Ezekiel 32:7 - Exposition

When I shall put thee out ; better, with the Revised Version, extinguish . The verb is used of lamps in 2 Chronicles 29:7 . The change of metaphor is at first startling, but I follow Ewald, Hitzig, and Smend, in thinking that there is a traceable sequence of ideas. The "dragon of the Egyptian waters" suggested the "dragon" which was conspicuous between Ursa Major and Minor among the constellations of the heavens, and the name of which, probably derived by the Greek astronomers from a remote past, suggested that of an enemy of God (comp. Isaiah 51:9 ). So taken, the new comparison finds a parallel in that of the King of Babylon to Lucifer, the morning star, in Isaiah 14:12 . Upon this there follows naturally the imagery of Ezekiel 30:18 ; Isaiah 34:4 . As the other trees of the forest had mourned for the cedar ( Ezekiel 31:15 ), so the other lights of heaven mourn for that particular star which has been quenched for ever (comp. for the general imagery. Isaiah 13:10 ; Joel 2:10 ; Joel 3:4 , Hebrew [English version, Ezekiel 2:1-10 :31].