prove herself to be in her last attempt to use Israel as the tool of her selfish designs. The great difference between Ezekiel and Isaiah is that, whereas Isaiah had access to the councils of Hezekiah and could bring his influence to bear on the inception of schemes of state, not without hope of averting what he saw to be a disastrous decision, Ezekiel could only watch the development of events from afar, and throw his warnings into the form of predictions of the fate in store for Egypt. The oracles against Egypt are seven in number: (i) ch. xxix. 1‐16; (ii) 17‐21; (iii) xxx. 1‐19; (iv) 20‐26; (v) xxxi.; (vi) xxxii. 1‐16; (vii) 17‐32. They are all variations of one theme, the annihilation of the power of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, and little progress of thought can be traced from the first to the last. Excluding the supplementary prophecy of ch. xxix. 17‐21, which is a later addition, the order appears to be strictly chronological.(106) The series begins seven months before the capture of Jerusalem (ch. xxix. 1), and ends about eight months after that event.(107) How far the dates refer to actual occurrences coming to the knowledge of the prophet it is impossible for us to say. It is clear that his interest is centred on the fate of Jerusalem then hanging in the balance; and it is possible that the first oracles (chs. xxix. 1‐16, xxx. 1‐19) may be called forth by the appearance of Hophra’s army on the scene, while the next (ch. xxx. 20‐26) plainly alludes to the repulse of the Egyptians by the Chaldæans. But no attempt can be made to connect the prophecies with incidents of the campaign; the prophet’s thoughts are wholly occupied with the moral and religious issues involved in the contest, the vindication of Jehovah’s holiness in the overthrow of the great world‐power which sought to thwart His purposes. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐