Our reading today continues the pronouncement of judgment against the nations with a prophecy against Egypt. God pronounces judgment against Pharaoh. He begins by declaring that He is against him (29:3). Note that Pharaoh is here compared to a great dragon. This is similar to the Exodus being described as breaking the heads of the sea monster and the heads of Leviathan (Ps 74:13-14). These are references to Satan, and God’s salvation of His people from his power (see Isa 27:1). That Egypt is often compared with Satan points to who is really the king of Egypt (like Babylon or Tyre). Here, God speaks judgment against Pharaoh using this imagery of the sea monster/dragon/leviathan being drawn out of the water and into the wilderness to die (vv. 4-5 – see 32:3-6 below). When this happens, all Egypt will know that YHWH is God (v. 6). The punishment against Egypt also speaks of the final judgment of Satan and the world.
In verses 9, we see that God will make Egypt a wasteland. That Pharaoh believes the Nile to be his shows that his pride (like the king of Tyre – see 28:2) will be his undoing (v. 10). That Egypt will be uninhabited for 40 years (v. 11) is a reference to the Israelites that wandered the wilderness for 40 years. It means the whole generation will be punished. They will also go into captivity (v. 12).
Verse 13 offers hope. After the punishment, God will restore the fortunes of Egypt (v. 14 – see Jer 30:3, 48:47, 49:6, 49:39). This speaks to the spiritual people of God in Egypt. And physical Egypt will never again be the world power it once was (vv. 15-16). God is sending Babylon against the prideful Pharaoh like He did the prideful king of Tyre (vv. 17-20). This pictures the final judgment of Satan and the world that follows him. On that day, the horn (symbolizing a king) will reign (v. 21). This is Christ, our coming King.
Chapter 30 contains a lament for Egypt. We see that this judgment on Egypt still pictures the final judgment, because the day of YHWH affects the nations (30:3 – literally, it says that day “will be a day of clouds suitable for the nations”). The destruction decreed against Egypt pictures what will happen to all the wicked (vv. 4-8). Supporting Egypt (v. 6) is a picture of those who follow Satan.
In verse 10, the near fulfillment is in view, because God will again use Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument of judgment. And this judgment is also (once again) against the false gods of Egypt (v. 13 – see Ex 12:12). The details of all the cities that will be destroyed (vv. 13-18) speaks to the completeness of the coming judgment. And this judgment is of YHWH (v. 19).
Verse 20 tells us this prophecy happens about the time that Egypt distracted Babylon from their attack on Judah (see Jer 37:5). This oracle is for Judah, not Egypt. They should not rely on Egypt because God is about to break the power and the armies of Egypt (vv. 21-22). Even Egypt will go into captivity along with Judah (v. 23, 26). And we again see that it is YHWH Who is behind the power of Babylon (vv. 24-25).
Chapter 31 again addresses Pharaoh and his pride. He believes himself unparalleled in greatness (31:2). So God tells him about Assyria. She was unparalleled in her greatness (vv. 3-8) because God made her so (v. 9). But she grew proud (v. 10). So God turned her over to be defeated by Babylon (vv. 11-13) and utterly destroyed (v. 14). And Babylon did the same to all the other nations around her (vv. 15-17). Why would Pharaoh think he is the exception (v. 18)? He too will be destroyed. That among the “trees” are the trees of Eden (v. 16, 18) shows that there is a cosmic dimension to the utter destruction. This also points to the final judgment when the wicked are brought down “to the world below.”
Chapter 32 is a lament for Pharaoh. This (like with the king of Babylon and the king of Tyre) is really speaking to Satan. He is the dragon in the seas (32:2 – see above). He troubles waters and fouls rivers (see Rev 8:10-11). So God will bring an end to him (v. 3). He will be finally and forever cast to the ground (v. 4 – see Ex 28:17). This is not the evicting Satan from living in heaven, this is Satan’s complete expulsion from heaven at Christ’s First Coming (see Rev 12:7-9). His judgment will be completed at His Second Coming (vv. 5-6). We see the heavenly bodies ceasing to give their light, always a reference to the final judgment (vv. 7-8 – see Isa 13:10, Joel 2:31, and Rev 16:10 where the darkness is about Satan and his kingdom in particular). In verse 9, we see that “many peoples” will be troubled at Satan’s final defeat. They will then know to fear for their own lives (v. 10). This will be pictured in Babylon’s defeat of Pharaoh and his people (vv. 11-12). Pharaoh’s pride will be crushed. The destruction will be complete (vv. 13-14), and Egypt will be a wasteland (v. 15).
In verse 18, we again see the mingling of the defeat of physical Egypt with the cosmic defeat of the spiritually wicked. This is for Egypt, but also all the nations. All the wicked will be sent down to the pit. Pharaoh’s pride will be destroyed (v. 19). Babylon will defeat him and take the people into captivity (v. 20). Egypt will be like Assyria (vv. 21-23 – see 31:3-14). The final judgment of all nations (vv. 24-30) is pictured by the complete destruction of Egypt (vv. 31-32).