Ezekiel · chapter 31 of 48
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Ezekiel 31 compares Pharaoh to a towering cedar of Lebanon, so beautiful that even the trees of Eden could not match it, and to Assyria, which had already fallen. Because of its pride, a foreign nation will cut it down and leave it fallen. The tree goes down to Sheol, and the other trees of Eden are comforted to see that Egypt's greatness ends just as Assyria's did.
This is the fourth of the oracles against Egypt, dated to the eleventh year, the third month. At about that time Jerusalem was about to fall, and Egypt still seemed powerful. Ezekiel uses a tree parable, a common image in the prophets, to tell Pharaoh that another great power, Assyria, had already fallen, and that he will follow the same path.
The Lord asks Pharaoh whom he resembles in his greatness, and answers with a comparison: Assyria was a cedar of Lebanon, with beautiful branches, thick shade and a height that reached the clouds. Waters made it grow, and its branches sheltered the birds of the air, the beasts of the field and many nations. Not the cedars of God's garden, nor the cypresses, nor the plane trees could match it, and all the trees of Eden envied it.
But the tree grew proud of its height, and God handed it over to a mighty ruler among the nations who dealt with it according to its wickedness. Foreigners, the most ruthless of peoples, cut it down and left it fallen. Its branches lay on the mountains and in the valleys, and the peoples who had lived in its shade left it. Birds and beasts settled on its fallen trunk, so that no tree by the water would ever grow proud of its height.
The Lord has mourning made on the day the tree goes down to Sheol. He covers the deep, holds back the rivers, and the trees of Eden are comforted in the depths of the earth. At the end the Lord applies the lesson to Pharaoh: whom do you resemble in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You too will be brought down and lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Assyria was a cedar of Lebanon with beautiful branches, thick shade and great height. Its greatness was real, but the prophet uses it to tell Pharaoh that not even the greatest empire lasts forever.
Because the tree towered in pride and its heart grew proud of its height, God handed it over to another power. The fall is not an unforeseen misfortune: it comes from pride that does not recognize who gives the growth.
The purpose of the fall is that no tree by the water will exalt itself because of its height. The fate of one empire is a warning to all the others, and especially to Egypt.
The Lord applies the parable to Pharaoh: for all his glory he will be brought down and lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. The comparison closes the argument: Assyria's history is Egypt's mirror.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: A cedar of Lebanon, very tall with beautiful branches. — Ezekiel 31:3
Answer: The waters and streams that fed it. — Ezekiel 31:4
Answer: The birds of the air, the beasts of the field and many nations. — Ezekiel 31:6
Answer: Because it grew proud of its height and its heart was lifted up. — Ezekiel 31:10-11
Answer: Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations. — Ezekiel 31:12
Answer: Among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. — Ezekiel 31:18
The parable of the cedar teaches that growth is not only our own merit. Waters made the tree grow, and its shade benefited many. When success becomes a reason for pride, the fall is near. In a class or small group you can talk about thanking God for what we receive, whether a talent, a job, a family or a ministry, without taking all the credit.
We can also think of others: the tree sheltered many. Whoever holds a position of influence is called to use the shade they have to serve, not to show off.
Ezekiel 31 has Pharaoh look in Assyria's mirror and see the end of his own greatness. Chapter 32 closes the oracles against Egypt with two last laments and a description of the nations' descent to Sheol.
The Hebrew text of verse 3 is debated: some translations say Assyria was a cedar, while others say Pharaoh is compared with a cedar. In either case the argument is the same: if an empire as great as Assyria fell, Egypt has no reason to feel safe. Both readings lead to the same message.
It is poetic language for the other powerful nations, which envied the cedar's greatness. Eden serves as a picture of beauty and abundance. It is not a geographical description but a device to show the greatness the tree had before it fell.