Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 31

1 AND it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third moneth , in the first day of the moneth , that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

As chap. 30. ver. 20. let. t.

Our Iune 26th day old stile, the 16th day new stile; Calvisi[illegible: 1 letter]s. Vsserius. just one moneth, and eight dayes be[illegible: 1 letter]fore the taking of the City on the 27th of Iuly, vet. stil. but 17th of Iuly, new stile.

Tam[illegible: 1 letter]z.

Marginal references: Calvisi[illegible: 1 letter]s. Vsserius.

2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude ; whom art thou like in thy greatness ?

Apries, or Hophra.

His numerous Subjects, with the power, and Riches they Glory in.

Bethink thy self, what King of all before thee, art thou equal with, or else greater? On what surer, and more immoveable Foundation doth thy greatness stand? That thou dreamest of a perpetual quiet, and flourishing state in the midst of all thy sins, and wickednesses?

Marginal references: ver. 18.

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.

Kingdom, and its Kings were the greatest, the world ere knew before thee, they had longest time of growth through 1340, or 1360 years from Belus, who was Nimrod, or Belus Assyrius, to Sardanapalus, from 1719, or 1717, or 1718 to 3059. of the World. And they had as fair advantages, as reaching a foresight, and as unwearied diligence to advance the Kingdom; yet I brought it down.

Like a Cedar; Kings and Kingdoms oft compared to Trees, both in profane, and sacred Emblems, or like the most Goodly Cedar for Strength and Beauty.

A great Mountainous tract from East to West, 125 mile in length, encloseth Canaan on the North.

Which are the Beauty, Greatness, Strength of the Tree, so had this mighty Kingdom fair Provinces, as Branches springing from it.

What we render shadowing in the Hebr. may signifie, either silent, and quiet, or framing, and modelling, intimating, that this Kingdom, like a shady Tree, gave shelter to the weak, as if fram'd artificially to this, and 'twas a silent, quiet repose its Subjects had; as weak Creatures find shelter in a mighty wood, so these.

This Kingdom grew to great height, while its branches were so beneficial.

Or Clouds, for so the word will without violence bear; Cloud being called so from their thickness; however, the Head among the thick boughs speaks the magnificence, and greatness of this King compassed about with Tributary Kings, and Princes, and Mighty men.

Marginal references: Heb. fair of branches.

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.

As Cedars grow great by the water courses, so this Kingdom by multitudes of people, convenience of Trade, by the plenty of the Country, if no Trade, for 'twas first planted in the fruitful fields among the sweet Rivers, Euphrates, Tigris, Lycus, Diava, and others.

The Sea sent out her Waters, which gave being to the Rivers, that water'd him, and improved him; whereas Egypt, thy Rivers arise out of a Lake, which, though great, not to be compared with the deep.

The Provinces of this mighty Kingdom, that are like plants about a great Tree.

Beneficence, Justice, Protection, encouragements, that Subjects need, and good Princes disperse among them, so the deep filled this King, and he sent out his streams.

To all his Subjects in his Kingdom.

Marginal references: Or, nourished.; Or, brought him [illegible: 1 letter]p.; Or, conduits.

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

His Power, Glory, and his Pride too, run up on high, a just administration of Laws for benefit of the publick, and a kind usage of the Subject, while 'twas here, made the King great, and his Kingdom famous.

Above all his Neighbour Kings, among whom oppressed weaklings still came to this Kingdom, while just, for shelter.

Many became his Subjects by voluntary choice, and his Native Subjects increast in numbers, and Wealth.

The Provinces reacht far and wide by the conquest of his armes, or attractives of his kindness brought to unite with him.

The many streams of Royal Justice▪ and Beneficence sent forth from the Throne of this Kingdom, so his Throne was advanced and established.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] sent them [illegible: 1 span]

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.

Not every individual, but all sorts, and kinds of Men and People, Nobles, Merchants, Husbandmen likened to Fowles.

In his Kingdom, in the Cities, or Towns of it.

The very same thing exprest by a new Hieroglyphick: Beasts here are people, the Field is the Countreys round about, their bringing forth their young includes their making their Dens, that is mens building, begetting children, and breeding them under his branches, under his Government, and Protection.

This gives some light to the riddle. No Nation, that was great at that time in the World, but, either own'd the Dominion, or sought the Alliance, and Friendship of this King and Kingdom.

Marginal references: Dan. 4.[illegible: 2 letters]; Did settle their Habitations, and Families, expecting what they found, safety, and rest, and hoping, what did ensue, an increase of their Children and Posterity as Birds do in a quiet, and safe nest.

7 Thus was he fair in his greatness , in the length of his branches : for his root was by great waters.

Beautiful, lovely, and desirable.

Not exerted in Tyranny, and oppression, but exercised in the Royal Art of imitating the greatest, and best Being, who is King over all, for he doth good to all.

How far soever remote, yet the Justice, and Goodness of the Government appeared, the Beauty of those Provinces as well as of the whole Kingdom.

Whence he sprang, which supported, and supplyed the Kingdom, was Right, the Laws, Punishments, rewards, and encouragements, neither founded in cruelty, nor maintained by violence.

Not by blood, which is no proper kindly nourishment for such Cedars, but by Waters, which are kindly, and proper, and these great enough for his own growth, and to nourish others too.

8 The Cedars in the garden of God could not hide h him: the fir-trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches: nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.

Kings, the greatest, and most magnificent.

Either in the most fruitful Gardens, or in Iudah and Israel ▪ not David, not Solomon, Iehoshaphat, or Hezekiah could top, and shade him.

A meaner sort of Trees, emblem of lesser Kings, and Kingdoms, these were but like his boughs, though they grow to great height, and bulk.

The same in another allusion, Kings▪ like Chesnut trees, great, when by themselves, yet compared with this Assyrian, were but as branches of his boughs, all which in Isaiah's words, cap. 10.7, 8. there was some truth, though more pride in this Speech of the Assyrian, which the Prophet reports.

All summed up, none like him in all the Kingdoms of the World.

Marginal references: Gen. 2.[illegible: 2 letters]

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.

All this greatness, Wealth, and Glory I have given him.

The numbers of his Provinces, and multitude of his Subjects, high, and low, great, and small.

Either did when they saw his greatness, or would have envied, if they had seen it, or, if there may be a seeming justifiableness in wondring at anothers Glory, and wishing it our own, here it might be found.

10 Therefore u thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted x up thy self in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;

Now you shall hear the sin, and the fall of this great Kingdom of Assyria.

His mind could not longer bear so great prosperity, he lifts up himself, and in his pride forgets God, who lifted him up, and will cast him down, you have a Specimen of it in that of Isa. 10.7, 8, 9. with the rest to the 20th. verse, and Isa. 36.9.15, 18. this, as other best framed polities degenerated into pride, and violence against Neighbours, Subjects, Friends as well as against Enemies, though too much 'twas, to despise man, yet 'twas intolerably more insolent, to reproach God. It is but time to lop, nay cut down this Cedar, as Isa. 10.33. with Isa. 37.36, 38.

11 I have therefo[illegible: 1 letter]e 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 .

No Prophetick stile, as some think, I have, because I will, for most certainly God would deliver.

Proud King of Assyria, who inherited all the vices of his Progenitors more, than their Kingdoms, infamous Sardanapalus.

Some say Cyrus, rather Arbaces, who first strook at the root of this Cedar, and cut him down, and well might this man, though no King when he attempted this, be stiled the mighty one of the Heathen, who could bring together four hundred thousand of Medes, Pe[illegible: 1 letter]sians, Babylonians, and Arabians a power sufficient to besiege the Assyrian King two years in his own City, and Palace.

So he did, for he held him besieged without hope of relief, till at two years end, this vicious King burnt himself with his Palace.

With disgrace, for his lewd shameless courses, as a Wife is cast out by divorce for Adultery, Lev. 21.7.

So Sardanapal[illegible: 1 letter]s was cast out for his effeminacy, and lewdness; for 'tis reported, this gave Arbaces first encouragement to lay a des[illegible: 1 letter]gn against him, who was driven out, as the Prophet words it, by the breach of two mile and half wideness, made by the mighty floods from continual Rains, which the walls of Nineve could not withstand, so God rather then man did drive this beast out.

Marginal references: Heb. in doing [illegible: 1 letter]hall do unto [illegible: 1 word].

12 And strangers , the terrible of the nations, have cut him off , and have left him upon the mountains and in all the vallies 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.

Forreigners, who regard neither justice, nor mercy, such were those, which made up this Army of Arbaces the Mede.

So these were for their strength, and valour much, but for their numbers, and barbarity, more to be dreaded.

Not shall, for 'twas down before Ezekiels time, about the time Ezekiah was born, and about 240 years before the destruction of Ierusalem, and the Babylonish Captivity.

Revolted or forsaken Sardanapalus.

As a Tree, that growing on the Mountains, which hang over the Valleys, when it falls, breaks, and its branches are scattered in the lower ground, on the banks of Rivers, that run in the bottom, so is this mighty Cedar, this King, and Kingdom fallen from highest power, and honour into deepest contempt and impotence, not able to repell his Adversaries, or escape out of their hands.

All, that were Tributary to him, have withdrawn their Tribute, and rejected his Dominion, and such as were his Allies, and depended on his Patronage, have quit their Leagues, and dependences, and left his shadow.

Marginal references: chap. 28.7.

13 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches.

His broken state.

Which built, and bred there, shall now despise the Tree, and triumph over it.

The same in another emblem, as ver. 6. Beasts, Fowls, People, and Nations, that were sheltred under the shadow of this Tree, shall all, as is the custom of all, of them, get from under it, and with the first insult and trample upon the body, boughs, and branches, Fowles get on it and both pick and defile, Beasts rustle through it and brouse on the broken 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.

All this is designed to be a warning to mortals.

i. e. the Emperours, Potentates, Kings, or rich flourishing States.

Planted most commodiously, and furnisht most abundantly with Power, and Wealth.

Grow proud, because they are high, shoot out tops above all the t[illegible: 1 letter]ick boughs their Neighbours. This caution against pride, and self exalting is three times repeated, that all, especially great men, and this proud King of Egypt, to whom this Parable is propounded, should be humble.

For if by office they are Gods, yet by nature, they are men, and by the decree of God, who cannot die, these Gods must, as men, dye, be laid in the grave, forgotten like other men, like the Children of mean men, for that death, and the grave make no distinction. Be not proud, God will pull down such, be humble, you must dye.

Marginal references: Or, stand upon [illegible: 4 letters]selves for [illegible: 1 letter]heir height.; Psal. 82.7.

15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; in the day when he went down to the grave, I caused a mourning ; I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were staied: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him; and all the trees of the field fainted for him.

The King of Assyria, the tall Cedar, or the Kingdom of Assyria,

Was a man in grave; buried in its own ruins.

There was much lamentation.

I put the Sea, i. e. Either neighbouring States, or the body of his people, or the trading part of the World, into mourning for him.

All publick affairs; Commerce, and Friendly intelligences, were at a great stand.

The great traffick and wealth by it, which did flow, as great waters, were staid, and living Rivers were, as void of motion, as the dead Sea, all was out of course.

The field, in which this Cedar grew, i. e. the whole Kingdom of Assyria.

Fell into a swound at the News of this great, and unparallel'd downfal of this mighty King, and Kingdom, which hath been here in sacred Hyperbole set forth to warn Egypt, and convince it, none can stand whom God will cast down. Whether there were any portentous signs in the Sea, and great Waters, and the Rivers, and among the trees, presages of this fall, and pointed at here, I enquire not.

All the lesser Kings, and Princes about him

Marginal references: Heb. be [illegible: 1 word].

16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell, 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.

All that heard the noise of his fall trembled at it, 'twas, as God intended it should be, an astonishment to them all.

Brought the King, and Kingdom, as a dead man to the grave among them, that before were dead, and buried.

All Kings, and particularly the greatest, and richest called here the choice, and best of Lebanon.

Did enjoy great Power, Riches, and worldly Glory.

'Tis a Prosopopaeia, and he speaks of the dead with allusion to the manner of the living, who rejoice to see the proud brought, as low as the lowest, thus the Prophet, Isa. 14.9, 10.

17 They also went down into hell 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.

Either his neighbour Kings and Princes, or those that were his own Subjects, but rich and mighty.

Were broken and perisht with him, and went to those God had slain for their pride and wickedness.

His loyal and faithful Subjects and Friends abroad, who having been protected by him, remembred it, and adhered to him to support him; but all fell, are extinct, and gone down to the pit, where many proud, but no pride; where all know themselves dust and ashes, and God glorious, holy and just.

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 with the sword. This is Pharaoh, and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

The mightiest, richest, and longest lived Kingdom I have represented, saith God, overthrown, and destroyed; a Kingdom thou canst not pretend to equal, and if not like this, what King or Kingdom art thou like, that thou shouldst be invincible?

Who ere thou art like in height, and power thou shalt be like them in thy s[illegible: 1 letter]ll, and ruine.

As unclean, despised, and loathsome in thy blood, like the slain with the Sword, not to be known, without an upbraiding inscription: This is Pharaoh.

Marginal references: verse 2.