Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya …: This verse includes all of Egypt’s allies in the coming destruction. It probably refers to the soldiers of the listed countries, not the countries themselves (compare Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version, which say “soldiers hired from”). For Ethiopia (“Cush” in Hebrew), see the previous verse. For Put, that is, “Libya” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, King James Version / New King James Version), and Lud, that is, “Lydia” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, King James Version / New King James Version, Revised English Bible, Christian Community Bible), see the comments on 27.10. All Arabia refers to the Arabian Peninsula. However, this reading, which is followed by the majority of translations, is based on the ancient Syriac version and involves a change to the vowels of the Hebrew text. The Hebrew reads “all the mixed populations” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; similarly King James Version / New King James Version), which refers to the non-Egyptians living in Egypt. Like Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, we prefer the Hebrew here. Libya is a guess based on the Septuagint. The Hebrew text has “Kub” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version; similarly King James Version / New King James Version, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), which is unknown. Many translations follow the Septuagint in spite of the fact that Put, which is usually identified as “Libya,” is already mentioned in this list. The best solution is for translators to include “Kub” in the list (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project), even though we do not know the location of this country.

And the people of the land that is in league: It is not clear who these people are. They may be from any other countries that made diplomatic agreements with Egypt and provided soldiers to help Egypt fight its enemies. In that case translators may say “and the allies of Egypt.” On the other hand, the Septuagint has identified these people as Jews, saying literally “and the sons of my covenant.” Some modern translations have followed this interpretation, for example, “Soldiers … as well as from Israel” (Contemporary English Version), “the Jews who live in Egypt” (New International Reader’s Version), “soldiers … even from among my own people” (Good News Translation). Although this interpretation is less likely, both are acceptable.

Shall fall with them by the sword: Soldiers from Egypt’s allies, that is, from all the countries listed, will also be killed in the coming war with them, that is, with the Egyptians. For fall … by the sword, which means die in war, see 5.12.

One model for this verse is:

• People from the regions of Ethiopia, Libya and Lydia, and all the people from other regions living in Egypt, and people from Kub and the regions that are allies of Egypt will die with the Egyptians in the war.

In some languages the order will need to be changed as follows:

• When the enemies kill the Egyptians, they will also kill the people from the countries of Ethiopia, Libya and Lydia, and all the people from other countries living in Egypt, and the people from Kub, and all the people from those countries that are allies of Egypt.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .