Verse 1
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Verse 2
Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1.
the Lord GOD. Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 2:4.
worth. This is the past tense (weorth) of Anglo-Saxon weorthan, to become. It means Woe he to the day! Hebrew = Alas for the day!
Verse 3
the day of the LORD. See notes on Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 13:6; and Revelation 1:10.
the time of, &c.: i.e. the season in which their power shall be judged and broken.
heathen = nations.
Verse 4
Ethiopia. Hebrew Cush, allied with Egypt. Compare Ezekiel 30:9; and Jeremiah 46:9. Also resorted to for help by Israel.
Verse 5
Libya . Lydia. Hebrew Phut . . . Led. Compare Ezekiel 27:10. Genesis 10:6. These were an African people. Compare Jeremiah 46:9. Nahum 3:9.
mingled people = mixed multitude: i.e. the allies of Babylon. Compare Jeremiah 25:20.
Chub. Perhaps Caba, in Mauretania, or Cobe, in Ethiopia.
men = sons.
Verse 6
the tower, &c. See note on Ezekiel 29:10.
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah"s oracle.
Verse 9
from Me = frorn before Me.
in ships. Going up the Nile. The Septuagint reads "hastening" or "running"; but note that Ethiopia sent messengers in ships to promise help to Judah, but Jehovah sent His messengers in ships to prophesy her judgment.
as in the day. Many codices (including the Hillel Codex, A.D. 600, quoted in the Masserah), with three early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "in the day". Other codices. with seven early printed editions and Aramaean, read "as (or like, or about the time of) the day".
lo. Figure of speech Asterismos App-6.
Verse 10
Nebuchadreszar. See notes on Ezekiel 26:7, and Ezekiel 29:18.
Verse 12
wicked. Hebrew. ra"a. App-44.
Verse 13
idols = manufactured gods.
images = things of nought.
Noph = Memphis. Now Abu Sir.
Verse 14
Pathros. Upper, or Southern Egypt.
Zoan = Tanis: now San; an ancient Egyptian city in Lower Egypt (Numbers 13:22. Psalms 78:12). See note on Isaiah 30:4.
No. No Ammon. Now Thebes (Nahum 3:8). Compare Jeremiah 46:25.
Verse 15
Sin = Pelasium, in the Egyptian delta. See Ezekiel 29:10. the multitude of No. Heb Hamon = No. Compare Ezekiel 30:14.
Verse 17
Aven = On, or Heliopolis (Beth = shemesh, city or house of the Sun), north of Memphis.
Pi-beseth. In some codices written as one word; in others as two words: Pi being "the" in Coptic, and Pasht = the Egyptian goddess Artemis. Now Tel Basta, in the Delta, north of Memphis.
Verse 18
Tehaphnehes. See note on Jeremiah 43:7. Greek name Daphne. Now Tel Defenneh. See App-87.
the yokes of Egypt. The yokes imposed by Egypt on other peoples. Genitive of Origin. See App-17.; and Compare Ezekiel 34:27.
Verse 20
the eleventh year. About four months before the fall of Jerusalem. See table on p. 1106.
Verse 21
a roller = a bandage.
Verse 22
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
Verse 25
they shall know, &c. See note on Ezekiel 6:10.