Ezekiel 29:14, commentary and pictures

God would permit Egypt, after being broken and scattered by Nebuchadnezzar, to return to Pathros its native homeland without regaining its former power or standing among the nations. To remain a base kingdom means to be made lowly, weak and degraded, the lowest of the kingdoms, never again to lift itself above the nations or to rule over them. This was foretold when Egypt was still a flourishing nation contending with Babylon for supremacy in world empire, long before the prosperous reign of the Ptolemies. Though once among the wisest nations and the greatest empire on earth, flourishing in advanced arts, Egypt was brought low to the dust, its renowned city Thebes left in ruins, and for centuries its abject and enfeebled condition has stood evident before the world. Its humbled continuance witnesses to God's omniscience and the truthfulness of His declared word, giving confidence that what God says comes to pass.

Meaning and Historical Setting

Ezekiel 29 belongs to the prophecies of judgment against Egypt concerning Pharaoh and his host and his army. It stands with the remarkable prophecies against Ammon, Moab, and Tyre, whose fulfillment is evident. It was spoken through the prophet six hundred years before Christ when Egypt was struggling with Babylon for supremacy in world empire. At that time Egypt was still a flourishing nation, long before the prosperous reign of the Ptolemies.

After Nebuchadnezzar scattered its people, the captives would be brought again and caused to return into the land of Pathros, into their homeland and land of their habitation and native land. That return from captivity and restoration to their homeland would not restore Egypt's former power or standing among the nations. Though Egypt had been among the wisest nations and flourishing in advanced arts, it would remain diminished and not rise again to its former greatness.

To be a base kingdom means to be made lowly, weak, diminished and degraded. It means to become the lowest of the kingdoms, the basest of kingdoms. It means never again to lift itself above the nations, never again to rise above or among the nations, nor to rule over the nations.

Egypt's power was first broken by Nebuchadnezzar, to whom God gave the spoils of Egypt for his army's service against Tyre. Its fall from wisdom and greatness is explained by subjection to strangers and the damage they caused. From that breaking strangers ruled in Egypt, and for many years no native Egyptian served among its rulers.

Fulfillment Proves God's Word

The prediction was literally fulfilled, and for centuries its fulfillment has stood evident before the world today. After scattering, the captives would return to Pathros, their homeland and land of their habitation, but that restoration would not restore former power or standing among the nations, for Egypt would remain a base kingdom, no longer rising above other nations nor ruling over them. It stands with the remarkable prophecies against Ammon, Moab, and Tyre concerning the certain fate to come upon Pharaoh and his host.

Though Egypt had once been among the wisest nations, one of the greatest kingdoms and even the greatest empire on earth, it became abject and enfeebled, brought low to the dust. Its former greatness and flourishing in advanced arts did not prevent its decline through subjection to strangers and the damage they caused. Its renowned city Thebes lay in ruins, and Egypt survived its punishment as a base, dwindling kingdom, still standing and rich in historic lore but of no power among the nations of earth.

Its humbled continuance with particular detail witnesses to the truthfulness of declared word written again in history, as evidence that what God says comes to pass. The omniscience shown lies in predicting with particularity that Egypt would become a low and degraded kingdom, the lowest of the kingdoms, never again rising above the nations. That word was spoken when Egypt was still a flourishing nation, long before the prosperous reign of the Ptolemies, and for centuries it has stood fulfilled before the world in the abject condition of Egypt, carrying conviction and confidence. In its abased, low condition Egypt also stands as a symbol of black infidelity, never again to rise among the nations. England's taking complete control of Egypt, ending Turkey's claimed sovereignty there, was cited as a fulfillment of the Egypt prophecy of Ezekiel 29:1-21.