For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
For I have caused my terror - the reading of the margin or Qeri' х chitiytiy (H2851)]. The Hebrew text, or Kethibh, is 'HIS terror' х chitiytow (H2851)], which gives good sense (Ezekiel 32:25, "Their terror was caused in the land of the living" Ezekiel 32:30). 'My terror' implies that God puts His terror on Pharaoh's multitude, as the they put 'their terror' on others; e.g., the Egyptians under Pharaoh-necho put their terror on Judea.
In the land of the living. As "the land of the living" was the scene of "their terror," so it shall God's; especially in Judea He will display His glory, to the terror of Israel's foes (Ezekiel 26:20, "I shall set glory in the land of the living"). In Israel's case the judgment is temporary, ending in their future restoration under Messiah. In the case of the world-kingdoms, which flourished for a time, they fall to rise no more.
Remarks:
(1) The princes and conquerors this earth, who, like Pharaoh, gain a great name by aggression and violence, are no better in God's eyes than beasts which live by making the weaker their prey, or monsters of the deep which "trouble the waters and foul the rivers" in pursuit of their victims (Ezekiel 32:2). He will therefore repay them in their own coin. "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matthew 26:52). As they had spread their net over weaker peoples, with a company of many people, so God will spread out His net over them with a company of stronger people, the Chaldeans, who should bring them up as fish caught in His net (Ezekiel 32:3; Habakkuk 1:14-17). As a fish out of its element, so would Pharaoh be when deprived of all his power and resources. The river Nile and the canals from it, on which Egypt had prided herself as the sources of her fertility, should now be filled with the blood and carcasses of the Egyptians slain (Ezekiel 32:6).
Thus darkness, answering to the literal plague of darkness formerly sent upon Egypt, should again come "upon the land" (Ezekiel 32:7-8). When God has a controversy with any people, or with individuals, because of their sin, no power can withstand His judgments. The very resources which seem to be for them are all turned against them, and their light is extinguished in the blackness of darkness. (2) All they who had admired the grandeur and power of Egypt, when the tidings of her destruction should be brought, would be "amazed and horribly afraid" (Ezekiel 32:10). The kings, whosoever were conscious of similar sins to those of Pharaoh, would "tremble every man for his own life, when the Lord should brandish His sword before them." Those who admire the pomp of worldly greatness shall necessarily be astounded at its downfall, and shall tremble for themselves, as involved in the same condemnation as the world which they love. But the fall of earthly things will not take by surprise, nor alarm the children of God, whose portion is not in this world, and who know its real emptiness.
(3) All who love "troubled" waters, and try therewith to overwhelm others, as did Pharaoh, shall be troubled themselves, and their power of troubling the peaceable shall be taken from them, as it was taken from Pharaoh. They shall be forced to be still and quiet, by being deprived of the means of aggression (Ezekiel 32:13-14), as Egypt was made by God "destitute of that whereof it was full" (Ezekiel 32:15).
(4) How soon God can empty of worldly goods those who have the greatest abundance of them! and the more a man has made them his chief joy, the more of "lamentation" will he be caused by their loss (Ezekiel 32:16).
(5) What a sad picture of the end of all earthly power, greatness, and wealth is given here by the prophet in the representation of Egypt, Assyria, Elam, Edom, and other once "famous" nations, as they shall be seen at last, when they shall have been brought down to the pit! (Ezekiel 32:18-31.) However beautiful in aspect any nation now may seem (Ezekiel 32:19), others no less beautiful have nevertheless passed into oblivion. Let all who make "beauty" their idol remember that soon it must go down to the grave, which mars all beauty. "The strong" fare no better than the beautiful: they who once by their strength "caused terror in the land of the living," in the nether world are a terror to themselves (Ezekiel 32:23-24). In just retribution the proud oppressors shall there bear their own shame. Those who grasped at earthly honours, reckless of the laws of God and the rights of man, shall lie dishonoured with "their iniquities upon their bones" (Ezekiel 32:27). They who have not had the true circumcision of the heart "shall lie with the uncircumcised" (Ezekiel 32:29). They who boasted of their might on earth shall in hell be "ashamed of their might" (Ezekiel 32:30).
(6) The only consolation left them shall be the wretched one of having multitudes of others as companions of their misery. As on earth violent men put their terror on their fellow-men, so God will put His terror on them.
(7) The theater of its displ ay shall be not only in hell, but also "in the land of the living," where God will gloriously vindicate the cause of His people against their foes (Ezekiel 32:32). Surely men disquiet themselves about a vain thing in so keenly pursuing pleasure, gain, fame, and power, at the cost of their immortal souls. What will all these objects of worldly men's pursuit do for them when they are laid in the grave? Lord, do thou teach us the blessedness of having thee as our portion forever!