BIG IDEA:
ULTIMATE SUCCESS OR FAILURE COMES FROM THE ARM OF THE LORD —
BREAKING THE ARMS OF PHARAOH AND STRENGTHENING THE ARMS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR
INTRODUCTION:
The world powers of Egypt (under the leadership of Pharaoh) and Babylon (under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar) engage in some serious arm wrestling. But their military struggle does not ultimately depend on their own strength. It is the sovereign Lord who dictates the outcome by fracturing the arm of Pharaoh and strengthening the arm of Nebuchadnezzar.
Douglas Stuart: As a result, Egypt was helpless before the Babylonians, who were soon enough to conquer Egypt, just as they had conquered Palestine, and drive the Egyptians as refugees to other lands as well as taking some of them captive (v. 23). Babylon’s power (“arms”) would increase, but Egypt’s would decrease (vv. 24–25). Egyptians would end up on the run or in captivity (v. 26). Again, the result would serve the Lord’s end in displaying His sovereign power to the once-proud nation of Egypt (v. 26),
Iain Duguid: In the background of this struggle between two world powers, however, there is another actor. The “arm” that acts most frequently in the Old Testament is the arm of the Lord, notably in the Exodus, when he brought his people out of Egypt “by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deut. 4:34). This formula is a constant refrain throughout the Old Testament; in this passage the arm of the Lord is not directly referred to, but the Lord’s action is everywhere evident. He is the one who will break Pharaoh’s arms and strengthen Nebuchadnezzar’s (Ezek. 30:22, 25). It is the Lord’s sword that Nebuchadnezzar will draw against Egypt (30:25). It is the Lord who will scatter the Egyptians among the nations (30:26). The clash of the superpowers is under his control.
Lamar Cooper: This message bears sober testimony in graphic detail to the events associated with the fall of Egypt. Ezekiel said that Pharaoh’s arms would be broken (vv. 21–22, 24) and that his arms would fall limp (v. 25). This passage presents Pharaoh as helpless and unable to hold a weapon and therefore unable to defend against invading armies (v. 21). Additional references to the defeat of Egypt may be found in Isaiah (30:1–14), Jeremiah (37:5ff.; 46:1–26), and the writer of Kings (2 Kgs 24:7). The repetition of the ideas in the last four verses was for emphasis (Ezek 30:23–25). Egypt’s devastation and its loss of standing in the family of nations is a constant testimony to the truth of God’s word (30:1–19). The great civilization would exist only in ruins and in historical records (30:20–26).
I. (:20-21) PAST INTERVENTION BY THE LORD TO BREAK THE ARM OF PHARAOH –
LEARN THE LESSONS OF HISTORY
A. (:20) Introduction to the Prophecy
1. Dating of the Prophecy
“And it came about in the eleventh year, in the first month,
on the seventh of the month,”
Iain Duguid: The date formula in 30:20 places it shortly before the fall of Jerusalem; the oracle itself rules out the possibility of any relief coming from the Egyptian direction, since the Lord has “broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (30:21). The historical background of this oracle lies in an apparent attempt by Pharaoh Hophra to intervene in the crisis of his day (Jer. 37:5); however, though this led to a withdrawal of Nebuchadnezzar’s army in the short term, the hopes raised in the Judean capital were soon to be dashed. After dealing with the Egyptians, Nebuchadnezzar returned to finish what he had started in Jerusalem (Jer. 39:1).
Constable: Ezekiel received this oracle against Egypt on April, 29, 587 B.C., less than four months after the Lord gave him the first oracle (29:1-16).
2. Authoritative Word of the Lord
“that the word of the LORD came to me saying,”
B. (:21) Defeat of Egypt without Possibility of Recovery
1. Image of Breaking the Arm
“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt;”
Charles Dyer: Ezekiel’s point was to contrast the recent defeat suffered by Egypt (her one “broken arm”) with the still greater defeat she would suffer. She had been disarmed when she tried to intervene in Babylon’s attack on Jerusalem, but she would later be destroyed by Babylon.
2. Impossibility of Healing
“and, behold, it has not been bound up for healing
or wrapped with a bandage,”
3. Incapable of Future Warfare
“that it may be strong to hold the sword.”
Iain Duguid: The defeat of Egypt is described in terms of a breaking of Pharaoh’s arm (Ezek. 30:21). The “arm” in the Old Testament is the part of the body through which a person acts. It is therefore a symbol of strength: A strong arm enables effective action, while a broken arm renders a person helpless (cf. Job 22:9; Ps. 10:15). The fundamental contrast in this oracle is between the broken arms of Pharaoh and the arms of Nebuchadnezzar that have been strengthened by the Lord (Ezek. 30:25). This bout is clearly not an equal contest. Ezekiel even anticipates potential objections that though Pharaoh’s arm has been broken, it may be healed (30:21), or that though one arm has been broken Pharaoh still has another arm with which to fight (30:22). Even the faintest source of hope must be removed; the broken arm will not receive the medical treatment necessary for it to be healed. On the contrary, it will be broken again, along with the sound arm that remains (30:22). Egypt’s power will be comprehensively destroyed, a prediction ultimately fulfilled in the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses in 525 b.c.
II. (:22-25a) FUTURE INTERVENTION BY THE LORD TO OPPOSE PHARAOH AND STRENGTHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR –
MAKE SURE THE LORD IS ON YOUR SIDE
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God,”
Leslie Allen: the pronouncement of judgment may be understood in terms of three sections: a fourfold statement of Pharaoh’s overwhelming defeat (vv 22aγ–23), a fourfold statement of victory and defeat (v 24) and a double statement of victory and defeat (v 25a).
A. (:22b-23) Total Defeat of Egypt Leading to Dispersion
1. (:22b) Divine Opposition
“Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt”
Daniel Block: Yahweh’s fundamental disposition is expressed in the challenge formula, “I am against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt!” (hinĕnî ʾel-parʿōh melek-miṣrayim). This opposition will be demonstrated by Yahweh’s breaking both of Pharaoh’s arms. The imagery suggests that Pharaoh has transferred the sword to his left hand. Indeed, some see here an allusion to Egypt’s two-pronged attack on Nebuchadnezzar’s forces. The broken arm represents Hophra’s land force, which has already been defeated, and the sound arm his navy, which is still actively engaged in the defense of Tyre. It seems Egyptian naval aid had made it possible for Tyre to withstand Nebuchadnezzar’s siege for thirteen years. But when this arm is destroyed chaos will fill the land of Egypt and its population will be dispersed throughout the world (cf. 29:12).
2. (:22c) Dual Breaking of Both Arms
“and will break his arms, both the strong and the broken;”
MacArthur: Both the defeat of Pharaoh Hophra (cf. Jer 37:5ff) and the earlier defeat of Pharaoh Neco at Carchemish (cf. 2KI 24:7; Jer 46:2) are in view.
3. (:22d) Disarming
“and I will make the sword fall from his hand.”
4. (:23) Dispersing
“And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations
and disperse them among the lands.”
B. (:24-25a) Success and Failure Governed by the Lord
1. (:24) Contrast between Success and Failure Detailed
a. Success via Divine Strengthening of Nebuchadnezzar
“For I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon
and put My sword in his hand;”
b. Failure via Divine Fracturing of Pharaoh
“and I will break the arms of Pharaoh,
so that he will groan before him
with the groanings of a wounded man.”
Peter Pett: The success and failure of each side is in the hands of Yahweh. The one whom He strengthens will succeed, the one whom He prevents will fail. Thus because He would make the arms of the king of Babylon strong, and it was His sword that he would bear, the king of Babylon would succeed. And because he would ‘break the arms’ of Pharaoh, Pharaoh would be defeated and groan like a mortally wounded man.
Daniel Block: The effects of Yahweh’s action against the pharaoh go beyond neutralizing his power. The prediction that he will groan [lit. ‘groan groanings’] before him like one slain implies that Pharaoh himself will be killed.
2. (:25a) Contrast between Success and Failure Summarized
a. Success via Divine Strengthening of Nebuchadnezzar
“Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon,”
b. Failure via Divine Fracturing of Pharaoh
“but the arms of Pharaoh will fall.”
III. (:25b-26) PURPOSE OF THE LORD’S INTERVENTION –
EMBRACE THE LORD’S SOVEREIGNTY BEFORE BEING FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM VIA JUDGMENT
A. (:25b) Recognition Refrain
“Then they will know that I am the LORD,”
B. (:25c) Accomplished by Strengthening Nebuchadnezzar
“when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon
and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.”
C. (:26a) Accomplished by Scattering the Egyptians
“When I scatter the Egyptians among the nations
and disperse them among the lands,”
D. (:26b) Recognition Refrain
“then they will know that I am the LORD.”