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dark in Tehaphnehes

Ezekiel 30:13-19 (JDV)

Ezekiel 30:13 ” ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the false gods in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt. And I will instill fear in that land.
Ezekiel 30:14 I will make Pathros desolate, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgments on Thebes.
Ezekiel 30:15 I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and will wipe out the processions of Thebes.
Ezekiel 30:16 I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be breached, and Memphis will face foes in broad daylight.
Ezekiel 30:17 The young men of On and Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and those cities will go into captivity.
Ezekiel 30:18 The day will be dark in Tehaphnehes, when I break the yoke of Egypt there and its proud strength comes to an end in the city. A cloud will cover Tehaphnehes, and its surrounding villages will go into captivity.

dark in Tehaphnehes

The mention of darkness reminds me of the darkness that fell on Egypt when God was judging it by the destroying angel. The darkness that fell on Egypt that was predicted by Ezekiel here was a long period of ruins where the ancient buildings could still be seen, followed by utter ruin.

Gaebelein quotes a thirteenth-century visitor to Egypt — Abd-ul-Latif:

““ Its ruins still offer to the eyes of the spectator a collection of wonderful works which confound the intellect and to describe which the most eloquent man would labor in vain. The longer we look upon the scene, the higher rises the admiration it inspires; and every new glance that we cast upon the ruins reveal a new charm. Scarcely have they awakened a distinct idea in the soul of the spectator than a still more admirable idea suggests itself; and just as you believe you have gained complete knowledge of them, at that very moment the conviction forces itself on the mind, that what you think you know is still very far from the truth.”1

Those temples and gardens are gone completely today. Their absence is a reminder for those of us who are proud of all our present-day wonders. Gaebelein goes on to give this application:

“May we here be reminded in our solemn times that the same omniscient Lord, who knows the end from the beginning, has spoken concerning this age, now closing in its predicted apostasy. Nations today steeped in bloodshed; nations filled with covetousness and hatred; an apostate professing Christendom and the indifferent masses have written over against them the judgment-wrath of the coming King. And He who fulfilled the words spoken through Ezekiel will also fulfill every other prediction uttered by His Holy prophets and apostles. 2

1 Gaebelein, Arno Clemens. The Prophet Ezekiel. New York City: Publication office “Our hope”, 1918. p. 199.

2 Gaebelein, p. 200.