Was the Egyptians ever dispersed and Egypt became desolate for forty years without humans or animals Ezekiel 29 ver 12?

Answer 1

The prophecy in Ezekiel 29:12 should be read in the context of the entire polemic in chapter 29. It says the Lord told Ezekiel to set his face against the Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and addresses insults against the Pharoah himself, as well as condemning Egypt to desolation (29:10,12). So the prophecy is that Egypt will be made waste and desolate in the time of the Pharaohs, not in so many thousands of years time.

This prophecy is one that never came true.

The prophecy in Ezekiel 29: 12 is one that is yet to come.

In understanding any prophecy all of it must be read, not just a few verses, and it must not be taken out of context, or have read into it what is not there to suit a predetermined point of view.

Eze 29:10 Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.

Eze 29:11 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

Eze 29:12 And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

Eze 29:13 Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

The prophecy in Ezekiel did happen, but it was only partially-fulfilled; it is yet to be fulfilled in its entirety. The prophecy in Ezekiel 29:10-13 was part-fulfilled:-"when Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, reigned supreme in Egypt (see verses 19-20) from ca.568/67BC to 525BC until Cyrus gained Persian control., but only in part: it is not completely fulfilled yet. "

(quoted from John MacArthur in "The MacArthur Study Bible").

This prophecy is fulfilled only in part: it is not completely fulfilled yet. The ancient prophets described the 'Day of the Lord' and God's plan to bring Israel to repentance by its enemies which they foresaw happening thousands of years in the near-coming future but were only able to use language and idioms of their day.

The critical part is verse 11, where it basically says nothing at all will be able to go from one side of Egypt to the other for 40 years. It doesn't say nothing will be able to enter the area: it says nothing will be able to cross it from one side to the other. This includes men, animals, birds, insects, cockroaches, and plants: everything single living thing there dies. Obviously this has not occurred yet so it is yet future. Think of nuclear bombs: then think of radioactivity killing all those who try to cross Egypt from one side to the other.