Ezekiel 29:13

Eze 29:13 Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

Ver. 13. Will I gather the Egyptians.] God loveth to help men that are forsaken of their hopes. Cyrus sent them home likely about that time that he took Babylon; and his son Cambyses had somewhat to do to subdue them, so high they were soon grown and headstrong. Humbled they were, but not humble; low, but not lowly.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(Jer 46:26).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 13. Will I gather the Egyptians] It is probable that Cyrus gave permission to the Egyptians brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, to return to their own country. And if we reckon from the commencement of the war against Pharaoh-hophra by Nebuchadnezzar, to the third or fourth year of Cyrus, the term will be about forty years.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(13) At the end of forty years.—See Note on Eze_29:11.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13. After forty years of desolation Egypt shall be restored, though only to the rank of a humble kingdom. It shall no more rule over the nations (Eze_29:15); and no more be a confidence to the house of Israel, seducing them away from trust in Jehovah alone.

Yet thus saith] For thus. Ezekiel considers forty years—a general expression like Jeremiah’s seventy years—to be the period of Babylonian supremacy in the world. At the end of this period a change in the aspect of the world shall supervene under Jehovah’s guidance; Israel will be restored (ch. Eze_4:6), and the other nations subject to Babylon shall be reinstated. Egypt shall be restored though only to be a humble state in comparison of her former greatness. For people peoples.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Yet thus saith the Lord God, at the end of forty years,.... Reckoning from its devastation by Nebuchadnezzar to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus:

will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered; from Babylon, and other places; Cyrus very probably being stirred up by the Lord to proclaim liberty to the Egyptians, as he did to the Jews, to return to their own land; and at the same time restored Amasis to the quiet possession of his kingdom, who must be still alive; since, according to Diodorus Siculus (w), he reigned fifty five years; though, according to Herodotus (x), he reigned but forty four years.

(w) Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 62. Ed. Rhodoman. (x) Thalia, sive l. 3. c. 10.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A similar respite was promised to Moab Jer 48:47, to Ammon Jer 49:6, and to Tyre Isa 23:15.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Forty years: see Eze 29:11.

Gather, by some eminent acts of Providence toward them, perhaps inclining the generous mind of Cyrus to favour them, and proclaim liberty to them, and under the government of old Areasis, that reigned fifty-five years, saith Diodorus, some ten or twelve of which might be under Cyrus, who had a kindness for the old man; and he, to repair the wastes, obtained and published great privileges for the new replanters.

The people; Babylon, Ethiopia, Libya, and other countries, that can be but conjectured to have been receptacles for them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

At the end of forty years. The restoration described may probably be connected with the policy of the Persian kings. There may have been a parallel, as regards Egypt, to the return of the Jewish exiles under Cyrus and his successors, though it has not left its mark on history.

Vers. 13-16. Light out of darkness,

The case of Egypt was very different from that of Tyre. For inscrutable reasons, Tyre was destined to destruction, and Egypt to recovery and revival. The destruction of one city occupying a rock upon the seashore was the extinction of Tyre. Egypt was a vast territory, peopled by a widespread and prolific race; it might be humiliated, but could not easily be politically annihilated. The fortunes of the land of the Pharaohs were gloomy in the immediate future; but the remoter prospect was not without relief and even brightness.

I THE PROMISED RECOVERY AND RESTORATION. The prophet was instructed to foretell, first Egypt"s defeat, dispersion, and captivity, and then Egypt"s restoration to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. We are not told, and we do not know how large was the section of the army or of the inhabitants of the country affected by these predictions. The fact only concerns us, and we recognize that in the midst of judgment the Lord remembered mercy, that banishment was not perpetual, and that the national, life was appointed for revival.

II THE QUALIFICATION AND TEMPERING OF THE BOON THUS GRACIOUSLY VOUCHSAFED. Lest Egypt should be again puffed up, the prophet was directed to utter an assurance that the nation, though spared utter humiliation and extinction, should nevertheless never resume its former greatness. Two points are expressly mentioned.

1. The restored Egypt should be "a base kingdom." It should not take the rank among the nations which it had been entitled to hold aforetime. Its power should be crippled, and its splendor should be dimmed.

2. It should no more bear rule over other nations. Such had in former times been subject to its authority, as dependents, subjects, and tributaries. Egypt"s might should no longer avail to reduce surrounding peoples to subjection.

III THE MORAL AND POLITICAL LESSONS OF THE PROVIDENTIAL ACTION OF GOD TOWARDS EGYPT. These also are very explicitly stated by Ezekiel.

1. Israel should no more look to Egypt for aid, as, in defiance of express warnings from Jehovah, she had been wont to do in times past.

2. Both Israel and Egypt should know that the Lord is God. This was a truth with which Israel was speculatively well acquainted, but which Israel was too ready to forget. Egypt had not enjoyed the same opportunity of learning the wisdom, the authority, the compassion, of Jehovah. Yet lessons may be learnt in adversity which prosperity cannot teach. Egypt was taught by stern discipline; but some impression was doubtless made. It was not for Israel"s sake alone that Egypt"s calamities were permitted; but that the smitten nation might bow beneath the rod, and acknowledge the justice of the King of men. T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Yahweh continues giving Ezekiel his message to Pharaoh.

I will gather Egypt

Here "Egypt" is a metonym for the people of Egypt, and "gather" is a metaphor for causing them to return to Egypt. AT: "I will cause the people of Egypt to return to Egypt" (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

among whom they were scattered

This can be translated in active form. AT: "among whom I scattered them" (See: Active or Passive)

I will restore the fortunes of Egypt

The phrase "fortunes of Egypt" is a metaphor for the people of Egypt who had been taken away to other countries. AT: "I will bring back the people of Egypt" (See: Metaphor)

the region of Pathros

the southern part of Egypt between the Delta and the land of Cush. This is also called Upper Egypt. (See: How to Translate Names)

a lowly kingdom

Here "lowly" represents unimportant. AT: "an unimportant kingdom" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

Lord Yahweh

people group

restore

lowly

kingdom

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.