Ezekiel 26:10
By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.
Original Language Analysis
יְכַסֵּ֣ךְ
shall cover
H3680
יְכַסֵּ֣ךְ
shall cover
Strong's:
H3680
Word #:
3 of 15
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
פָּרַ֨שׁ
of the horsemen
H6571
פָּרַ֨שׁ
of the horsemen
Strong's:
H6571
Word #:
6 of 15
a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e., (collectively) cavalry
וְגַלְגַּ֜ל
and of the wheels
H1534
וְגַלְגַּ֜ל
and of the wheels
Strong's:
H1534
Word #:
7 of 15
a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled)
וָרֶ֗כֶב
and of the chariots
H7393
וָרֶ֗כֶב
and of the chariots
Strong's:
H7393
Word #:
8 of 15
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
תִּרְעַ֙שְׁנָה֙
shall shake
H7493
תִּרְעַ֙שְׁנָה֙
shall shake
Strong's:
H7493
Word #:
9 of 15
to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifically, to spring (as a locust)
בְּבֹאוֹ֙
when he shall enter
H935
בְּבֹאוֹ֙
when he shall enter
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
11 of 15
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כִּמְבוֹאֵ֖י
as men enter
H3996
כִּמְבוֹאֵ֖י
as men enter
Strong's:
H3996
Word #:
13 of 15
an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with preposition) towards
Cross References
Jeremiah 47:3At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;Ezekiel 27:28The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.Ezekiel 26:15Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar's army was among history's largest to that point, with extensive cavalry and chariot forces. The sight and sound of such forces would indeed be overwhelming. Though Tyre's island portion escaped by sea, the mainland city experienced exactly this assault, with walls breached and Babylonian forces entering in triumph.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does prophecy use sensory details rather than abstract concepts?
- How should vivid descriptions of judgment affect our response?
- What does the overwhelming nature of judgment teach about resisting God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee describes the massive Babylonian cavalry creating dust clouds. Thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots predicts the trembling ground from thousands of horses and chariots. When he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach describes the final assault through breached walls. The sensory details (dust, noise, shaking, breach) make judgment visceral and real. Ezekiel wants the exiles and Tyre to feel the coming devastation. Prophecy isn't abstract but concrete and terrifying.