Ezekiel 29:19
“Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her multitude, take her plunder, and take her prey. That will be the wages for his army.”
What does Ezekiel 29:19 mean?
God is announcing through the prophet that Egypt will fall to Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful Babylonian king, as payment for the hard military work his army has done. The "wages" here aren't money but the spoils of conquest—the resources and wealth of Egypt itself. This was a word of judgment on Egypt, which had been a proud and prosperous nation, and it served as reassurance to Nebuchadnezzar's forces that their efforts would be rewarded. For those reading this passage, it speaks to how God works through history and human events, sometimes using one nation's ambitions to accomplish his purposes, and reminding us that earthly power and wealth are never as permanent or secure as they seem.