In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of Hashem came to me, saying:
verse value 3802
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "ten" (עָשָׂ֖ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "word·Hashem" (דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "ordinal number" (הָעֲשִׂרִ֔ית), "in·two" (בִּשְׁנֵ֥ים). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "word·Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "saying" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "was" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·month', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: בַּשָּׁנָה֙ [in·the·year] (357) + הָעֲשִׂרִ֔ית [ordinal number] (985) + בָּעֲשִׂרִ֕י [in·the·tenth] (582) + בִּשְׁנֵ֥ים [in·two] (402) + עָשָׂ֖ר [ten] (570) + לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ [to·the·month] (342) + הָיָ֥ה [was] (20) + דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה [word·Hashem] (232) + אֵלַ֥י [to·me] (41) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 3802.
Radak
"In the tenth year, in the tenth month." The tenth [year] of the reign of Zedekiah. And he mentioned first the calamity [that befell] Tyre, because their calamity preceded the calamity of Egypt. However, the prophecy concerning Egypt came to him first in the tenth year, and afterwards, in the year of the destruction, in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the prophecy concerning Egypt came to him twice, and after the destruction as well, twice, in the twelfth year.
Metzudat David
"In the tenth year." This refers to the tenth year of the exile of Jehoiachin and the reign of Zedekiah.
On the tenth. "In the tenth month:"
Malbim
"In the tenth year" – the prophecy concerning Tyre was delivered in the eleventh year, which is after this prophecy. The reason that it was placed earlier is because the prophecy concerning Pharaoh was also delivered in the eleventh year, in the twelfth year, and in the twenty-seventh year; therefore, the prophecy concerning Tyre was placed first, and the prophecies concerning Egypt were attached one to the other. Furthermore, since Egypt was destroyed many times, and its final destruction occurred after Tyre (as it is stated in verse 18: "Nebuchadnezzar has made his army work hard... Behold, I am giving him the land of Egypt"), therefore, this prophecy was ordered after the prophecy concerning Tyre.
’Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt;
verse value 2253
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "put" (שִׂ֣ים, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·upon·Egypt" (וְעַל־מִצְרַ֖יִם, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·upon·Egypt" (וְעַל־מִצְרַ֖יִם). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·him" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "your·face" (root פנים, 150x in Ezekiel); "son·of·man" (root בין, 145x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם [son·of·man] (97) + שִׂ֣ים [put] (350) + פָּנֶ֔יךָ [your·face] (160) + עַל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה [upon·Pharaoh] (455) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + מִצְרָ֑יִם [Egypt] (380) + וְהִנָּבֵ֣א [and·prophesy] (64) + עָלָ֔יו [upon·him] (116) + וְעַל־מִצְרַ֖יִם [and·upon·Egypt] (486) + כֻּלָּֽהּ [her·them] (55) = 2253.
Radak
“Son of man, and upon Egypt shall come an end.” He said “an end” in the feminine language, meaning: upon the congregation of Egypt.
Malbim
Set your face upon Pharaoh, because Pharaoh made himself a god and exercised supreme dominion, and his downfall was the downfall of the nation as a whole; therefore, He commanded him to direct the vision of his prophecy specifically upon him, and through him, upon all of Egypt.
speak, and say: Thus says the Lord Hashem: Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh King of Egypt, The great dragon that lies In the midst of his rivers, That has said: My river is mine own, And I have made it for myself.
verse value 5695
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 86 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יֱהֹוִ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Egypt" (מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "the·crocodile" (הַתַּנִּים֙), "that·stretches·oneself·out" (הָרֹבֵ֖ץ), "his·rivers" (יְאֹרָ֑יו). The root אמר appears 3 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "that" (root אשר, 341x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root יאר ("his·rivers") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·rivers', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Rashi
The great crocodile. Since all the greatness of Egypt and all its abundance are due to the Nile rivers, therefore the prophet compares its king to a crocodile and its people to the fish of the Nile.
"My rivers." I do not need the upper ones, for I have my own river that suffices for all my needs.
"And I have made myself." In My strength and in My wisdom I have magnified My greatness and My dominion.
Radak
The great crocodile. With a mem in place of a nun, and similarly are "kemahem" and "kemahen," "muf" and "nuf." And because the good of Egypt is the Nile, for it waters them and they do not need rain, therefore they boast in it. Thus, Egypt is compared to the Nile, and Pharaoh the king to the great crocodile within it. And the crocodile is the great fish, as it is stated, "And God created the great sea monsters." And the people of Egypt are compared to the other fish, as it is stated, "The fish of your Nile," which lies within its Nile, and there is none to terrify it.
“My rivers.” He waters it, and my land is found to be satiated with abundance in most years, and I do not need rain, nor do I need to go to other countries for grain.
“And I have made myself.” I made and established for myself the river to water my land. Or its interpretation is: “I have made myself”—I made and established myself through my wisdom and understanding, until I became a great king, just as He made Moses and Aaron, whose interpretation is that He exalted them. And the Targum translated: “Behold, I have sent My anger upon Pharaoh, king of Egypt, for you resemble a great crocodile that swims in its rivers, saying, ‘The kingdom is mine,’ and I subdued it.”
Metzudat David
Behold, I am upon you. Behold, I will fight against you:
The great crocodile. Since all the praise of Egypt was based on the fact that the Nile watered its fields without rain from heaven, therefore He compared its king to a crocodile and its people to other fish.
"My river is mine." The river is mine to water my fields, and I have no need for the rain from heaven.
"And I have made myself." I have grown and exalted myself through My wisdom and by the work of My hands.
Metzudat Zion
The term *tannin*. It is spelled with a *nun*, like *tannin* (crocodile). Likewise, a certain species of fish that resembles a serpent in appearance is called by this name. And thus: “and the great *tanninim*” (Genesis 1:21).
Haroveitz. The matter of lying down to rest:
“His rivers.” The Nile of Egypt is called “the river” because many pools were drawn from it to irrigate the land; therefore, it says “his rivers” in the plural.
“You have made me.” This refers to greatness and exaltation, as it is stated: “Let Israel rejoice in His Maker” (Psalms 149:2).
Malbim
The Great Crocodile: The Egyptians believed that the Nile was sacred, and that the great crocodiles in it possessed divinity; and that there was one crocodile greater than all the rest, who ruled over them all, and who created himself and the Nile. They compared Pharaoh to him in his power, for he has, in the land, the very power that the crocodile has in the Nile; therefore they called him by the name “the Great Crocodile,” who lies within his Niles, for all the Niles and all that is in them belong to him. And he boasts that the Nile is his, for he created it, and likewise that he did with himself regarding the Nile, upon which depends the prosperity of the land of Egypt.
And I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales; and I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, and all the fish of your rivers shall stick to your scales.
verse value 7596
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 85 letters. Verse gematria: 7596 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "fish·of·your·rivers" (דְגַת־יְאֹרֶ֖יךָ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 1232: scales, scales. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "hooks" ((חחיים)), "and·I·will·make·cling" (וְהִדְבַּקְתִּ֥י), "fish·of·your·rivers" (דְגַת־יְאֹרֶ֖יךָ). The root דבק appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·I·will·give" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "from·midst·of" (root תוך, 111x in Ezekiel); "and·I·will·bring·you·up" (root עלה, 61x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root דגה ("fish·of·your·rivers") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'scales', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Rashi
Chachim. A kind of iron rings, "Aynish" in the vernacular:
"Your fish from your rivers, with your scales." "Intischaikratis" in the vernacular, meaning: I will place in the hearts of all your mighty men to go out with you to war, and they will all fall.
Radak
“And I will give hooks.” It is written with two yods and read with a single yod as *chachim*. If it were read as it is written, it would be pronounced *chachayim*, with the first yod having a hireq vowel and the second being silent, according to the rule of the yod of plurality, and its root would then be from the weak lamed. But now, in its reading, it is from the weak ayin, and it is said from *chach*, *chachim*, just as from *pach*, *pachim*. And since He compared it to a male crocodile by way of parable, *chachim* are those with which fish are caught, piercing the jaws of the fish and lifting them up. And likewise it says, “And with a hook you shall pierce his jaw.”
Dagat. A general term for all fish; "dagah" is like "and the dagah that is in the river shall die" (Exodus 7:18), and similarly [here] "dagat."
"And I will cleave them." This means that they will ascend with you when you ascend from the river. It is an allegory for the Egyptian people: their princes, their cavalry, their mighty warriors, and the common folk—all of them will come to an end.
Metzudat David
"And I will set hooks in your jaws." Since they likened him to a crocodile, which is a fish, Scripture employs the language of fishing, wherein hooks are placed in the jaws of fish to draw them up from the water.
"And I will cause to cling." I will cause the fish of the river to cling to your scales.
“And I will bring you up.” I will bring you up from within the river, together with all the fish of your rivers that will cling to your scales, for they will all be drawn after you. And the meaning is: when the leader falls, the entire people fall.
Metzudat Zion
Chachim. It is a fisherman’s tool, and through it one pierces the gills of the fish to lift it out of the water. And likewise, “And in the chach you will pierce his jaw” (Job 40:26):
“By your cheeks.” It is the part that is near the mouth:
"And I will cleave." This is a term denoting attachment and joining.
“Your scales” – these are those that cling to the fish upon its flesh, like a garment, such as fins and scales (Leviticus 11).
Malbim
And I will place hooks in his jaws: Egypt has been devastated many times. Pharaoh initially ruled as far as the Euphrates River, and Nebuchadnezzar struck him during the reign of Jehoiachin (as stated in II Kings 24), and likewise in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, he struck him at Carchemish (as stated in Jeremiah 46:2). Afterwards, he went out a third time when they were besieging Jerusalem, and he returned to his land (Jeremiah 37:7). All of this occurred outside his land. Regarding this, it is said in the parable that He will place hooks in his jaws, just as one drags a large fish with hooks against its will. For then he will be brought out of Egypt by force, according to the decree of the Lord, to punish him. The parable compares this to attaching the scales of all the fish of his Nile; namely, his officers and his mighty men. "I will lift him up from his Nile" means that they will be brought out from their land, for in their land they were secure, whereas outside their land they are likened to a fish when it is lifted from the water, being weak and feeble in strength. And likewise, "I will lift up the fish of your Nile, which will cling to your scales."
And I will cast you into the wilderness, You and all the fish of your rivers; You shall fall upon the open field; You shall not be brought together, nor gathered; To the beasts of the earth and to the fowls of the heaven Have I given you for food.
verse value 7151
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 84 letters. Notable word values: "for·food" (לְאׇכְלָֽה) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·I·will·leave·you" (וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "wilderness" (הַמִּדְבָּ֗רָה), "you·will·be·gathered" (תֵאָסֵ֖ף), "you·will·be·gathered" (תִקָּבֵ֑ץ). The root לא appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 213x in Ezekiel); "I·have·made·you" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "the·land" (root ארץ, 176x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root נטש ("and·I·will·leave·you") in Ezekiel. First appearance of the root עוף ("and·to·the·birds·of") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·will·be·gathered', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Rashi
"And I will forsake you in the wilderness" – this refers to the perishing of fish, for once they are cast upon the dry land, they die. "E estendrai toi" (and I will spread you out) in the vernacular [Old French].
Radak
“And I will forsake you in the wilderness.” The phrase in the wilderness is used by way of a parable: Just as fish cannot live in the wilderness, so too the Egyptians will die by the sword on the face of the field when they go out to war against the Chaldeans, and they will not be gathered for burial, but will become food for the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens. And the Targum of Jonathan translated: “And you will not be gathered, and you will not be buried,” meaning: “And you will not be gathered for burial.”
Metzudat David
"And I will forsake you." I will scatter you in the wilderness. The verse employs the language of fish perishing, for when fish come upon dry land, they perish. This implies that God will utterly destroy him and his people from the world.
“Upon the face of the field it shall fall.” [This means] during the time of war, and it shall not be gathered into the grave.
Metzudat Zion
"And I will forsake you." The meaning of "forsake" is akin to "and they cast them out" (Judges 15).
"Thou shalt gather." The matter of bringing in.
Malbim
“And I will cast you off into the wilderness” — there his army shall be scattered, and there he shall fall upon the face of the field, for he shall not fight in the city and in the fortress. “You shall not be gathered” — just as with fish, first they are collected together, and afterwards they are gathered into the house; so too it says, “You shall not be gathered into the house.” And more than this: even the initial collecting shall not take place, for the beasts of the field and the birds of the air shall devour them.
And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know That I am Hashem, Because they have been a staff of reed To the house of Israel.
verse value 3554
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֖י, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·inhabitants·of" (כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "all·inhabitants·of" (כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י), "their·being" (הֱיוֹתָ֛ם), "support" (מִשְׁעֶ֥נֶת). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "their·being" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "I" (root אני, 166x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ [and·they·shall·know] (96) + כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י [all·inhabitants·of] (372) + מִצְרַ֔יִם [Egypt] (380) + כִּ֖י [that] (30) + אֲנִ֣י [I] (61) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + יַ֧עַן [because] (130) + הֱיוֹתָ֛ם [their·being] (461) + מִשְׁעֶ֥נֶת [support] (860) + קָנֶ֖ה [reed] (155) + לְבֵ֥ית [to·the·house·of] (442) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 3554.
Rashi
“Staff of a reed.” How many times did they lean upon them in the days of Sennacherib and in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, and it did not benefit them, for this reed is soft and does not support the one who leans upon it.
Radak
And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know, because they were a reed staff for the House of Israel. For they promised Israel to save them from the hand of the Chaldeans, but they were unable to do so. And behold, they became for them a reed staff, for it is not strong and it is not a support except for a brief moment, for it is close to breaking; all the more so when it is crushed. And so Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it: “He leaned on a broken reed.” And similarly, with the omission of the adjective, “they shall be like wool” means “like white wool,” and “and there is in his flock a male” means “a perfect male.” So too, Egypt was not a support and help for Israel except for a little, as it says in the book of Jeremiah: “And the army of Pharaoh went out from Egypt, and the Chaldeans besieging Jerusalem heard of it, and they withdrew from Jerusalem.” And the prophet said to them: “Behold, the army of Pharaoh that went out to you for help has returned to its land, Egypt, and the Chaldeans will return and fight against this city and capture it and burn it with fire.” And behold, they did not support them, but rather harmed them, for because of their trust [in Egypt], they rebelled against the King of Heaven. And behold, this is the likeness of a reed staff. And this is [what is meant by] “and I have broken for them every arm.” And so too said Rabshakeh: “Behold, you have trusted on this broken reed staff, on Egypt, on which if a man leans on it, it enters into his hand and pierces it. Not only did they not support them, but they pierced his hand that was grasping them.”
Metzudat David
"For I am the Lord." The Faithful One who repays reward.
"Yaan." Because the House of Israel was like a leaning stick that is not strong enough to support the one who leans upon it, for it would easily break and shatter.
Metzudat Zion
Mesanah: The meaning is a support.
Kaneh. A hollow reed; and likewise, “kaneh and suf have withered” (Isaiah 19:6).
Malbim
And they shall know, and by this I shall gain that all the inhabitants of Egypt will recognize that I am the Lord, for they will know that there was a punishment from the Lord, who makes nations great, and destroys them. After all this, war came upon him in his land, when Nebuchadnezzar came to the border of Egypt and struck him in his land. And this happened several times. Here he explains the first war, and explains its cause, which was as a punishment because they were a reed staff for the House of Israel, for Israel relied on them to help them, and they did not help them; rather, they caused their destruction and downfall, for through their trust in them, they removed their hearts from the Lord and did not listen to the voice of Jeremiah in the name of the Lord.
When they take hold of you with the hand, you do break, And rend all their shoulders; And when they lean upon you, you break, And make all their loins to be at a stand.
verse value 5662
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "in·you" (בְּךָ֤, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·when·they·lean" (וּבְהִֽשָּׁעֲנָ֤ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 75: to·them, to·them. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "when·they·grasp" (בְּתׇפְשָׂ֨ם), "you·will·be·crushed" (תֵּר֔וֹץ), "and·you·will·valley" (וּבָקַעְתָּ֥). The root כף appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel); "to·them" (root הם, 166x in Ezekiel); "and·you·shall·place" (root עמד, 37x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all·shoulder', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 6 words. Full calculation: בְּתׇפְשָׂ֨ם [when·they·grasp] (822) + בְּךָ֤ [in·you] (22) + (בכפך) [palm] (122) + בַכַּף֙ [in·the·ladle] (102) + תֵּר֔וֹץ [you·will·be·crushed] (696) + וּבָקַעְתָּ֥ [and·you·will·valley] (578) + לָהֶ֖ם [to·them] (75) + כׇּל־כָּתֵ֑ף [all·shoulder] (550) + וּבְהִֽשָּׁעֲנָ֤ם [and·when·they·lean] (473) + עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ [upon·you] (130) + תִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר [shall·be·broken] (902) + וְהַעֲמַדְתָּ֥ [and·you·shall·place] (525) + לָהֶ֖ם [to·them] (75) + כׇּל־מׇתְנָֽיִם [all·loins] (590) = 5662.
Rashi
"When they seize you with their palms." The word "kaf" is read as if it were "makel," like a person walking and leaning on his staff.
Tirtz. Tirtzetz:
And You have broken every shoulder for them: Their shoulders are like those of a person who leans on a staff and it breaks, and the person falls upon it, and the splinters enter into his shoulders.
“And you shall set them up for them with all their loins.” Since they will be broken, they will need to strengthen their loins and stand upon them. And you are like a person whose fellow leans upon him, and he is weak, and he says to him: “Strengthen yourself on your loins, for you will no longer lean upon me.” And so does the Targum: “And you shall not be for them a back to lean upon.” And there are those who interchange [the reading] and [read] “And you shall set them up for them” as “And you shall cause them to slip,” and I do not see their words as correct. And Menachem associates it with the standing [pilgrimage] festivals, like me.
Radak
“[When they seize you,] in your hand you shall be crushed.” The word “you shall flee” is in the Nifal conjugation, its root being R-Tz-Tz, from [the phrase] “a broken reed.”
"And you shall set up for them all their loins." Some explain that "והעמדת" (ve-ha-amadta) is an acrostic reversal of the letters, reading it as "והמעדת" (ve-ha-ma'adat), meaning "and you shall cause to stumble," from the root meaning "and they shall not stumble at their ankles." However, the correct interpretation is according to its plain meaning: for when a person leans, he bends; and when the support upon which he leans breaks, he stands upright and ceases from bending. Likewise, Targum Jonathan translates: "And you shall not be for them as a leaning support," meaning that you shall establish them upon their own loins, so that they shall no longer lean upon you. Jonathan ben Uzziel explained the parable thus: "In their uprightness they will be delivered into the hand of the mighty king of Babylon, and the house of their bathing will be desecrated; but in their leaning upon you, they will be broken."
"בכפך" – The written form indicates that you should support them with your hand, and the reading is with a kaf, meaning "in their palms," like a person who grasps a reed in his palm to lean upon it.
Metzudat David
"when they seize you": At the time they grasp you with a broken hand, and the sharp fragments enter into the shoulder and split it.
"And you established them." For when a person leans on a support, he is slightly bent; therefore it says: "When it was broken, you caused all the loins to stand upright," as one stands without a support. And since it compared them to a support, it used the term associated with it. The meaning is: Behold, You promised them help against the enemy, but You did not help them; thus, Your promise to them became a detriment, for thereby the enemy increased in oppressing them.
Metzudat Zion
“when they seize it.” The meaning is “grasping”:
Tirtz. The word is derived from the root meaning "crushing" and "breaking."
Malbim
“בתפשם” (When they grasp them): They likened them to a broken reed. When a person grasps it in his hand to frighten his companion with it, as if he would strike him with it, it will splinter and split his shoulder. And when he leans upon it, it will break completely, and his loins will remain standing. For when a person walks on his feet, the force of gravity is between his legs, by means of his loins, which support the body. But if he leans on a staff, the force of gravity and the center of balance are in the middle, between the body and the support, and he does not stand on his loins, for the force of gravity is between his body and the support. And when the staff breaks, he will fall if he does not stand on his loins. So too in the metaphor: Initially, they sought to frighten their enemies through Pharaoh, just as when the king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem. They heard that the army of Pharaoh had gone out from Egypt and withdrew, and thereby their shoulder was split, for they were compelled to give their wealth as a bribe to the king of Egypt, as it is stated (Isaiah 30:6): “They carry their wealth on the shoulders of donkeys,” etc., “not for help,” etc., “for shame,” etc. Afterwards, they leaned upon him, and they were compelled to stand on their loins and fight on their own, while their feet had already been shaken and stumbled.
Therefore thus says the Lord Hashem: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast.
verse value 1809
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יֱהֹוִ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֤ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·I·will·cut·off" (וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 100: therefore, from·you. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "said" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "upon·you" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sword', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: לָכֵ֗ן [therefore] (100) + כֹּ֤ה [thus] (25) + אָמַר֙ [said] (241) + אֲדֹנָ֣י [my·lord] (65) + יֱהֹוִ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + הִנְנִ֛י [they] (115) + מֵבִ֥יא [bringing] (53) + עָלַ֖יִךְ [upon·you] (130) + חָ֑רֶב [sword] (210) + וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י [and·I·will·cut·off] (641) + מִמֵּ֖ךְ [from·you] (100) + אָדָ֥ם [man] (45) + וּבְהֵמָֽה [and·cattle] (58) = 1809.
Radak
Therefore. It is clear:
Malbim
Therefore, by this means Nebuchadnezzar came upon them in their land, and this was after the Destruction. And this is what is stated: “Behold, I bring a sword upon you.” And by this means the land of Egypt will become a desolation and waste. And they will know that I am the Lord: through this they will recognize My divinity all the more, in that I brought the destroyer upon their land. Now, the third general Destruction that will befall Egypt is explained; this occurred in the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, eight years after the [first] Destruction. For Egypt had already borne its punishment for not having aided the Children of Israel, but [the judgment came] for another reason, namely because it said, “The Nile is mine, and I made it.” For it still attributed all its power to the Nile and to itself, claiming that there was divine power within it. For even after the aforementioned plague, which had devastated part of its land, the kingdom of Egypt had not yet been abolished entirely.
And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste, and they shall know that I am Hashem; because he has said: The river is mine, and I have made it.
verse value 3425
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 57 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִ֖י, 2 letters) and the longest is "land·Egypt" (אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "land·Egypt" (אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙), "and·ruin" (וְחׇרְבָּ֔ה), "Nile" (יְאֹ֥ר). The root אני appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "said" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְהָיְתָ֤ה [and·it·shall·be] (426) + אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ [land·Egypt] (671) + לִשְׁמָמָ֣ה [for·a·desolation] (415) + וְחׇרְבָּ֔ה [and·ruin] (221) + וְיָדְע֖וּ [and·they·shall·know] (96) + כִּי־אֲנִ֣י [that·I] (91) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + יַ֧עַן [because] (130) + אָמַ֛ר [said] (241) + יְאֹ֥ר [Nile] (211) + לִ֖י [to·me] (40) + וַאֲנִ֥י [and·I] (67) + עָשִֽׂיתִי [I·did] (790) = 3425.
Radak
"And it shall be" (Vehayetah): "The Nile was for me, and I made it." As I have explained regarding "I made myself" (ani asitini), it applies according to the two interpretations. And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] also rendered it in his Targum as: "My kingdom, and I subdued it."
Metzudat David
"For I am the Lord." The Faithful One who repays reward:
“The river is mine. The river is for my needs, to irrigate my fields, and I have no need of the rain from heaven.”
"And I have done." I have grown and exalted myself through My wisdom and by the work of My hands.
Therefore, behold, I am against you, and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene even to the border of Ethiopia.
verse value 4418
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 66 letters. The shortest word is "therefore" (לָכֵ֛ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·against·your·rivers" (וְאֶל־יְאֹרֶ֑יךָ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 121: Syene, and·until·border·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·against·your·rivers" (וְאֶל־יְאֹרֶ֑יךָ), "for·desolations·of" (לְחׇרְבוֹת֙), "and·until·border·of" (וְעַד־גְּב֥וּל). The root חרב appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·I·will·give" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "against·you" (root אל, 204x in Ezekiel); "the·land" (root ארץ, 176x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root כוש ("Ethiopia") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·against·your·rivers', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 10 words. Full calculation: לָכֵ֛ן [therefore] (100) + הִנְנִ֥י [they] (115) + אֵלֶ֖יךָ [against·you] (61) + וְאֶל־יְאֹרֶ֑יךָ [and·against·your·rivers] (278) + וְנָתַתִּ֞י [and·I·will·give] (866) + אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ [the·land] (692) + מִצְרַ֗יִם [Egypt] (380) + לְחׇרְבוֹת֙ [for·desolations·of] (646) + חֹ֣רֶב [scorching·heat] (210) + שְׁמָמָ֔ה [devastation] (385) + מִמִּגְדֹּ֥ל [from·Migdol] (117) + סְוֵנֵ֖ה [Syene] (121) + וְעַד־גְּב֥וּל [and·until·border·of] (121) + כּֽוּשׁ [Ethiopia] (326) = 4418.
Radak
Therefore, "to desolate, O desolation, a waste." To which desolation shall I liken it? That it shall be desolate and a waste. And the Targum: "to desolate, O desolation, and make it a waste."
Metzudat David
"Behold, I am against you." "Behold, I will fight against you and against your rivers," meaning: I will destroy their waters, and your prosperity shall be removed.
“l’harvot” – that it be desolate; and in order to clarify further, it states that it shall be a ruin of desolation.
From Migdal-Senah. It is the beginning of the boundary of Egypt:
Metzudat Zion
Lecharavot. From the language of destruction:
Malbim
Therefore, I am against you; a decisive, comprehensive destruction came upon it in the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar. And he said regarding this: “O desolation, desolation, devastation,” indicating that it is a very great destruction, greater than what was stated above, “devastation and desolation.” And thus it will encompass the entire land, from Migdol and Syene to the border of Cush.
No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.
verse value 3406
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 45 letters. Verse gematria: 3406 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֤א, 2 letters) and the longest is "shall·pass·through·it" (תַֽעֲבׇר־בָּהּ֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 679: shall·pass·through·it, shall·pass·through·it. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "and·foot" (וְרֶ֥גֶל), "it·shall·be·inhabited" (תֵשֵׁ֖ב). The root לא appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 213x in Ezekiel); "it·shall·be·inhabited" (root ישב, 64x in Ezekiel); "forty" (root ארבע, 59x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'shall·pass·through·it', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: לֹ֤א [not] (31) + תַֽעֲבׇר־בָּהּ֙ [shall·pass·through·it] (679) + רֶ֣גֶל [foot] (233) + אָדָ֔ם [man] (45) + וְרֶ֥גֶל [and·foot] (239) + בְּהֵמָ֖ה [beast] (52) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + תַֽעֲבׇר־בָּ֑הּ [shall·pass·through·it] (679) + וְלֹ֥א [and·not] (37) + תֵשֵׁ֖ב [it·shall·be·inhabited] (702) + אַרְבָּעִ֥ים [forty] (323) + שָׁנָֽה [year] (355) = 3406.
Rashi
“And you shall not dwell forty years.” Forty-two years of famine were decreed in Pharaoh’s dream, corresponding to the three times that the dream was written: “seven cows” and “seven ears of grain, withered” (Genesis 41:20); “See and relate it to Joseph” — behold, that is two times; and Joseph said to him, “The seven lean and ill-favored cows” and “the seven thin ears” (ibid.) — behold, that makes forty-two years for the famine. Yet they had only two [years of famine], as it is stated: “For now two years of famine have been” (ibid. 45). And when Jacob descended to Egypt, the famine ceased, for in the third year they sowed, as it is stated: “Give us seed, and we will live” (ibid. 47). And the forty [years] were exacted from them now.
“[And you shall dwell] forty years.” “You shall sit” — “sera asegiee” (it shall sit [desolate]) in the vernacular [Old French].
Radak
"You shall not pass through it" — for forty years. There is a midrashic explanation as to why it was forty years: For forty-two years of famine were decreed upon Egypt in Pharaoh’s dream, corresponding to the three times the dream was written: seven lean cows and seven thin ears of grain. Pharaoh saw and recounted to Joseph the seven lean cows and the seven thin ears of grain—that is two instances of seven, making fourteen, which equals twenty-eight. And Joseph said, "The seven lean cows and the seven thin ears of grain"—that is another fourteen, and together with the twenty-eight, this makes forty-two. They had two years of famine, as it is written, "For now the famine has been two years." When our father Jacob descended to Egypt, the famine ceased. Thus, forty years remained, and it was now decreed upon them that they would be desolate for those forty years.
"And I will give." It is clear:
On "charvot" [ruins]. They are "mufchalot" [passive/Hof'al form], and because of the letter chet, the qamats vowel was changed to a chataf [reduced vowel] under the chet.
Metzudat David
"You shall not pass through it." From the large desolation:
And you shall not dwell. It shall not be inhabited by people:
Malbim
No, and thus shall it be a true desolation, until no human foot nor beast’s foot passes through it, for it shall be like a parched wilderness, until there shall be no pasture there even for flocks, and thus shall it last for a long time, for it shall not be inhabited for forty years.
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
verse value 10282
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 101 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·Egyptians" (אֶת־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 428: in·midst·of, in·midst·of. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "cities" (עָרִ֤ים), "laid·waste" (מׇֽחֳרָבוֹת֙), "and·I·will·scatter" (וַהֲפִצֹתִ֤י). The root ארץ appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "shall·be" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "and·I·will·give" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "the·land" (root ארץ, 176x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'year', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
“Within the lands.” This means that it is similar to the other desolate lands.
Metzudat Zion
Neshamot. Desolate:
From "charvot" (destroyed cities). From the word "churban" (desolation):
"And I will scatter them." Both "ve-hafitzoti" and "ve-zariti" denote the concept of scattering.
Malbim
And I will give, and besides this, there will be desolation also in the surroundings of Egypt, until it will be a desolation within desolate lands, such that even the lands surrounding it will be desolate. And sometimes the land will be desolate while the cities are not ruined, just as even in deserts one finds in the midst a place of habitation, like islands in the sea. This means that the cities too will be ruined, and they will be situated among the ruined cities of their neighbors, in such a way that it will be impossible for them to be rebuilt and settled by the surrounding neighbors. And he adds that nevertheless, the desolation of Egypt will increase more than the desolation of its neighbors, until within desolate lands it will be a desolation in their estimation, for its desolation will increase to the point that they will say that in comparison to it, they are not desolate, and among them it will be the desolate land. And this will last for forty years. And besides this, the refugees and remnants from there will not settle in one place in another country, but will be scattered among the nations.
For thus says the Lord Hashem: At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the peoples whither they were scattered;
verse value 3596
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 55 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יֱהֹוִ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֛י, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·Egyptians" (אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "from·end·of" (מִקֵּ֞ץ), "that·were·scattered" (אֲשֶׁר־נָפֹ֥צוּ). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "said" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "that·were·scattered" (root אשר, 341x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: כִּ֛י [for] (30) + כֹּ֥ה [thus] (25) + אָמַ֖ר [said] (241) + אֲדֹנָ֣י [my·lord] (65) + יֱהֹוִ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + מִקֵּ֞ץ [from·end·of] (230) + אַרְבָּעִ֤ים [forty] (323) + שָׁנָה֙ [year] (355) + אֲקַבֵּ֣ץ [I·will·gather] (193) + אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם [the·Egyptians] (781) + מִן־הָעַמִּ֖ים [from·the·peoples] (255) + אֲשֶׁר־נָפֹ֥צוּ [that·were·scattered] (727) + שָֽׁמָּה [name] (345) = 3596.
Radak
For thus said the Lord. It is clear:
Metzudat David
"At the end of..." etc. This means: From the end of forty years I will gather them, and not within that period.
Malbim
"At the end of forty years"—for Egypt was destroyed in the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, and since he reigned for forty-five years, there remained eighteen years of his reign. After him, Evil-Merodach reigned for twenty-two years, making a total of forty years. For in the first year of Belshazzar, the prophecy concerning Persia was spoken to Daniel, and from then on the exiles began to return in the days of the king of Persia, and they began to gather together.
and I will turn the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their origin; and they shall be there a lowly kingdom.
verse value 6422
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. Verse gematria: 6422 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·captivity" (אֶת־שְׁב֣וּת, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "Pathros" (פַּתְר֔וֹס), "their·origin" (מְכוּרָתָ֑ם). The root שוב appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "land" (root ארץ, 176x in Ezekiel); "there" (root שם, 67x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·origin', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְשַׁבְתִּי֙ [and·I·will·turn] (718) + אֶת־שְׁב֣וּת [the·captivity] (1109) + מִצְרַ֔יִם [Egypt] (380) + וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֤י [and·I·will·bring·back] (723) + אֹתָם֙ [them] (441) + אֶ֣רֶץ [land] (291) + פַּתְר֔וֹס [Pathros] (746) + עַל־אֶ֖רֶץ [into·the·land] (391) + מְכוּרָתָ֑ם [their·origin] (706) + וְהָ֥יוּ [and·they·shall·be] (27) + שָׁ֖ם [there] (340) + מַמְלָכָ֥ה [kingdom] (135) + שְׁפָלָֽה [low] (415) = 6422.
Rashi
"mekhoratam": "megoratam"—another reading: like "toldotam" (their generations), and so too his colleague Menachem.
Radak
“And I will return” – from the land of their origin. Just as it says, “from the land of their origin, the land in which they dwelt.”
Metzudat David
And I will return. I will bring back the exiles of Egypt, and I will bring them to the land of Pathros, to the land of their sojourn.
Metzudat Zion
And I will return. From the language of restoration:
Shavut. From the language of captivity:
Pathros. It is a land of Egypt:
“From their origin.” Just as it says “from their dwelling place” (Megoratam), and similarly “from your origins” (Makoroteikha) and “from your places of birth” (Moladoteikha) (above 16:
Malbim
“And I will return,” meaning that then He will call them “freedom” (deror) to return to their land, with the permission of the King of Persia. And they will return to the land of Patros, where they initially dwelt when they first became nations; but there they will be a lowly kingdom.
It shall be the lowliest of the kingdoms, neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations; and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
verse value 4621
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "again" (ע֖וֹד, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·the·kingdoms" (מִן־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת֙, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "from·the·kingdoms" (מִן־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת֙), "and·not·lift·itself·up" (וְלֹֽא־תִתְנַשֵּׂ֥א), "above·the·nations" (עַל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם). The root גוי appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "it·will·be" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "above·the·nations" (root גוי, 87x in Ezekiel); "and·not·lift·itself·up" (root נשא, 76x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'above·the·nations', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: מִן־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת֙ [from·the·kingdoms] (631) + תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה [it·will·be] (420) + שְׁפָלָ֔ה [low] (415) + וְלֹֽא־תִתְנַשֵּׂ֥א [and·not·lift·itself·up] (1188) + ע֖וֹד [again] (80) + עַל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם [above·the·nations] (164) + וְהִ֨מְעַטְתִּ֔ים [and·I·will·diminish·them] (580) + לְבִלְתִּ֖י [so·as·not] (472) + רְד֥וֹת [ruling] (610) + בַּגּוֹיִֽם [over·the·nations] (61) = 4621.
Rashi
“Lest they rule over the nations.” This is the language of dominion, as it is written: “And they shall rule over the fish of the sea” (Genesis 1:28).
Radak
From the kingdoms, and I will diminish them. The opposite of "Behold, I will make you fruitful" is "and I will multiply you."
Ridut. An infinitive from "You shall not rule over him with harshness" (Leviticus 25:43).
Metzudat David
From the kingdoms. From the other kingdoms, it shall be lowly and shall not exalt itself anymore over the nations to rule over them.
"And I will diminish them." [This means]: I will diminish her men, so that she will not rule over the nations with a strong hand, by the might of a multitude of warriors.
Metzudat Zion
Ridut. The matter of dominion, as it is stated: "and they shall rule over you" (Leviticus 26:17).
Malbim
“From the kingdoms” — do not think that it will be lowly only in comparison to its former status, such that its glory will not be restored as it was originally, and yet it will grow in stature like other kingdoms that will also be lowly at that time. Rather, the verse states “from the kingdoms” to indicate that it will be lowly in such a way that all others will lift their heads against it. And do not say that even though it will be under other kingdoms, nevertheless it will still exalt itself over the congregations that have no king. Rather, the verse states “and it will not again exalt itself over the nations” (where the term “nation” here denotes the lesser people who are not subject to a monarchy). And this will be accomplished by diminishing them, so that they will not be able to oppress the nations. That is to say, this will serve two purposes: first, so that they will not subjugate the nations and rule over them with harshness, for the Lord has already removed the yoke of the nations.
And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to remembrance, when they turn after them; and they shall know that I am the Lord Hashem.’
verse value 2742
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יֱהֹוִֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "shall·be·any·more" (יִֽהְיֶה־עוֹד֩, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "to·trust" (לְמִבְטָח֙), "making·mention·of" (מַזְכִּ֣יר), "when·they·turn" (בִּפְנוֹתָ֖ם). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "shall·be·any·more" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "my·lord" (root אדון, 222x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'after·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְלֹ֣א [and·not] (37) + יִֽהְיֶה־עוֹד֩ [shall·be·any·more] (110) + לְבֵ֨ית [to·the·house] (442) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל [Israel] (541) + לְמִבְטָח֙ [to·trust] (89) + מַזְכִּ֣יר [making·mention·of] (277) + עָוֺ֔ן [perversity] (126) + בִּפְנוֹתָ֖ם [when·they·turn] (578) + אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם [after·them] (264) + וְיָ֣דְע֔וּ [and·they·shall·know] (96) + כִּ֥י [that] (30) + אֲנִ֖י [I] (61) + אֲדֹנָ֥י [my·lord] (65) + יֱהֹוִֽה [Hashem] (26) = 2742.
Rashi
"And it shall not be." Egypt shall no longer be a place of security for the House of Israel, which recalls to them the sin regarding which the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: "You shall not see them again" (Exodus 14:13).
Radak
"And it shall be no more." This is a general statement regarding the nation of Egypt.
“Lemivtach” alludes to the remembrance of sin. For they removed their trust from Me and placed their trust in them.
Metzudat David
“And it shall no more be.” From that time onward, Israel will not rely on it, for it will not have the power to serve as their help.
“Lemebateach” (To trust), etc. To the trust that reminds of the sin of Israel, in that they turn after them and do not trust in God.
"And they shall know." Then all will know that I am the Lord, and that everything is in My hand.
Metzudat Zion
“when they turned aside.” From the language of “he turned aside” and “he turned around.”
Malbim
2. So that the House of Israel should not have Egypt as a source of security, lest they continue to place their trust in Egypt, for this reliance brings sin to mind, in that they turn after them and learn their deeds, and remove their hearts from the Lord; and the third purpose is: "And they shall know that I am the Lord," so that through this they will recognize His divinity, that He acts with the kings of the earth according to His will.
And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of Hashem came to me, saying:
verse value 2866
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "word·of·Hashem" (דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "seven" (וָשֶׁ֙בַע֙). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "saying" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root ראשון ("in·the·first") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·month', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֗י [and·it·was] (31) + בְּעֶשְׂרִ֤ים [in·twenty] (622) + וָשֶׁ֙בַע֙ [seven] (378) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + בָּרִאשׁ֖וֹן [in·the·first] (559) + בְּאֶחָ֣ד [on·the·first] (15) + לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ [to·the·month] (342) + הָיָ֥ה [was] (20) + דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה [word·of·Hashem] (232) + אֵלַ֥י [to·me] (41) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 2866.
Rashi
"And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year." [This refers] to the reign of Nebuchadnezzar; in that year, Egypt was given into his hand. Thus we learned in Seder Olam. And there are in this book many prophecies written out of chronological order, some earlier and some later.
Radak
“And it was in the twenty-seventh year.” [This refers] to the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. And so it is written in Seder Olam: “In the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, Egypt was given into his hand, and he carried off her multitude and plundered its spoil and looted it, and it was a reward for his army.” And Jeremiah and Baruch were exiled to Babylon. And it is further written in Seder Olam that in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, when Nebuzaradan exiled 745 souls, as it is written in Jeremiah, at that time Tyre was given into his hand, and he swept away all the Jews who were in Ammon and Moab and the surrounding regions of the Land of Israel, [totaling] 745 souls.
Metzudat David
"In the twenty-seventh year." To the kingship of Nebuchadnezzar. Thus it is written in Seder Olam.
"On the first. In the first month:"
Malbim
“And it was in the twenty-seventh [year]”: As already written in Seder Olam, that in the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he conquered the land of Egypt; and the explanation is: in the twenty-seventh [year] of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. And Abarbanel wrote that therefore the calculation for the exile of Yehoyachin was not adopted here, as was calculated everywhere else, because it was mentioned above that the duration of its destruction would be forty years, and we do not know from where those forty years began. Therefore, the verse informed us that in the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign Egypt was destroyed, and from there it is derived for us that with the death of Evil-Merodach the calculation was completed, as stated above.
’Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled; yet had he no wages, nor his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it;
verse value 5416
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 101 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֤וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֤וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "Nebuchadrezzar" (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר, 9 letters). 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "caused·to·serve" (הֶעֱבִ֨יד), "his·army" (אֶת־חֵיל֜וֹ), "labour" (עֲבֹדָ֤ה). The root חיל appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·he·served" (root אשר, 341x in Ezekiel); "was·not" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel); "on" (root על, 272x in Ezekiel). First appearance of the root עבדה ("labour") in Ezekiel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'peeled', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 8 words.
Rashi
He made his army labor. Against Tyre, a great labor:
"Every head." The men of his armies:
“Mukrach ve’chol katav meruta.” Just as besiegers of a city endure for many days, toiling and exerting themselves in carrying loads of wood and stones, so too he captured Tyre in the twenty-third year of his reign, as we find recorded in Seder Olam. “Mukrach” means “calvus” in the vernacular (Latin).
Merot. "Fliyah" in the language of the nations:
And he had no reward. After they had plundered her spoil, the sea rose up and swept them away, because it had been decreed that she and her spoil should be lost in the sea.
Radak
“Son of man, to Tyre.” Just as it says, “upon Tyre.”
“Every bald head and every bare shoulder.” For they besieged Tyre for many days, and all the men of war were occupied and toiling in the siege, like people who besiege a city, carrying stones and wood upon their heads and upon their shoulders.
From "kerach." This refers to the loss of hair on the head due to excessive labor.
Merotah: That the skin of the shoulder has been worn away from carrying a burden on the shoulder for many days.
And there was no reward for him and his army from Tyre for the labor which they labored upon it. For when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Tyre and plundered its plunder, the sea came upon the city and swept away all the plunder, for it was decreed upon it that the sea would sweep away all its people and its army. And behold, Nebuchadnezzar’s army toiled and labored in vain, and the Holy One, blessed be He, recompensed them and gave them the plunder of Egypt in exchange for their labor which they labored in Tyre.
Metzudat David
“He set his army to work.” He compelled his army to perform a great labor against Tyre, in order to besiege it for many days, and every one of them was bald, etc., from the toil of carrying the stones on their heads and shoulders to build a ramp and the like.
"וְשָׂכָר" — They did not receive payment from Tyre for the labor, etc.; meaning, they did not find in it a value equivalent to the labor.
Metzudat Zion
“Unto Tyre.” Upon Tyre:
Mukrach. The matter is a smooth portion devoid of hair, just as "koreach" (bald) is (Leviticus 13:40):
“Merutah.” The meaning is the tearing of the skin from the flesh, and it is similar to “if he tears his head” (ibid.), which is said regarding the tearing out of the hair.
Malbim
Man imagines that Nebuchadnezzar was the agent of the Lord, and the rod of His anger to destroy the land, and that he deserves to be rewarded, and that the greater the labor, the greater the reward due. Now, he put his army to great labor against Tyre, until every head was bald from the excessive carrying of burdens, the siege engines and sling-stones upon the head and shoulder, and the hair of the head and the skin of the shoulder were rubbed off and torn away. Yet he and his army received no reward, for the reward of the army is the spoils and plunder that they would loot upon capturing the city, and the reward of the king is either the conquered land over which he would rule, or, if he destroys the land, his reward is the honor of instilling his terror among the kings of the earth. But they did not receive their reward, for after he toiled at it for many days, it was destroyed on its own by the sea, which flooded it and swept away the spoils, and He erased all existence.
Therefore thus says the Lord Hashem: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off her abundance, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
verse value 5125
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 85 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יֱהֹוִ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֤ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Nebuchadrezzar" (לִנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 100: therefore, her·abundance. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "to·Nebuchadrezzar" (לִנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר), "and·will·prey" (וְשָׁלַ֤ל), "her·spoil" (שְׁלָלָהּ֙). The root שלל appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "said" (root אמר, 362x in Ezekiel); "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 335x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 9 words.
Radak
Therefore. It is clear:
Metzudat David
"And he shall carry off her multitude." He shall take the multitude of them in captivity, etc., and this shall be as a reward for the labor of Tyre.
Metzudat Zion
And he shall carry off. The matter of taking:
Her multitude. The majority of her nation:
Malbim
Therefore, he shall give him the land of Egypt, and he shall carry off her multitude to be male and female slaves, and plunder her spoil, and this shall be the reward of the army, for all the property shall be given as a gift to the army.
I have given him the land of Egypt as his hire for which he served, because they wrought for Me, says the Lord Hashem.
verse value 4237
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֖וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "in·her" (בָּ֔הּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·he·served" (אֲשֶׁר־עָ֣בַד, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "his·wages" (פְּעֻלָּתוֹ֙). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "that·he·served" (root אשר, 341x in Ezekiel); "my·lord" (root אדון, 222x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: פְּעֻלָּתוֹ֙ [his·wages] (586) + אֲשֶׁר־עָ֣בַד [that·he·served] (577) + בָּ֔הּ [in·her] (7) + נָתַ֥תִּי [I·gave] (860) + ל֖וֹ [to·him] (36) + אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ [the·land] (692) + מִצְרָ֑יִם [Egypt] (380) + אֲשֶׁר֙ [because] (501) + עָ֣שׂוּ [they·did] (376) + לִ֔י [for·me] (40) + נְאֻ֖ם [utterance] (91) + אֲדֹנָ֥י [my·lord] (65) + יֱהֹוִֽה [Hashem] (26) = 4237.
Rashi
His work, in which he labored. The reward of the work in which he labored in My commandments at Tyre, I will give him the land of Egypt.
"Which they made for Me." Egypt was evil in their support, for they assured My people with their vain help.
Radak
His work, which they did to me. In place of the evil which they did to me, for they were a broken reed as a staff for the House of Israel. And so did Jonathan render it: "Because of their sin before Me, to take vengeance upon them."
Metzudat David
His work. The reward of his work, that he labored at Tyre, I will give him the land of Egypt:
"Who have done to Me": As if to say, Egypt will not fall for no reason, but rather as recompense for what they did to Me, for they served as a reed staff for the House of Israel, as stated above.
Malbim
His deed, and his deed was that his intention was for the deed itself, not for the reward; that is to say, the deed itself was precious in his eyes to make for himself a name of glory. Regarding this, I gave him the land of Egypt. Even though he would not have a reward, for it would be utterly destroyed and would no longer be a kingdom, nevertheless the deed would be magnified, that he destroyed such a great kingdom. And why did I not give him the land of Egypt as a reward? That is to say, that it would not be destroyed, but would remain a kingdom under him, and this would be his reward. This was because of what they did to Me, that they rebelled against the Lord, as stated above, "My Nile," and because it was a reed staff for the house of Israel.
In that day will I cause a horn to shoot up to the house of Israel, and I will give you the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am Hashem.’
verse value 3374
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 57 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "horn" (קֶ֙רֶן֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "opening·here" (פִּתְחֽוֹן־פֶּ֖ה, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Ezekiel. Unique to this verse in Ezekiel (hapax): "I·will·cause·to·sprout" (אַצְמִ֤יחַ), "horn" (קֶ֙רֶן֙), "opening·here" (פִּתְחֽוֹן־פֶּ֖ה). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 427x in Ezekiel); "I·will·give" (root נתן, 207x in Ezekiel); "that·I" (root אני, 166x in Ezekiel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·their·midst', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words. Full calculation: בַּיּ֣וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַה֗וּא [that] (17) + אַצְמִ֤יחַ [I·will·cause·to·sprout] (149) + קֶ֙רֶן֙ [horn] (350) + לְבֵ֣ית [to·the·house] (442) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + וּלְךָ֛ [and·to·you] (56) + אֶתֵּ֥ן [I·will·give] (451) + פִּתְחֽוֹן־פֶּ֖ה [opening·here] (629) + בְּתוֹכָ֑ם [in·their·midst] (468) + וְיָדְע֖וּ [and·they·shall·know] (96) + כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י [that·I] (91) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 3374.
Rashi
"On that day I will cause a horn to sprout." I have not heard nor found an explanation of this verse: What is the "sprouting of the horn" of Israel in the downfall of Egypt? For Israel was exiled eight years prior to the downfall of Egypt. And I say that "on that day" refers back to the preceding passage: "At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt." That calculation concludes in the year that Belshazzar reigned. And we find in Daniel that in that year the kings of Persia began to strengthen themselves, and the decree of downfall was issued against Babylon, as it is stated: "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions" (Daniel 7:1). "The first [beast] was like a lion; it is Babylon" (ibid.). And it is written: "I watched until its wings were plucked" (ibid.), and so on. "And behold, another living being, a second one, resembling a bear" (ibid.); it is Persia. And it is written: "Thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much flesh'" (ibid.). That is to say, seize the kingdom. And the kingdom of Persia is the "sprouting of the horn" for Israel, as it is stated regarding Cyrus: "He shall build my city and release my exiles" (Isaiah 45:13). And from where do we know that the forty years of Egypt concluded in that period? Egypt was given into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar in the twenty-seventh [year] of Nebuchadnezzar, in the year that this prophecy was spoken to Ezekiel. Add forty years; that makes sixty-seven. Subtract from them forty-five for Nebuchadnezzar and twenty-three for Evil-Merodach, as we say in the tractate Megillah, and one year of them was counted for both, as we say there: "They were partial years."
"And I will give you an opening of the mouth among them." To you, Ezekiel, there shall be an opening of the mouth when they see that your prophecy is fulfilled.
Radak
"On that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the House of Israel, and I will give you a mouth among them." Its meaning is: "at that time," like "My anger will be kindled against him on that day" and similar verses. One should not interpret it as referring to the time when Egypt was conquered, for Egypt was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar as well, and what "sprouting of a horn" was there for Israel at that time? My master and father, of blessed memory, explained that it refers to the time of the kingdom of the king of Babylon, whom [the verse] mentioned as receiving Egypt into his hand. He said that during his reign—meaning the reign of his son—there was a "sprouting of a horn" for the House of Israel. What was it? That Cyrus was born in the fiftieth year of the Babylonian exile, as it says: "From the going forth of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the Prince, there shall be seven weeks," which amounts to forty-nine years. And Cyrus is called "Anointed," as it is written: "To His Anointed, to Cyrus." He was the "sprouting of a horn" for the House of Israel, for he sent them from exile and returned them to their land. He was then twenty years old, and Darius, his father-in-law, was sixty-two.
“And I will give you an opening of the mouth among them.” That they may see that Your prophecies will be fulfilled. And Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Itzhaki, of blessed memory) explained that this verse refers to the preceding passage: “At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt.” And that calculation ends in the year that Belshazzar reigned. How so? In the twenty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, Egypt was given into his hand; there remained eighteen years of his kingdom, and twenty-two years of Evil-Merodach—this makes forty. And in the first year of Belshazzar, the prophecy concerning Persia was spoken to Daniel, as it is stated: “In the first year of Belshazzar…” and so on. And the coming of King Cyrus of Persia to Babylon was the sprouting of a horn for the House of Israel. And Jonathan the Targumist translated: “On that day I will raise up a redeemer for the House of Israel, and I will give you a key of the mouth in prophecy among them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
Metzudat David
"On that day": This phrase refers back to what was stated above, "At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt," and it says, "On that day I will cause a horn of dominion to sprout for the House of Israel." For the forty years were completed in the year of Belshazzar's reign, since Nebuchadnezzar reigned for forty-five years, and in the twenty-seventh year of his reign he conquered Egypt. Thus, there remained of his years eighteen years. Evil-Merodach, his son, reigned for twenty-three years, but one year was absorbed in his father's reign, for the first year counted for both of them. Thus, the forty years were completed on the day that Evil-Merodach died and Belshazzar reigned. And then the prophecy of Persia's victory was spoken to Daniel, as it is written, "In the first year of Belshazzar..." and "and behold..." which resembles a bear (Daniel 7). And regarding Persia it says, and the prophecy of Persia's coming upon Babylon was the sprouting of a horn for the House of Israel, for by means of Persia's victory they went out free from under the hand of Babylon.
"And to you I will give." This means that then you will be able to open your mouth to reprove them, even of your own accord, because then they will heed you upon seeing that your prophecy is fulfilled.
And they shall know. And then they shall know that I, the Lord, am faithful to My word.
Metzudat Zion
Keren. He referred to the government by the name "Keren" (horn) because those who possess horns are strengthened by them when they engage in battle with others.
Malbim
"On that day" – the commentators were greatly pressed by this. Rashi, of blessed memory, explained: "On that day" refers to after the forty years. And indeed, at that time it was not said within the forty years, for this prophecy was delivered in the tenth year. Furthermore, from what is written, "And I will give you an opening of the mouth" – but was not Ezekiel dead in the days of Nebuchadnezzar? And in my opinion, after he had conquered Egypt, which was the completion of his wars, he made the idol in the plain of Dura. And then was the miracle of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, by which the Name was sanctified. And then he raised the horn of Israel, when they saw that the Name of the Lord was called upon their holy ones. And our Sages received that at the time of the incident of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Ezekiel revived the dead in the plain of Dura, and the bones came and struck the face of Nebuchadnezzar, and they said to him: "The companions of these revive the dead in the plain of Dura," which was a sign for the future redemption and the resurrection of the dead. And this "opening of the mouth" that He gave him was among them, because they recognized the Lord, as it is written, "And they shall know that I am the Lord."
Radak
Metzudat David
Malbim