2 Kings 24:7 kjv
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
2 Kings 24:7 nkjv
And the king of Egypt did not come out of his land anymore, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the River Euphrates.
2 Kings 24:7 niv
The king of Egypt did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
2 Kings 24:7 esv
And the king of Egypt did not come again out of his land, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates.
2 Kings 24:7 nlt
The king of Egypt did not venture out of his country after that, for the king of Babylon captured the entire area formerly claimed by Egypt ? from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
2 Kings 24 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 46:2, 10 | Concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates... a day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance... | Prophecy against Necho at Carchemish. |
| Jer 25:9 | behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant... | God uses Nebuchadnezzar for His purposes. |
| Ezek 29:19 | Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon shall come against the land of Egypt, and shall take her spoil... | Nebuchadnezzar destined to plunder Egypt. |
| Ezek 30:10 | Thus saith the Lord God; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar... | Babylon as instrument against Egypt. |
| Gen 15:18 | Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: | Abrahamic covenant on ideal land boundaries. |
| Num 34:5 | And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea. | Southern boundary of promised land. |
| Deut 1:7 | Go in and possess the land... unto the great river, the river Euphrates. | Lord commanding Israel to possess their full inheritance. |
| Josh 1:4 | From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites... | God reiterates the promise of territory to Joshua. |
| 2 Ki 23:29-30 | In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates... and Josiah was slain... | Preceding Egyptian engagement near Euphrates, resulting in Judah's king's death. |
| 2 Ki 24:1 | In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years... | Direct consequence of Babylonian dominance, Jehoiakim's submission. |
| Isa 7:18 | In that day the Lord will whistle for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. | God's power over nations (Egypt & Assyria). |
| Isa 10:5-7 | O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger... I will send him against an hypocritical nation... | God uses foreign empires as His instruments. |
| Dan 2:37-38 | Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom... and hast made thee ruler over them all. | Nebuchadnezzar as head of gold, his vast dominion. |
| Dan 7:4 | The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings... I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked... | Prophetic representation of Babylon's power. |
| Jer 37:7 | Thus saith the Lord... Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt... | Egypt's futility in providing aid against Babylon. |
| Ezek 29:6-7 | They have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel... when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest... | Egypt as an unreliable ally. |
| Lam 4:17 | As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. | Judah's hope in Egypt proved vain. |
| Ps 105:23 | Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. | Historic relationship with Egypt, contrasted with present power dynamic. |
| Ex 23:31 | And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river. | God setting territorial boundaries for Israel. |
| Isa 19:1 | The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: | Prophecy of divine judgment upon Egypt. |
2 Kings 24 verses
2 Kings 24 7 Meaning
This verse details a pivotal geopolitical shift in the ancient Near East: the complete and permanent cessation of Egyptian influence north of its borders. Pharaoh Necho II, after the decisive defeat at the Battle of Carchemish, never again extended his control or military might beyond Egypt. This was because Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, had asserted total dominance, seizing all territories that previously pertained to Egypt, spanning from the "River of Egypt" (Wadi al-Arish, the southern border of Canaan) up to the mighty River Euphrates. This established Babylon as the sole hegemonic power in the region, directly impacting the kingdom of Judah.
2 Kings 24 7 Context
This verse appears within 2 Kings 24, which describes the latter years of King Jehoiakim's reign in Judah. Historically, the preceding events include the fall of Assyria and the rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II. Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt had attempted to assert control over the former Assyrian territories in the Levant, even defeating and killing King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo (2 Ki 23:29). This verse serves as a crucial explanation for Jehoiakim's immediate future actions. With Egypt decisively removed from the regional power equation by Babylon's triumph at the Battle of Carchemish (605 BC), Judah found itself directly under Babylonian suzerainty. It signifies the end of Judah's ability to pivot between two great powers, and the direct imposition of Babylonian rule as the primary threat and influence.
2 Kings 24 7 Word analysis
- And the king of Egypt: Refers specifically to Pharaoh Necho II. His active participation in Mesopotamian affairs, which previously extended as far as the Euphrates, ceased after this defeat.
- came not again any more out of his land: This phrase signifies the permanent nature of Egypt's military and political withdrawal from the Levant. It indicates a decisive, irreversible blow to Egyptian regional aspirations.
- for: This conjunction introduces the reason or justification for the statement that precedes it, explaining why the king of Egypt could no longer project power abroad.
- the king of Babylon: Identifies Nebuchadnezzar II, the most prominent and powerful monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, signifying the ascension of a new, formidable world power chosen by God for His purposes.
- had taken: The Hebrew word is lāqaḥ (לָקַח), which means to take, seize, or acquire. Here, it implies forceful conquest and full possession of territories by the Babylonian king, asserting unchallenged dominion.
- all that pertained to the king of Egypt: This phrase denotes all territories, vassal states, and spheres of influence that Pharaoh Necho II had acquired or was attempting to control in the vast region of the Levant and Syria. It implies a total stripping of Egyptian foreign possessions.
- from the river of Egypt: Hebrew: Naḥal Mitzrayim (נַחַל מִצְרַיִם). This is generally understood not as the Nile River itself, but as the Wadi al-Arish, a seasonal stream or "brook of Egypt" forming the southwestern border of Canaan and the traditional boundary of the Promised Land.
- unto the river Euphrates: Hebrew: Nahar Pĕrāth (נְהַר פְּרָת). This is the major river flowing through Mesopotamia, forming the northern boundary of the Fertile Crescent and traditionally, the utmost extent of the land promised to Abraham.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land": This powerful statement underlines the completeness and finality of Egypt's military and political defeat in the Levant. It signals a dramatic and lasting reversal of fortune for Egypt in the wider region, allowing Babylon to step into the vacuum.
- "for the king of Babylon had taken all that pertained to the king of Egypt": This clearly articulates the reason for Egypt's retreat, emphasizing the comprehensive victory of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar's capture of these territories solidified his unchallenged control, explaining the subsequent vassalage of Judah.
- "from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates": This geographical delineation precisely outlines the vast extent of Babylon's newly acquired empire. Significantly, these boundaries encompass the majority of the land promised to Abraham's descendants, highlighting that even while under the rule of a pagan empire, the very territory promised by God was a locus of divine attention and future fulfillment.
2 Kings 24 7 Bonus section
- Divine Sovereignty and the Shifting Sands of Empires: This verse is a clear demonstration of God's overarching sovereignty. He raises and diminishes nations (Dan 4:17). The swift ascendancy of Babylon over Egypt and Judah's region wasn't random; it served God's ultimate redemptive purposes, even through pagan kings.
- Impact on Prophetic Fulfillment: The shift of power illustrated here paved the way for the precise fulfillments of prophecies by Jeremiah and Ezekiel concerning Judah's submission to Babylon and subsequent exile, making reliance on Egypt a foolish endeavor.
- Echoes of Covenant Borders: The specific geographical delineation from the "River of Egypt to the Euphrates" is not arbitrary. It echoes the very boundaries of the land promised to Abraham in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:18), even as a foreign power now held sway over it, reminding the careful reader that God's plans for His land persist.
2 Kings 24 7 Commentary
2 Kings 24:7 concisely reports a decisive turning point in regional power dynamics. It records the complete failure of Egypt to maintain any control or influence north of its borders due to the overwhelming military success of Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar II. This single verse effectively sets the stage for Babylon's direct control over Judah, as King Jehoiakim's option for Egyptian alliance or protection was removed. It underscores God's sovereignty over the nations, allowing the rise of Babylon as His instrument to discipline Judah and control the very land associated with His covenant promises.