of the soldiers.
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 44:1 Ezekiel 30:8 Ezekiel 30:13 Ezekiel 30:14 Ezekiel 30:15 Ezekiel 30:17 Ezekiel 39:6 Hosea 9:6

Verse 17

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Young men - 'Tis probable these might be a body of valiant youths, collected out of these ten cities. Aven - Bethshemesh, or Heliopolis, an idolatrous city, in which was a stately temple of the sun: an hundred and fifty furlongs, that is six miles and three quarters in compass. Phibeseth - Bubastus, sometimes called Hoephestus, not far from Aven.
McArther Bible Commentary
Aven. Ancient Heliopolis. Pi Beseth. The city was on the northeast branch of the Nile River where cats were mummified in honor of the cat-headed goddess, Ugastet.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 41:45 Genesis 46:20 Ezekiel 30:16 Ezekiel 30:23

Verse 18

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Tehaphnehes - A great and goodly city of Egypt; Tachapanes, Tachpanes, Tahapanes, Tahpanes, Chanes, and Hanes, are names given it, and this from a queen of Egypt of that name in Solomon's time. It stood not far from Sin, or Pelusium. Darkened - A night shall come upon it. Break - I shall break the kingdom of Egypt, that it no more oppress with yokes, that is, burdens. Her daughters - Her towns and villages.
McArther Bible Commentary
Tehaphnehes. This city, named after the Egyptian queen, was a residence of the pharaohs.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 26:13 Isaiah 10:27 Jeremiah 27:2 Jeremiah 28:10 Jeremiah 28:13 Jeremiah 30:8 Jeremiah 43:8 Jeremiah 44:1 Lamentations 2:1 Ezekiel 30:3 Ezekiel 30:23 Ezekiel 32:7 Ezekiel 34:27 Ezekiel 38:9

Verse 19

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
A prophecy against Egypt.
The prophecy of the destruction of Egypt is very full. Those who take their lot with God's enemies, shall be with them in punishment. The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another. No place in the land of Egypt shall escape the fury of the Chaldeans. The Lord is known by the judgments he executes. Yet these are only present effects of the Divine displeasure, not worthy of our fear, compared with the wrath to come, from which Jesus delivers his people.
Bible Cross References
Psalm 9:16 Ezekiel 5:8 Ezekiel 5:15 Ezekiel 25:11 Ezekiel 28:22 Ezekiel 30:14 Ezekiel 32:15

Verse 20

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The eleventh year - Of Jeconiah's captivity, three months and two days before Jerusalem was taken, about the time that the Egyptians attempted to raise the siege of Jerusalem.
McArther Bible Commentary
the eleventh year. C. 587/586 B.C., eleven years after the deportation of Judah in 597 B.C.
Bible Cross References
Ezekiel 26:1 Ezekiel 29:1 Ezekiel 29:17 Ezekiel 31:1 Ezekiel 32:1

Verse 21

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Have broken - Partly by the victory of the Chaldeans over Pharaoh - necho, partly by the victory of the Cyreneans over Pharaoh - hophra. The sword - None can heal the wounds that God gives but himself. They whom he disables, cannot again hold the sword.
McArther Bible Commentary
I have broken the arm. God figuratively depicted His act of taking power from Egypt through Nebuchadnezzar, resulting in defeat and dispersion (Eze 30:23, Eze 30:26).
Bible Cross References
Psalm 10:15 Psalm 37:17 Jeremiah 30:13 Jeremiah 44:30 Jeremiah 46:11 Ezekiel 30:24 Ezekiel 39:3 Zechariah 11:17

Verse 22

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
His arms - Both his arms. The strong - That part of his kingdom which remains entire. Broken - That which was shattered before.
McArther Bible Commentary
break his arms. Both the defeat of Pharaoh Hophra (cf. Jer 37:5 ff.) and the earlier defeat of Pharaoh Necho at Carchemish (cf. 2Ki 24:7; Jer 46:2) are in view.
Bible Cross References
2 Kings 24:7 Jeremiah 37:7 Jeremiah 46:21 Jeremiah 46:25 Ezekiel 29:3 Zechariah 11:17

Verse 23

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
Bible Cross References
Ezekiel 29:12 Ezekiel 30:17 Ezekiel 30:18

Verse 24

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
Bible Cross References
Nehemiah 6:9 Isaiah 45:1 Isaiah 45:5 Ezekiel 29:19 Ezekiel 30:10 Ezekiel 30:11 Ezekiel 30:21 Ezekiel 30:25 Zephaniah 2:12 Zechariah 10:12

Verse 25

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Will strengthen - As judges on the bench like Pilate, so generals in the field, like Nebuchadrezzar, have no power but what is given them from above.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 8:18 1 Chronicles 21:16 Isaiah 5:25 Ezekiel 30:24 Ezekiel 30:26

Verse 26

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Another.
Egypt shall grow weaker and weaker. If lesser judgments do not prevail to humble and reform sinners, God will send greater. God justly breaks that power which is abused, either to put wrongs upon people, or to put cheats upon them. Babylon shall grow stronger. In vain do men endeavour to bind up the arm the Lord is pleased to break, and to strengthen those whom he will bring down. Those who disregard the discoveries of his truth and mercy, shall know his power and justice, in the punishment for their sins.
McArther Bible Commentary
People often don't learn that God is Lord until His judgment falls.
Bible Cross References
Ezekiel 29:12 Ezekiel 30:25 Ezekiel 31:1 Ezekiel 32:15