Ezekiel 31:3-18
Assyria <0804> [the Assyrian.]
cedar <0730> [a cedar.]
[with fair branches. Heb. fair of branches. of an high.]
water <04325> [waters.]
grow <01431> [made him great. or, nourished him. set. or, brought. little rivers. or, conduits.]
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.]
cedars <0730> [cedars.]
tree <06086> [nor any.]
made <06213> [made.]
trees <06086> [all the trees.]
envied <07065> [envied.]
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.]
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.]
Foreigners <02114> [strangers.]
mountains <02022> [upon.]
down <03381> [gone.]
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.]
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.]
nations <01471> [made.]
down ........ descend <03381> [When I.]
trees <06086> [and all.]
comforted <05162> [shall be comforted.]
went down <03381> [went.]
allies <02220> [that were.]
lived <03427> [dwelt.]
like <01819> [To whom.]
Pharaoh is here called upon to look in his mirror, and see the termination of his glory and greatness.
like <01819> [art thou.]
trees .................. trees <06086> [with the.]
lie <07901> [thou shalt.]
Pharaoh <06547> [This is.]
That is, the judgment that befel the king of Assyria, is an exact representation of the destruction that remains for Pharaoh and all his people.
