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A series of prophecies are made against Egypt in Ezekiel, in which there is an
interweaving of past history (see the reference to Nebuchadnezzar in 30: 10) with "the
Day of the Lord" (30: 3). Like the prophecy of Ezek. 27: and 28: concerning
Tyre, they look forward for their real fulfillment to the time of the end.
We learn from these chapters that the King of Babylon will attack Egypt in the future,
and the effect, unlike anything which has yet been accomplished in that country, will be
that "they shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezek. 30: 26).
Almost up to the time of the end, Palestine will have been a reproach and a wasted
land, and Arabia a desert. The tables, however, are to be turned. Egypt is to be utterly
wasted, the Nile is to be dried up, while Palestine shall become a delightsome land, and
"the desert shall blossom as the rose".
Another prophecy associating the gathering of Israel with geographical disturbances is
found in Zech. 10:
"I will sow them among the peoples . . . . . I will bring them again also out of the land
of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria . . . . . And shall smite the waves in the sea, and
all the depths of the Nile shall dry up . . . . . and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away"
(Zech. 10: 9-11).
The association of the house of Judah with the house of Joseph (Zech. 10: 6) shows that
this passage looks forward to the future day of Israel's restoration.
The above citations are enough to satisfy the reader that, at the time of the end,
considerable geographical changes are to take place in Egypt, particularly in connection
with the Nile. We now turn to one or two passages that speak of geographical changes at
the same time in the land of Israel itself.
In order to appreciate the first of these references in Isa. 33: a knowledge of the
context is essential. We give below, without elaboration, the main structure:--
Isaiah 33: 13-24.
A1 | 13-17. THE KING.--Seen in the land.
B1 | 18, 19. THE ENEMY.--Not seen.
A2 | 20, 21. THE LORD.--Jerusalem seen as quiet.
B2 | 21. THE ENEMY.--Not seen.
A3 | 22. THE LORD.--He will save.
B3 | 23. THE ENEMY.--Destroyed.
A4 | 24. THE INHABITANTS.--Forgiven.
The particular passage with which we are concerned at the moment is Isa. 33: 21
and 23.
"But there the Lord will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams;
wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby . . . . . Thy