I am against thee, &c,— This king of Egypt was Pharaoh Hophra, of whom Jeremiah speaks, chap. Ezekiel 44:30 and who is called Apries by Herodotus; who informs us, agreeably to this description of our prophet, that Apries proudly and wickedly boasted of having established his kingdom so securely, that it was not in the power of God himself to dispossess him. Instead of, the great dragon, we should read, the great crocodile. The next verse alludes to the manner of taking the crocodile. See Job 41:1. It is commonly supposed, that Amasis is alluded to in Ezekiel 29:4 who dethroned Apries. See Bishop Newton, vol. 1: and chap. Ezekiel 32:2. Among the ancients, the crocodile was a symbol of Egypt; and appears so on Roman coins. Michaelis. Milton has this sublime passage in view:
Thus with ten wounds The river-dragon tam'd at length submits. PAR. LOST, xii. 190.
See Addison's Spect. n. 369, D'Herbelot cites an eastern poet, who, celebrating the prowess of a most valiant Persian prince, said, he was dreadful as a lion in the field, and not less terrible in the water than a crocodile. Harmer, ii. 529. See chap. Ezekiel 32:2 where both these comparisons are used.
Rivers— The Nile has seven mouths. Rivers also emptied themselves into it, and channels were cut from it.