THEOSISJerome of Stridon
In the twenty-seventh year, during the first month, on a specific day of that month, the Lord spoke to me, declaring, "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, exerted tremendous effort against Tyre: his soldiers endured great hardships, suffering injuries and exhaustion, yet received no compensation from Tyre for their toil. Therefore, the Lord God proclaims, behold, I will grant to Nebuchadnezzar the land of Egypt, enabling him to seize its treasures and pillage its wealth, which will serve as a reward for his troops. For the labor he undertook for My sake against Egypt, I will bestow upon him this land, affirming that their efforts were indeed for Me, says the Lord God.
Read more (862 words)
On that day, the strength of the house of Israel will increase, and I will provide you with the ability to proclaim among them, and they will recognize that I am the Lord."
It raises questions about how the narrative transitions directly from the tenth year to the twenty-seventh, followed by mentions of the tenth and twelfth years, culminating in the description of the temple in the twenty-fifth year. However, the explanation is not complex. The prophecies concerning both Egypt and Tyre are interconnected, despite being delivered at different times; they pertain to a singular historical context. This pattern of presenting events in reverse chronological order is also observed in the writings of Jeremiah. There, Zedekiah’s actions are mentioned prior to those of his predecessor Jehoiakim. In the Psalms, nonetheless, one does not seek a chronological sequence, for they are works of poetry.
To clarify the literal interpretation: when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Tyre, he was unable to deploy battering rams and siege engines due to the city being surrounded by water. Instead, he commanded a vast multitude of soldiers to gather stones and build mounds, creating a link between the mainland and the island. Sensing the impending doom as the walls trembled from the siege engines, the Tyrians loaded their ships with their most valuable possessions—gold, silver, clothing, and various utensils—so that when Nebuchadnezzar captured the city, he discovered nothing of value. Nevertheless, because he acted in obedience to God’s will, Egypt was granted to him a few years after the fall of Tyre. Tyr was more malevolent than Egypt, as while the latter had attacked Jerusalem, the former merely offered empty promises of aid. It is one thing to deceive the vulnerable with false hope and another to wage war against God’s chosen people.
Thus, Nebuchadnezzar's march against Tyre was done in service to Me, as every soldier suffered exhaustion, with sore heads and bare shoulders from carrying dirt and stones, suffering yet finding no reward in Tyre. Because of this service, I will bestow upon him the land of Egypt in recompense. Some interpret this fulfillment to have occurred under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, while others attribute it to Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who ravaged Egypt extending to Ethiopia, slaying its inhabitants and destroying their idols. It is said he descends into madness due to a fall and ultimately met his end by his sword. Herodotus narrates this tale in detail, articulating the geography of Egypt, its towns, fortifications, and the origin of the Nile, while delineating the land's borders extending to Ethiopia's desert, the Great Sea, Libya, and Arabia.
The reason for the Lord's anger towards Egypt is that they misled God’s people into relying on them for support rather than turning to God, provoking His ire. On the day that Egypt falls, the strength of the house of Israel shall increase, likely indicating the royal lineage. Some see this as a reference to Zerubbabel, descendant of Jehoiakim from the house of David, while others anticipate this as a prophecy regarding the coming of Elijah. However, we see Christ as the true strength of the Lord, as when this prophecy is fulfilled, O prophet, your voice shall be released. Your proclamations will not be contingent upon uncertain promises but shall clearly manifest as realized truth, so that all who listen may acknowledge that I am the Lord, whose word is aligned with fulfillment.
This serves as a literal interpretation of the prophecy fulfillment. Moreover, Nebuchadnezzar's reward for his righteousness indicates that even those outside the covenant who accomplish good deeds will not escape God’s justice. Thus, Jeremiah refers to Nebuchadnezzar as the messenger of God, for he fulfilled God’s purpose against the wicked. "Behold, I will send Nebuchadnezzar my servant" (Jer. 25:9). This demonstrates the lamentable condition of God's people, who fall short when compared to the Gentiles who adhere to the natural law, which even when inscribed is often ignored by us. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this in his epistle to the Romans.
In considering the spiritual implications, we inquire about the significance of the number twenty-seven. In Genesis (Genesis 7:1, 8:4), it is noted that in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day, the waters of the flood emerged upon the earth; likewise, in the seventh month of that year, near the Sabbath, and on the twenty-seventh day, the floodwaters receded, and Noah’s ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat, signifying Armenia. Clearly, this number carries dual significance, representing both divine wrath as initiated by the flood and mercy, as evidenced by salvation on the same date in the seventh month. As the Jewish month is calculated according to the lunar cycle—which is why the Greek term for moon, μη'ν, also denotes a month—the twenty-seventh day suggests that though His wrath is pronounced, it does not entirely lack mercy. When the moon completes its cycle, Passover and all principal feasts will have been observed. Thus, we denote that within this number exists both good and ill: good for Nebuchadnezzar, who receives the reward of his labor, and ill for the Egyptians, to whom devastation is foretold.