Text -- Ezekiel 30:1-9 (NET)

A Lament Over Egypt

30:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 30:2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘Wail, “Alas, the day is here!” 30:3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of storm clouds, it will be a time of judgment for the nations. 30:4 A sword will come against Egypt and panic will overtake Ethiopia when the slain fall in Egypt and they carry away her wealth and dismantle her foundations. 30:5 Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the foreigners, Libya, and the people of the covenant land will die by the sword along with them. 30:6 “‘This is what the Lord says: Egypt’s supporters will fall; her confident pride will crumble. From Migdol to Syene they will die by the sword within her, declares the sovereign Lord. 30:7 They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will be among ruined cities. 30:8 They will know that I am the Lord when I ignite a fire in Egypt and all her allies are defeated. 30:9 On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten overly confident Ethiopia; panic will overtake them on the day of Egypt’s doom; for beware– it is coming!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Eze 30:2

¹ tn Heb “Alas for the day.”

NET Notes: Eze 30:3

¹ tn Heb “a day of clouds.” The expression occurs also in Joel 2:2 and Zeph 1:15; it recalls the appearance of God at Mount Sinai (Exod 19:9, 16, 18).

² tn Heb “a time.” The words “of judgment” have been added in the translation for clarification (see the following verses).

NET Notes: Eze 30:5

¹ tn The same expression appears in Exod 12:38; Jer 25:20; 50:37; Neh 13:3. It may refer to foreign mercenaries serving in the armies of the nations listed here.

² tn Heb “sons.”

³ tn The expression “sons of the covenant land” possibly refers to Jews living in Egypt (Jer 44).

NET Notes: Eze 30:6

¹ tn Heb “come down.”

² sn Syene is known as Aswan today.

NET Notes: Eze 30:8

¹ tn Heb “all who aid her are broken.”

NET Notes: Eze 30:9

¹ tn Heb “in the day of Egypt.” The word “doom” has been added in the translation to clarify the nature of this day.