Ezekiel 32:22
Assyria is there with her whole company; her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.
Assyria is there with her whole company;
Assyria, once a dominant empire known for its military prowess and conquests, is depicted here as being in Sheol, the realm of the dead. This reflects the historical reality of Assyria's fall, which occurred in 612 BC with the destruction of Nineveh. The "whole company" suggests the entirety of Assyria's might and people, emphasizing the totality of their defeat. This serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly power and the ultimate sovereignty of God over nations. Assyria's presence in this context is a fulfillment of prophetic warnings given by prophets like Isaiah and Nahum, who foretold its downfall due to its pride and cruelty.

her graves are all around her.
The imagery of graves surrounding Assyria underscores the completeness of its destruction. In ancient Near Eastern culture, burial practices were significant, and being surrounded by graves could symbolize dishonor and defeat. This phrase highlights the finality of Assyria's judgment, as they are not only defeated but also buried in disgrace. The graves serve as a testament to the consequences of defying God and oppressing His people, as Assyria did during its campaigns against Israel and Judah.

All of them are slain,
The phrase "all of them are slain" emphasizes the totality of the judgment against Assyria. It reflects the historical reality of the Assyrian army's defeat and the subsequent collapse of their empire. This serves as a warning to other nations and leaders about the dangers of pride and reliance on military strength. Biblically, it echoes the fate of other nations that opposed God's will, such as Egypt and Babylon, reinforcing the theme of divine justice.

fallen by the sword.
The sword is a common biblical symbol of warfare and divine judgment. The Assyrians, known for their brutal military tactics, meet their end through the very means they often employed against others. This phrase connects to the broader biblical narrative where God uses nations as instruments of judgment but also holds them accountable for their actions. The fall of Assyria by the sword serves as a type of Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death, where He conquers not through violence but through sacrificial love.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Assyria
A powerful ancient empire known for its military might and conquests. In the context of Ezekiel, Assyria represents a nation judged by God for its pride and wickedness.

2. Graves
Symbolic of death and judgment, the graves around Assyria signify the downfall and destruction of those who opposed God.

3. The Slain
Refers to the fallen soldiers and people of Assyria who have been judged and defeated, emphasizing the consequences of defying God.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Pride
Assyria's downfall serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. Nations and individuals alike must recognize their dependence on God.

Divine Justice
God's judgment is inevitable for those who oppose Him. This passage reminds us of the certainty of divine justice and the importance of aligning with God's will.

Historical Lessons
The historical context of Assyria's fall provides a lesson on the transient nature of earthly power and the enduring sovereignty of God.

Repentance and Humility
The fate of Assyria calls believers to examine their own lives for areas of pride and to seek repentance and humility before God.

Hope in God's Sovereignty
Even in the face of powerful adversaries, believers can find hope in the knowledge that God is ultimately in control and will bring about His righteous purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the downfall of Assyria in Ezekiel 32:22 serve as a warning for modern nations and individuals?

2. In what ways can pride manifest in our personal lives, and how can we guard against it in light of Assyria's example?

3. How does the theme of divine justice in Ezekiel 32:22 connect with the broader biblical account of God's judgment and redemption?

4. What lessons can we learn from the historical context of Assyria's rise and fall that apply to our current world situation?

5. How can we find comfort and hope in God's sovereignty when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, as illustrated by the fate of Assyria?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 10
This chapter discusses the arrogance of Assyria and God's use of Assyria as an instrument of judgment, followed by its eventual downfall, similar to the imagery in Ezekiel 32:22.

Nahum 3
Nahum prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, highlighting the theme of divine judgment against prideful nations.

Revelation 19
The imagery of fallen nations and divine judgment in Revelation parallels the fate of Assyria, illustrating the ultimate triumph of God's justice.
A Vision of the Unseen WorldW. Clarkson Ezekiel 32:17-32
Companionship in WoeJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 32:17-32
The Gathering of the Guilty Nations in HadesJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 32:17-32
People
Elam, Ezekiel, Meshech, Pharaoh, Sidonians, Tubal
Places
Assyria, Babylon, Edom, Egypt, Elam, Meshech-Tubal, Tigris-Euphrates Region
Topics
Army, Assemblage, Assembly, Asshur, Assyria, Company, Death, Fallen, Falling, Graves, Resting-place, Round, Slain, Surrounded, Sword, Wounded
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 32:17-32

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How the Preacher, when He Has Accomplished all Aright, Should Return to Himself, Lest Either his Life or his Preaching Lift Him Up.
But since often, when preaching is abundantly poured forth in fitting ways, the mind of the speaker is elevated in itself by a hidden delight in self-display, great care is needed that he may gnaw himself with the laceration of fear, lest he who recalls the diseases of others to health by remedies should himself swell through neglect of his own health; lest in helping others he desert himself, lest in lifting up others he fall. For to some the greatness of their virtue has often been the occasion
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Epistle cxxii. To Rechared, King of the visigoths .
To Rechared, King of the Visigoths [82] . Gregory to Rechared, &c. I cannot express in words, most excellent son, how much I am delighted with thy work and thy life. For on hearing of the power of a new miracle in our days, to wit that the whole nation of the Goths has through thy Excellency been brought over from the error of Arian heresy to the firmness of a right faith, one is disposed to exclaim with the prophet, This is the change wrought by the right hand of the Most High (Ps. lxxvi. 11 [83]
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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