What does Ezechiel Chapter 30 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

A near day threatens Egypt and supporters. Named cities and edition explanation remain distinct. Broken and strengthened arms contrast kings.

Chapter breakdown

Ezechiel 30 announces a near, cloudy day of the Lord as the nations' time. Sword strikes Egypt, Ethiopia fears, the wounded fall and population and foundations are removed. Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, Chub, the remaining crowd and children of the covenant land fall alongside Egypt's supporters. Empire pride declines from Syene's tower; wasted lands and cities, fire and destroyed helpers bring recognition. Messengers in ships carry dread to confident Ethiopia. The source does not label all these groups African mercenaries or specify a north-to-south fortress range.

Nabuchodonosor and his people, strongest of nations, destroy the land with sword and slain. River channels dry and wicked strangers receive the land, without a stated sale. Memphis's idols cease and no Egyptian prince remains. Phatures is destroyed, Taphnis burns and Alexandria receives judgment. The edition separately identifies Hebrew No with a city afterwards rebuilt and renamed by Alexander; Thebes must not silently replace this admitted name and gloss. Pelusium's pain resembles labor, Alexandria is wasted and Memphis has daily distress. Young men of Heliopolis and Bubastus fall and captivity follows. Taphnis darkens with broken sceptres, fallen pride, cloud and captive daughters.

A further word dates to year eleven, month one, day seven. Pharao's broken arm has not been bound with cloth and linen to recover strength for a sword. His strong arm, described here as already broken, will be broken in pieces and drop the sword. The Lord strengthens Babylon's arms, puts his sword in its king's hand and breaks Pharao's arms amid bitter groaning and Egypt's scattering. A newly injured second healthy arm, medical splints and a broadsword are not added; the oracle does not state that the near day has already arrived.

The story inside

Opening: A near day threatens Egypt and supporters. Development: Named cities and edition explanation remain distinct. Conclusion: Broken and strengthened arms contrast kings.

Lessons worth keeping

1
A near day threatens Egypt and supporters.
2
Named cities and edition explanation remain distinct.
3
Broken and strengthened arms contrast kings.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 94520–94527
30:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 30:2. Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, Woe, woe to the day: 30:3. For the day is near, yea the day of the Lord is near: a cloudy day, it shall be the time of the nations.
Lines 94562–94572
all that is therein by the hands of strangers, I the Lord have spoken it. 30:13. Thus saith the Lord God: I will also destroy the idols, and I will make an end of the idols of Memphis: and there shall: be no more a prince of the land of Egypt and I will cause a terror in the land of Egypt. 30:14. And I will destroy the land of Phatures, and will make a fire in Taphnis, and will execute judgments in Alexandria.
Lines 94595–94608
30:20. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 30:21. Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharao king of Egypt: and behold it is not bound up, to be healed, to be tied up with clothes, and swathed with linen, that it might recover strength, and hold the sword. 30:22. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against Pharao king of Egypt, and I will break into pieces his strong arm, which is already broken: and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand: