Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Egypt's army won't be the ones building siege mounds; rather, those mounds are the work of the enemy against Jerusalem. This subtly underscores that Pharaoh's intervention, while perhaps intended to help, won't actually prevent the devastating siege operations from happening.
Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is explaining the symbolic story of the two eagles to King Zedekiah, likening him to a vine that trusted in Egypt for help. This verse, building on the preceding prophecy, declares that Pharaoh's mighty army will ultimately fail to save Jerusalem. Despite the Egyptians' arrival, they won't prevent Nebuchadnezzar from constructing siege works and ultimately conquering the city, as has happened historically when Egypt tried to intervene.
King Zedekiah desperately sought help from Egypt to save Jerusalem. But God's message through Ezekiel was stark: this alliance would be utterly useless.
An Alliance Destined to Fail
Ezekiel 17:17 reveals a core truth about misplaced trust. King Zedekiah, facing the mighty Babylonian empire, turned to Egypt for military aid. He hoped Pharaoh's 'mighty army and great company' would crush the Babylonian siege.
But God declares this help will be in vain. The key phrase is 'make for him in the war,' which doesn't mean the Egyptians wouldn't fight, but that their fighting would accomplish nothing for Zedekiah. The Babylonian siege engines ('mounds,' 'siege walls') would continue their grim work, and Egypt's intervention wouldn't change the outcome.
The verse mentions 'mounds cast up and siege walls built.' What do these grim details tell us about the reality of ancient warfare and its impact?
The Brutal Reality of Siege
The 'mounds' and 'siege walls' described are not the actions of the relieving army (like Egypt), but the tools of the besieging army (like Babylon). These were massive engineering feats designed to break a city's defenses:
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The verse highlights that this terrifying process would continue, relentless and unopposed by the Egyptian intervention. It underscores the overwhelming power of the Babylonian forces and the hopelessness of Jerusalem's situation when relying on foreign aid.
This wasn't just a political or military failure; it was a spiritual one. Zedekiah's broken covenant brought God's severe judgment.
Judgment for a Broken Vow
The context of Ezekiel 17 is crucial. King Zedekiah had sworn an oath of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, but then broke it by forming an alliance with Egypt. This act of treachery was not just a political misstep; it was a violation of a sacred covenant sworn before God.
Ezekiel's prophecy isn't just predicting a military defeat; it's declaring God's righteous judgment upon Zedekiah for his faithlessness. The futility of the Egyptian aid is a direct consequence of Zedekiah's own sin. God declared in the preceding verses (and it's emphasized later in 17:18-19) that Zedekiah would face severe punishment for breaking his solemn oath.
Understand the original words
milchamah · Hebrew Noun
A state of warfare or armed conflict; in a biblical context, it often refers to the reality of human violence or divine judgment exercised through human instruments.
This verse speaks directly to the failed attempt of Pharaoh Hophra's Egyptian army to relieve Jerusalem during its final siege. The prophet Ezekiel foretells that Egypt's intervention, often hoped for by the Judean leadership, would ultimately be futile against the might of the Babylonian siege engines and determination.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, deports skilled workers and elites from Jerusalem, including the prophet Daniel. This event marks the beginning of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a brief rebellion, Jerusalem is again besieged and conquered by Babylon. King Jehoiachin is deposed and exiled, and his uncle Zedekiah is installed as a vassal king.
c. 590 BC
Prophecies of Ezekiel Begin
Ezekiel, exiled in Babylon, begins to prophesy to the Judean exiles. His messages often address the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the reasons for God's judgment.
c. 588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
King Zedekiah, despite warnings, breaks his treaty with Babylon and seeks an alliance with Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar retaliates by besieging Jerusalem.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Egyptian Army Approaches Jerusalem
An Egyptian army, led by Pharaoh Hophra, marches to aid Jerusalem. This causes the Babylonians to temporarily lift the siege to confront the Egyptians.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
After defeating the Egyptian army, Nebuchadnezzar resumes the siege and breaches Jerusalem's walls. The city and the Temple are destroyed, and the remaining population is exiled.
This passage recounts the historical event where Pharaoh's army indeed came to Jerusalem's aid, but ultimately failed to prevent the Babylonian siege, mirroring the futility described in Ezekiel.
Jeremiah 44:30This verse explicitly names Pharaoh Hophra (Apries), the specific Egyptian king mentioned in historical accounts connected to Ezekiel's prophecy, highlighting Egypt's limited power.
Lamentations 4:17This passage reflects the desperate situation and dashed hopes of Jerusalem's defenders who looked to Egypt for help, echoing the despair when that aid proved ineffective.
Ezekiel 4:2This earlier passage in Ezekiel uses the imagery of siege mounds and forts as a symbol of God's judgment, providing context for the military actions described as futile in chapter 17.
ellicottEzekiel 17:17: "Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:"
(17) By casting up mounts.— This translation implies that “the casting up mounts and building forts” were to be the act of Pharaoh; but such things are done not by the relieving, but by the besieging army. A better translation would be, “when they cast up mounts,” &c.— i.e., at the time of the siege. We learn from Jeremiah 44:3…
barnesEzekiel 17:17: "Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:"
To cast up mounts and build forts - was the business not of the relieving but of the besieging army. Translate it: when men cast up mounts and build forts to destroy many persons.
The verse highlights that Egypt's army won't be the ones building siege mounds; rather, those mounds are the work of the enemy against Jerusalem. This subtly underscores that Pharaoh's intervention, while perhaps intended to help, won't actually prevent the devastating siege operations from happening.
Ezekiel is explaining the symbolic story of the two eagles to King Zedekiah, likening him to a vine that trusted in Egypt for help. This verse, building on the preceding prophecy, declares that Pharaoh's mighty army will ultimately fail to save Jerusalem. Despite the Egyptians' arrival, they won't prevent Nebuchadnezzar from constructing siege works and ultimately conquering the city, as has happened historically when Egypt tried to intervene.
Ezekiel is explaining the symbolic story of the two eagles to King Zedekiah, likening him to a vine that trusted in Egypt for help. This verse, building on the preceding prophecy, declares that Pharaoh's mighty army will ultimately fail to save Jerusalem. Despite the Egyptians' arrival, they won't prevent Nebuchadnezzar from constructing siege works and ultimately conquering the city, as has happened historically when Egypt tried to intervene.
"Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives." — The verse highlights that Egypt's army won't be the ones building siege mounds; rather, those mounds are the work of the enemy against Jerusalem. This subtly underscores that Pharaoh's intervention…
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Last reviewed October 2026