Oracles against Egypt (29—32) – From Genesis to Revelation, the number symbolizes completeness. Egypt is the seventh and last country to be addressed by Ezekiel’s oracles against the nations (25—32), and seven separate oracles are addressed against it. The practice of gathering oracles against seven Gentile nations is not unique to Ezekiel (Amos 1–2; Jeremiah 46–49). This is probably based on the assertion of Deut 7:1 that Israel must defeat the seven Canaanite nations in order to possess its inheritance. These oracles are in chronological order, except for the second (29:17-21). The dates are calculated as 1:2, from the exile of King Jehoichin in 597 B.C.The rst date in 29:1 is about a year after Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem and two years before the fugitive brings news of the city’s fall to Ezekiel (33:21). The second oracle jumps to the end, with Nebuchadnezzar’s failed siege of Tyre. Ezekiel never names the pharaoh, but he is likely Hophra (Greek: Apries). Jer 37:5-8 provides more background. Since the Exodus, Egypt had aspirations to be a world power but was unsuccessful. And yet, it is remarkable that Yahweh issues a salvation oracle for Egypt (29:13-14)! Judgment for Egypt, the Monster and Splintering Sta (29:1-16) – In all of Ezekiel’s oracles against Egypt, the message is almost simultaneously against the pharaoh, the land over which he rules, and the people inhabiting it. “The great monster” sounds like a crocodile. But it is something greater, perhaps mimicking their crocodile god, Sobek. Rather than a dragon, as some translate, perhaps “sea monster” is even better. The Canaanite myth described the annual autumnal triumph of Baal (Hadad) over Moth (“death”) and Yammim (“sea”). These “exmythological” overtones would be recognized by Israelite believers. Ezekiel is using the pagan myths to proclaim the one true God over against the pagan “gods,” who represent the devil and the forces of evil. The sea monster, the god of chaos, is called Rahab and Leviathan (Is 27:1; Ps 104:26; Job 41). This is an indictment of the pharaoh’s “divine” status, as we saw with the king of Tyre in chapter 28. Pharaoh’s hubris and boasting are shown to be a fraud. The sea monster is shown to be an ordinary sh. So unimportant is this pompous Pharaoh that he will not be given a grand state funeral but will be abandoned to the elements or left to be eaten by…