---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Ezekiel 29:1. In the tenth year — Of Zedekiah; and tenth of the captivity of Jeconiah. The tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month — Answering"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/29"
---

Verse [Ezekiel 29:1](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/1). ***In the tenth year*** — Of Zedekiah; and *tenth* of the captivity of Jeconiah.
***The tenth*****month,*****in the twelfth*****day*****of the month*** — Answering to *Monday*, the first of *February*, A.M. 3415.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/2). ***Set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt*** — This was Pharaoh-hophra or Pharaoh-apries, whom we have so frequently met with in the prophecies of Jeremiah, and much of whose history has been given in the notes.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/3). ***The great dragon*** — התנים *hattannim* should here be translated *crocodile*, as that is a *real* animal, and numerous in the *Nile*; whereas the *dragon* is wholly *fabulous*. The original signifies any large animal.
***The midst of his rivers*** — This refers to the several *branches* of the Nile, by which this river empties itself into the Mediterranean. The ancients termed them septem ostia Nili, "the seven mouths of the Nile." The *crocodile* was the *emblem* of *Egypt*.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/4). ***I will put hooks in thy jaws*** — Amasis, one of this king's generals, being proclaimed king by an insurrection of the people, dethroned *Apries*, and seized upon the kingdom; and Apries was obliged to flee to Upper Egypt for safety.
***I will cause the fish - to stick unto thy scales*** — Most fish are sorely troubled with a species of *insect* which bury their heads in their flesh, under their *scales*, and suck out the vital juices. The allusion seems to be to this. *Pharaoh* was the *crocodile*; the *fish*, the *common people*; and the *sticking to his scales*, the *insurrection* by which he was *wasted* and despoiled of his kingdom.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/5). ***I will leave thee*****thrown*****into the wilderness*** — Referring to his being obliged to take refuge in Upper Egypt. But he was afterwards taken prisoner, and strangled by Amasis. *Herod*. lib. ii. s. 169.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/6). ***They have been a staff of reed*** — An inefficient and faithless ally. The Israelites expected assistance from them when Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem; and they made a feint to help them, but retired when Nebuchadnezzar went against them. Thus were the Jews deceived and ultimately ruined, see [Ezekiel 29:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/7).

Verse [Ezekiel 29:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/10). ***From the tower of Syene*** — ממגדל מונה *mimmigdol seveneh*, "from Migdol to Syene." Syene, now called *Essuan*, was the last city in Egypt, going towards Ethiopia. It was famous for a well into which the rays of the sun fell *perpendicularly* at *midday*.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/12). ***Shall be desolate forty years*** — The country from Migdol or Magdolan, which was on the isthmus between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, was so completely ruined, that it might well be called *desert*; and it is probable that this desolation continued during the whole of the *reign of Amasis*, which was just *forty* *years*. See *Herod*. lib. iii. c. 10; and see *Calmet*.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/13). ***Will I gather the Egyptians*** — It is probable that Cyrus gave permission to the Egyptians brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, to return to their own country. And if we reckon from the commencement of the war against Pharaoh-hophra by Nebuchadnezzar, to the *third* or *fourth* year of Cyrus, the term will be about *forty* years.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/14). Into ***the land of Pathros*** — Supposed to mean the *Delta*, a country included between the branches of the Nile, called Δ *delta*, from its being in the form of the Greek letter of that name. It may mean the *Pathrusim*, in Upper Egypt, near to the Thebaid. This is most likely.
***Shall be there a base kingdom.*** — That is, it shall continue to be *tributary*. It is upwards of *two thousand* years since this prophecy was delivered, and it has been uninterruptedly fulfilling to the *present hour*.
1. Egypt became tributary to the *Babylonians*, under Amasis.
2. After the ruin of the Babyionish empire, it became subject to the *Persians*.
3. After the Persians, it came into the hands of the *Macedonians*.
4. After the Macedonians it fell into the hands of the *Romans*.
5. After the division of the Roman empire it was subdued by the *Saracens*.
6. About A.D. 1250, it came into the hands of the *Mameluke* slaves.
7. Selim, the *ninth* emperor of the Turks, conquered the Mamelukes, A.D. 1517, and annexed Egypt to the *Ottoman empire*, of which it still continues to be a province, governed by a *pacha* and *twenty-four beys*, who are always advanced from *servitude* to the administration of public affairs. So true is it that Egypt, once so glorious, is the *basest* *of kingdoms*. See *Newton* on the prophecies.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/17). ***The seven and twentieth year*** — That is, of the *captivity of Jeconiah, fifteen* years after the taking of *Jerusalem*; about *April* 20, 3432. The *preceding* prophecy was delivered one year before the taking of Jerusalem; *this*, sixteen years after; and it is supposed to be the last which this prophet wrote.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:18](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/18). ***Caused his army to serve a great service against**********Tyrus*** — He was *thirteen* years employed in the siege. See *Joseph*. Antiq. lib. x. c. 11. In this siege his soldiers endured great hardships. Being continually on duty, their *heads became bald* by wearing their helmets; and their *shoulders bruised and peeled* by carrying baskets of earth to the fortifications, and wood, c., to build towers, &c.
***Yet had he no wages, nor his army*** — The Tyrians, finding it at last impossible to defend their city, put all their wealth aboard their vessels, sailed out of the port, and escaped for Carthage and thus Nebuchadnezzar lost all the spoil of one of the richest cities in the world.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:20](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/20). ***I have given him the land of Egypt*****for*****his labour*** — Because he fulfilled the designs of God against Tyre, God promises to *reward* him with the spoil of Egypt.

Verse [Ezekiel 29:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/21). ***Will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud*** — This may refer generally to the *restoration*; but particularly to *Zerubbabel*, who became one of the leaders of the people from Babylon. Or it may respect *Daniel*, or *Mordecai*, or *Jeconiah*, who, about this time, was brought out of prison by Evil-merodach, and afterwards kindly treated.

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