--- title: "Clarke" description: "Verse Ezekiel 31:1. In the eleventh year — On Sunday, June 19, A.M. 3416, according to Abp. Usher; a month before Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans. Ve" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/31" --- Verse [Ezekiel 31:1](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/1). ***In the eleventh year*** — On *Sunday*, June 19, A.M. 3416, according to Abp. Usher; a *month* before Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans. Verse [Ezekiel 31:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/3). ***Behold, the Assyrian*****was*****a cedar*** — Why is the *Assyrian* introduced here, when the whole chapter concerns *Egypt*? Bp. *Lowth* has shown that אשור ארז *ashshur erez* should be translated *the tall* *cedar, the very stately cedar*; hence there is reference to his *lofty top*; and all the following description belongs to *Egypt*, not to *Assyria*. But see on [Ezekiel 31:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/11). Verse [Ezekiel 31:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/4). ***The waters made him great*** — Alluding to the fertility of Egypt by the *overflowing of the Nile*. But *waters* often mean *peoples*. By means of the different nations under the Egyptians, that government became very opulent. These nations are represented as *fowls* and *beasts*, taking shelter under the protection of this great political Egyptian tree, [Ezekiel 31:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/6). Verse [Ezekiel 31:8](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/8). ***The cedars in the garden of God*** — Egypt was one of the most eminent and affluent of all the neighbouring nations. Verse [Ezekiel 31:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/11). ***The mighty one of the heathen*** — Nebuchadnezzar. It is worthy of notice, that Nebuchadnezzar, in the *first* year of his reign, rendered himself master of *Nineveh*, the capital of the *Assyrian* empire. See *Sedar Olam*. This happened about *twenty* years before Ezekiel delivered this prophecy; on this account, *Ashshur*, [Ezekiel 31:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/3), may relate to the *Assyrians*, to whom it is possible the prophet here compares the Egyptians. But see on [Ezekiel 31:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/3). Verse [Ezekiel 31:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/13). ***Upon his ruin shall all the fowls*** — The fall of Egypt is likened to the fall of a great tree; and as the fowls and beasts sheltered under its branches before, [Ezekiel 31:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/6), so they now feed upon its ruins. Verse [Ezekiel 31:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/14). ***To the end that none of all the trees*** — Let this ruin, fallen upon Egypt, teach all the nations that shall hear of it to be *humble*, because, however *elevated*, God can soon bring them down; and *pride* and *arrogance*, either in *states* or *individuals,* have the peculiar abhorrence of God. Pride does not suit the sons of men; it made devils of *angels*, and makes fiends of *men*. Verse [Ezekiel 31:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/15). ***I caused Lebanon to mourn for him*** — All the confederates of Pharaoh are represented as deploring his fall, [Ezekiel 31:16-17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/16-17). Verse [Ezekiel 31:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/17). ***They also went down into hell with him*** — Into *remediless destruction*. Verse [Ezekiel 31:18](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/18). ***This*****is*****Pharaoh*** — All that I have spoken in this allegory of the *lofty cedar* refers to *Pharaoh*, king of Egypt, his princes, confederates, and people. *Calmet* understands the whole chapter of the *king of Assyria*, under which he allows that *Egypt* is adumbrated; and hence on this verse he quotes, - Mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur. What is said of Assyria belongs to thee, O Egypt. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/31#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary - Ezekiel 31"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/31#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/31","name":"Clarke's Commentary - Ezekiel 31","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/31#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Verse Ezekiel 31:1. 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