Ezekiel 30:14
And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.
Original Language Analysis
וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי֙
desolate
H8074
וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי֙
desolate
Strong's:
H8074
Word #:
1 of 9
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְנָתַ֥תִּי
and will set
H5414
וְנָתַ֥תִּי
and will set
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
4 of 9
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וְעָשִׂ֥יתִי
and will execute
H6213
וְעָשִׂ֥יתִי
and will execute
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
7 of 9
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Cross References
Jeremiah 46:25The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:Ezekiel 29:14And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.Psalms 78:43How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:Psalms 78:12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.Isaiah 19:11Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?Nahum 3:8Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?Numbers 13:22And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
Historical Context
Archaeological and historical records confirm widespread destruction in Egypt during Babylon's invasion. Thebes, though previously sacked by Assyria (663 BC), suffered further in this period and never regained preeminence. Zoan (biblical Rameses) declined. The comprehensive geographical scope of Ezekiel's oracle—from southern Pathros to northern Zoan—matched the comprehensive nature of Babylon's campaign.
Questions for Reflection
- What does judgment spanning all Egyptian regions teach about the thoroughness of God's decrees?
- How does Thebes' fate demonstrate God's superiority over Egypt's chief gods?
- Why does God name specific cities rather than just saying 'Egypt' generally?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No—Three Egyptian regions: פַּתְרוֹס (Patrôs, Upper Egypt/southern region), צֹעַן (Ṣōʿan, Zoan/Tanis in the Delta), and נֹא (Nōʾ, No/Thebes, the great southern capital). God's judgment spans all Egypt, north to south.
נָתַתִּי אֵשׁ (nātattî ʾēsh, 'set fire') indicates complete destruction. Thebes (No-Amon) was Egypt's religious heart, home to the Karnak temple complex. Its destruction demonstrated YHWH's superiority over Amun-Ra, Egypt's chief deity. Nahum 3:8-10 describes Thebes' earlier fall to Assyria (663 BC) as a warning to Nineveh; here, its destruction by Babylon continues Egypt's humiliation. No Egyptian region would escape God's judgment.