Like Assyria, the Cedar, Pharaoh Will Descend to Sheol (31:1-9) — Yahweh compares Pharaoh to Assyria under the extensive metaphor of a cedar of Lebanon. The ruler is reckoned the personification of the people under him, hence comparing an individual to a nation. While the oracle is against Egypt, Assyria is almost entirely in view, albeit metaphorically. This is like the fall of the king of Tyre depicted as the fall of Satan (28:12-17). In both cases, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov 16:18). Although now defunct, Assyria had dominated the ancient near-east for centuries. Although Babylon bested Egypt at Carchemish in 605 B.C., the Babylonian Empire only lasted a little over a half-century. Assyria is the archetypal imperial power.
Usually, Assyrian kings are associated with the date palm but their literature speaks of the grandeur and desirability of Lebanon’s cedars. But the cedar of 31:3 is no ordinary tree. Many pagan mythologies have the “world tree” or “cosmic tree” motif. It is the imago mundi, an image of the totality of the world. The three regions of the universe are heaven, earth, and the underworld. The tree connects them since it reaches the heavens and has roots underground. The tree is the habitat that sustains life. it sometimes overlaps with the “tree of life” motif but is not to be confused with it. Ancient pagan religions may contain garbled remnants of the true creation story, the fall, the flood, and so on. In paganism, certain trees were often considered sacred to certain gods, but not in Scripture which distinguishes the Creator from the creation too strictly for that. Because they were semi-divine, these trees were often associated with kings. Ezekiel used this metaphor in the chapter. In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is based on the same metaphor. And even our Lord’s parable of the mustard seed uses this image (Mt 13:31-32; Mk4:30-32; Lk 13:18-19).
Then the narrative takes a theological turn in referring to the trees of the garden of God (Eden, v. 16). But note that Yahweh made this majestic, cosmic cedar, yet Assyria gave Him no credit. Ancient pagan kings did not cry out, “Soli Deo gloria!” The connection to the garden of Eden draws attention to the fall of Adam and, with him, the entire creation (Rom 5:12-21; 8:19-23). The only access to the Tree of Life is through Jesus Christ (Rev 2:7; 22). Jesus as Messiah is described as a branch (Is 4:2; 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12) and His cross a tree (Acts 5:30; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:24).
The Tree was Destroyed Because of Its Pride (31:10-14) – The tree’s qualities are metaphorical for the heart, with the sense of pride and arrogance, the primal sin in the prophets. Arrogance will lead to divine destruction and dismemberment. The haughtiness of those nourished by the waters will come to nothing. As unbelievers, they will be consigned to hell (the underworld/the lowest parts of the earth) unless…