Ezekiel 32:17
It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The twelfth year of Jehoiachin's exile (597 BC) brings us to April 586 BC, during Jerusalem's final siege (begun January 588 BC, ending July-August 586 BC with the city's destruction). Ezekiel received this oracle while his countrymen were suffering Babylon's assault. The exiles in Babylon may have heard news of Jerusalem's desperate situation, sparking questions about God's justice and power.
God's response was to reveal Egypt's coming judgment—the nation Judah had foolishly trusted for military aid (Jeremiah 37:5-7). This oracle served multiple purposes:
- explaining why Egyptian help failed—God had decreed Egypt's own judgment
- demonstrating God's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel,
- warning against trusting human powers instead of divine promises.
The careful dating allowed later generations to verify the prophecy's fulfillment when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt circa 568-567 BC.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the precision of biblical prophecy's dating and fulfillment strengthen your confidence in Scripture's divine inspiration?
- When facing trials, how can you cultivate confidence in God's sovereign control over all nations and circumstances, not just your immediate situation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, This chronological marker dates the prophecy to April 586 BC (calculating from Ezekiel's exile in 597 BC), just months before Jerusalem's final destruction in July-August 586 BC. The precision of dating—twelfth year, fifteenth day of the month—authenticates the prophecy and allows historical verification. Biblical prophets carefully recorded when God's word came, distinguishing true revelation from human speculation.
The phrase the word of the LORD came unto me (hayah debar-YHWH elai) is Ezekiel's standard formula for divine revelation (occurring 50+ times in the book). This isn't Ezekiel's opinion or political analysis but authoritative communication from Yahweh. The prophet serves as mouthpiece, not originator. This distinction is crucial: true prophets speak God's word, not their own ideas, even when the message is unpopular or personally costly.
The timing is significant: while Jerusalem was under final siege, God directed Ezekiel to prophesy Egypt's fall. This encouraged the exiles: Babylon wasn't just attacking Judah randomly but executing divine judgment universally. The same power crushing Jerusalem would crush Egypt. God's sovereignty over both Israel and the nations demonstrated His unique deity. No nation escapes His authority; all history unfolds according to His decree.