Ezekiel 30:4-9

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, ¹  Libya, and the people ²  of the covenant land ³  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. ⁴ 

From Migdol to Syene ⁵  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. ⁶ 

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; ⁷  for beware – it is coming!

[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.

[30:5]  ² tn Heb “sons.”

[30:5]  ³ tn The expression “sons of the covenant land” possibly refers to Jews living in Egypt (Jer 44).

[30:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “come down.”

[30:6]  ⁵ sn Syene is known as Aswan today.

[30:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “all who aid her are broken.”

[30:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “in the day of Egypt.” The word “doom” has been added in the translation to clarify the nature of this day.