Ezekiel 31:1-15

31:1

first <0259> [in the eleventh.]

On Sunday, June 19, A.M. 3416, according to Usher; and about a month before the capture of Jerusalem.

31:2

say <0559> [speak.]

hordes <01995> [to his.]

like <01819> [Whom.]

31:3

Assyria <0804> [the Assyrian.]

cedar <0730> [a cedar.]

[with fair branches. Heb. fair of branches. of an high.]

31:4

water <04325> [waters.]

grow <01431> [made him great. or, nourished him. set. or, brought. little rivers. or, conduits.]

31:5

taller <06967> [his height.]

The Assyrian king, to whom Pharaoh is compared, from his great power, extensive dominion, and the protection he afforded, resembled the spreading branches, thick shade, and high stature of a flourishing cedar on mount Lebanon. The fruitful lands of Assyria; the immense revenues he drew from vast multitudes in his extensive territories; his lucrative commerce, by the river Tigris, with the countries on the Indian ocean; and all the various sources of his wealth and prosperity, resembled the rivers and streams which cause the trees planted by them to grow and flourish exceedingly; and hence the empire and its head were exalted above all the kingdoms of the earth.

shoots <07971> [he shot forth. or, it sent them forth.]

31:6

31:8

cedars <0730> [cedars.]

tree <06086> [nor any.]

31:9

made <06213> [made.]

trees <06086> [all the trees.]

envied <07065> [envied.]

31:10

says <0559> [Therefore.]

The allegory and its interpretation are here combined; and the Assyrian monarch, though already destroyed, is poetically addressed.

tall <01361> [Because.]

proud <03824> [and his.]

31:11

gave <05414> [delivered.]

leader <0410> [the mighty.]

Nebuchadnezzar, the subverter of the Assyrian empire.

has <06213> [he shall surely deal with him. Heb. in doing he shall do unto him.]

out <01644> [I have driven.]

31:12

Foreigners <02114> [strangers.]

mountains <02022> [upon.]

down <03381> [gone.]

31:13

31:14

trees <06086> [the end.]

high ........ appointed <05975 01363> [stand up in their height. or, stand upon themselves for their height. delivered.]

lower parts <08482> [the nether.]

31:15

lament <056> [I caused a.]

The deep and all the mighty rivers which cherished this fair tree are here described as mourning at his downfall: they stop their usual courses to bewail his fate, and Lebanon with all its stately trees, (his confederates and allies,) sympathise with him in his misfortunes.

black <06937> [mourn. Heb. be black.]