What happensPermalink
Ezekiel announces the approaching day of the Lord against Egypt and its allies. God names Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument, gives Egypt to Babylon, and declares that He will dry up the Nile. He announces judgment against the country’s cities, rulers, and idols. A separately dated message describes Pharaoh’s broken arm: God will break both his arms and scatter the Egyptians, while strengthening Nebuchadnezzar and placing His sword in Babylon’s hand.
Why it mattersPermalink
Egypt’s downfall reaches its wealth, allies, cities, rulers, gods, and life-giving river. The repeated place names show judgment spreading throughout the country. God interprets the struggle between Egypt and Babylon as His own action: He weakens Pharaoh and strengthens Nebuchadnezzar. The repeated goal links Egypt’s fate to the rest of Ezekiel: the nations will know that He is the Lord.
Key versePermalink
I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.