Ezekiel_31.asp

Atlanta Bible Students

The Book of Ezekiel

Chapter 31

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Begin Here May 20, 2025

[1] And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? [3] Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. [4] The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. [5] Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. [6] All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. [7] Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. [8] The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. [9] I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.

Verses 1-2 Expanded Bible Comments

And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
Question	Suggested Answer
When does this take place?	"In the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month."
What does this indicate to us?	That the LORD has a specific time-oriented plan.
What does this date mean to us?	?? Note: In chapter 30:20 we are told in year 11, month 1, day 7. – Here it is year 11, month 3, day 1.
To whom is this part of the prophecy addressed?	"The word of the LORD came unto me" – Ezekiel. In vs 2, "Son of man" – a clear reference to the 7^th messenger which clearly indicates that this message was delivered by Pastor Russell.
To what individual is this message aimed at?	"Pharaoh king of Egypt," i.e., Satan.
Who else is this message delivered to?	"To his multitude."
"Whom art thou like in thy greatness?" What is this telling us?	It tells us that what follows will be compared to "Pharaoh king of Egypt."

Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments

Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Question	Suggested Answer
In vs 2 "son of man" is told to "speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt." Why does this verse refer to "the Assyrian?" Why is this the only time "the Assyrian" is mentioned in this chapter?
What do we know about "A cedar in Lebanon?"
What does it mean that it has "fair branches?"
What is a "shroud?"
Why is this "a shadowing shroud?"
What is indicated by it being "of an high stature?"
"His top was among the thick boughs." What does that mean?

Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments

The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
Question	Suggested Answer
This verse mentions "The waters," "the deep," "her rivers," and "her little rivers." What, if any, is the difference between these?	The waters Strong's H4325 מַיִם mayim mah'-yim Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively juice; by euphemism urine, semen: - + piss, wasting, water (-ing, [-course, -flood, -spring]). Total KJV occurrences: 579 The deep Strong's H8415 תְּהֹם תְּהוֹם tehôm tehôm teh-home', teh-home' (Usually feminine) from H1949; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water supply): - deep (place), depth. Total KJV occurrences: 36 Her rivers Strong's H5104 נָהָר nâhâr naw-hawr' From H5102; a stream (including the sea; especially the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity: - flood, river. Total KJV occurrences: 119 Her little rivers Strong's H8585 תְּעָלָה te‛âlâh teh-aw-law' From H5927; a channel (into which water is raised for irrigation); also a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound): - conduit, cured, healing, little river, trench, watercourse. Total KJV occurrences: 11
"The waters made him great." Who is him? [Is it the Assyrian or is it Pharaoh?]
What is meant by "the waters made him great?"
How is it that "the deep set him on high?"
What is indicated by "her rivers running round about his plants?"

Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments

Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
Question	Suggested Answer

Verse 6 Expanded Bible Comments

All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
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Verse 7 Expanded Bible Comments

Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
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Verse 8 Expanded Bible Comments

The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Question	Suggested Answer

Verse 9 Expanded Bible Comments

I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
Question	Suggested Answer

[10] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; [11] I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. [12] And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. [13] Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: [14] To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
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Verse 11 Expanded Bible Comments

I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
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Verse 12 Expanded Bible Comments

And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
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Verse 13 Expanded Bible Comments

Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:
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Verse 14 Expanded Bible Comments

To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
Question	Suggested Answer

[15] Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. [16] I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to Sheol with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. [17] They also went down into Sheol with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

Verse 15 Expanded Bible Comments

Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
Question	Suggested Answer

What is indicated by the phrase "In the day when..?"	"In the day when he" -- Applied by Pastor Russell to both literal and especially to mystic Babylon. E372:1-2.

Verse 16 Expanded Bible Comments

I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to Sheol with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
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Verse 17 Expanded Bible Comments

They also went down into Sheol with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
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[18] To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

Verse 18 Expanded Bible Comments

To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
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Chapter 30 Chapter 32