Ezekiel 31

Ezekiel 31:1

IN the eleventh yeer] Of Zedekiahs reign, or Jeconiahs captivitie, Chap 1. 2.

Ezekiel 31:2

like in thy greatnesse] Meaning that he was not like in strength to the King of the Assyrians, whom the Babylonians overcame. See Isaiah 23:13.

Ezekiel 31:3

cedar in Lebanon] See Chap. 17. 3. 22. 23. Daniel 4:10.

with fair branches] Heb. fair of branches.

Ezekiel 31:4

waters] He was grown great through abundance of all prosperitie.

made him great] Or, nourished.

set him up] Or, brought him up.

with her rivers] The great sea of his happinesse did seeme to runne round, as it doth at the coming in of great rivers, at the the foot of this tree: and he out of his grace, and plenty, seemed to send forth some some small streames out of it to other Kingdomes; alluding to the waters of Nilus, Chap. 29. 3.

little rivers] Or, conduits.

Ezekiel 31:5

when he shot forth] Or, when it sent them forth.

Ezekiel 31:6

fowls of heaven] Daniel 4:12. The greatest part of mankind tired under his dominion and protection.

Ezekiel 31:8

garden of God could] Gen. 2. Signifying that there was no greater power in the world then his was.

Ezekiel 31:10

thou hast lifted up thy self] Namely, thou Assyrian Empire.

Ezekiel 31:11

mightie one of the heathen] That is, of Nebuchadnezzar, who subdued Assyria, overthrew the Empire of it, and after was the Monarch and onely ruler of the world.

he shall surely deal with him] Heb. in doing he shall do unto him.

Ezekiel 31:12

strangers] Hereby is signified the destruction of the power of the Assyrians by the Babylonians.

the terrible of the nations] Chap. 28. 7. & 30. 11.

Ezekiel 31:13

shall] Or, did.

fowls of the heaven] The nations which were subject to the Assyrians, after the overthrow of the Empire, did prey upon them with contempt.

Ezekiel 31:14

To the end that] I have set forth this spectacle of my judgements upon Ashur, for to teach all Princes that are grown great through my blessings, not to raise themselves against me through pride: for they are all mortall by nature, and I can bring down their estates, as I have raised them.

stand up in their height] Or, stand upon themselves for their height.

for they are all delivered] Psalms 82:7.

Ezekiel 31:15

I caused a mourning] By this fall of Assyria, I raised a generall horrour, and terrour in them all: seeing him on a sudden deprived of my help and blessing, by the means of which he had prospered so well.

to mourn for him] Heb. to be black.

Ezekiel 31:16

shall be] Or, were.

comforted in the nether parts of the earth] To cause this destruction of the King of Assyria to seeme more horrible, he setteth forth other Kings and Princes, which are dead, as though they rejoyced at the fall of such a Tyrant: A figurative and poeticall representation: as Isaiah 14:8-10. Ezekiel 32:31. Hebrews 2:17.

Ezekiel 31:17

his arm that dwelt under his shadow] That is, all his power and dominion.

Ezekiel 31:18

To whom art thou] He applieth the foresaid things by comparison to Pharaoh, as if he should say, Compare thy self to whom thou wilt, thou canst not avoid ruine.

uncircumcised] Chap. 28. 10.

this is Pharaoh] All this allegoricall speech hath relation t Pharaoh.