Haftorah
📖 Summary of Haftorah: Yechezkal 28:25-29:21
Prophecies of Restoration and Judgment
A Summary of Yechezkel 28:25–29:21
- Promise of Israel’s Restoration (28:25–26)
G‑d declares:
- When He gathers the House of Israel from among the nations where they were scattered, and sanctifies Himself through them before the nations,
- They will dwell securely on the land given to Yaakov, building houses and planting vineyards.
- This security will come after G‑d executes judgment on all who plundered them.
- Then they will know that He is the Lord their G‑d.
- Prophecy Against Egypt (29:1–16)
- Pharaoh’s Arrogance Condemned
- In the tenth year, tenth month, twelfth day, G‑d commands Yechezkel to prophesy against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all Egypt.
- Pharaoh is compared to a great crocodile lying in the Nile, boasting:
“My river is mine; I made myself.” - G‑d vows to put hooks in Pharaoh’s jaws, drag him and the fish clinging to him out of the river, and scatter them in the wilderness to be devoured by beasts and birds.
- Egypt’s False Support
- Egypt had been a broken reed for Israel—splintering when grasped and causing harm.
- Therefore, G‑d will bring the sword upon Egypt, cutting off man and beast.
- The land will become desolate from Migdol to Syene, up to Ethiopia’s border, for forty years.
- Egypt will be scattered among nations during this period.
- Egypt’s Humbling
- After forty years, G‑d will gather Egypt back to Pathros, its original land.
- Egypt will become the lowest of kingdoms, never again ruling over nations.
- It will no longer be a source of misplaced confidence for Israel, and all will know that G‑d is the Lord.
- Reward to Nebuchadrezzar (29:17–21)
- In the twenty-seventh year, first month, first day, G‑d speaks again:
- Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, labored greatly against Tyre but received no reward.
- Therefore, G‑d will give him the land of Egypt as payment—its wealth, spoils, and booty.
- On that day, the horn of the House of Israel will blossom, and Yechezkel will speak freely among them, affirming that G‑d is the Lord.
