Discovery BoxEzekiel 31:13-18
Context31:13 On its ruins all the birds of the sky will live, and all the wild animals 1 will walk 2 on its branches. 31:14 For this reason no watered trees will grow so tall; their tops will not reach into the clouds, nor will the well-watered ones grow that high. 3 For all of them have been appointed to die in the lower parts of the earth; 4 they will be among mere mortals, 5 with those who descend to the pit.
31:15 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On the day it 6 went down to Sheol I caused observers to lament. 7 I covered it with the deep and held back its rivers; its plentiful water was restrained. I clothed Lebanon in black for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 31:16 I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I threw it down to Sheol, along with those who descend to the pit. 8 Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, all that were well-watered, were comforted in the earth below. 31:17 Those who lived in its shade, its allies 9 among the nations, also went down with it to Sheol, to those killed by the sword. 31:18 Which of the trees of Eden was like you in majesty and loftiness? You will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lower parts of the earth; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword! This is what will happen to Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the sovereign Lord.’”
[31:13] 1 tn Heb “the beasts of the field,” referring to wild as opposed to domesticated animals.
[31:14] 3 tn Heb “and they will not stand to them in their height, all the drinkers of water.”
[31:14] 4 tn Heb “for death, to the lower earth.”
[31:14] 5 tn Heb “the sons of men.”
[31:15] 7 tn Heb “I caused lamentation.” D. I. Block (Ezekiel [NICOT], 2:194-95) proposes an alternative root which would give the meaning “I gated back the waters,” i.e., shut off the water supply.
[31:16] 8 sn For the expression “going down to the pit,” see Ezek 26:20; 32:18, 24, 29.
