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We know that the same word that is translated "lay" is the word translated "set" in
verse 14, "I have set thee so", and the poetic justice of the change will be seen.
"I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee" (Ezek. 28: 18).
The fire that belonged to his exalted station, the continual accompaniment of Divine
glory, that fire, when once the Divine protection is withdrawn, becomes the very
instrument of his destruction, for we are not left in uncertainty regarding its effect--"it
shall devour thee", "eat thee" as the word may be rendered. "I will bring thee to ashes
on the earth". With this we may read Mal. 4: 3:--
"And ye shall tread down the wicked: for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet."
Also we may see a reverse movement in the case of Israel. The anointed cherub is
brought from beauty to ashes, but in the day of Israel's restoration they shall be given
beauty for ashes.
Perfection . . . . . . . Perdition.
"Thou shalt be a terror" (Ezek. 28: 19).
The word terror is most solemn in its meaning. Ballahah = "a worn out or wasted
thing". Job uses balah when he says:--
"And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten" (Job 13: 28).
The LXX renders the passage apoleia egenou, "a destruction hast thou become". The
word is the alternative to "perfection" in Hebrews. "Let us go on unto perfection . . . . .
not draw back unto perdition" (Heb. vi 1; 10: 39). Matt. 26: 8 renders the word "waste"
which is parallel with the Hebrew.
What an end to him who was the "perfection of beauty!" What an object lesson to the
universe.
"And never shalt thou be any more" (Ezek. 28: 19).
The LXX rendering of this is kai ouch huparxeis eti eis ton aiona = "and thou shalt
not exist any more for the age", which is equivalent to the Hebrew ed olam. A parallel is
found in Ezek. 26: 21:--
"A terror will I make thee, and thou shalt not be: though thou be sought for, thou
shalt not be found any more for the age."
Never, or unto the Age.