Ezekiel 31:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord speaks to Adonai, proclaiming that on that day, he will descend into the depths, and I will cause him to weep. When I cast him down into the abyss, every tree of delight will find solace; in other words, all the monarchs who have passed away before him will be comforted by his downfall. The chosen ones, like refreshing waters, will witness his descent into the depths. The favored and noble Lebanon, representing all those who were elevated like him, alongside him, will join the others in the depths among those marked by the sword's affliction.

This holds true for both cases. When the king of Babylon met his end, the news reverberated widely, causing confusion among the nations under his dominion; similarly, when the adversary was defeated, the nations trembled, emerging from their previous sins into the light of the redemptive truths. This upheaval is what the Apostle Paul refers to as a shaking (Hebrews 12:26, 27). All the fruitful trees, the chosen and noble Lebanon, and all who partake of water offered him comfort in the land farthest away. Those who bear the marks of the sword will also be brought down to the depths alongside him. In reference to Nebuchadnezzar, this distant place, along with a chasm and abyss, symbolizes death, while regarding the devil, it signifies the utmost degradation.