I made it beautiful in the mass of its branches, and all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God.
In this verse God speaks in the first person about the great cedar. The tree did not make itself beautiful; He did. The verse also names the onlookers — the trees of Eden in the garden of God — and tells us what they felt: envy.
Assyria as the mirror for Egypt
The chapter speaks to Egypt, and God holds up Assyria as the mirror. One writer notes how we assume the lesson is meant for someone else:
Numerical Bible NotesHow gladly would we make ourselves the one exception, so that what applies to others should not apply to us! God therefore points them to Assyria, a power as strong as Egypt itself.
The trees of Eden and the garden of God
So who are these other trees, and what is this garden?
Morrish Bible DictionaryScripture pictures the fall of Pharaoh as the fall of a tall tree, and this comforts the trees of Eden, which is called the "garden of God." God planted the trees of Eden. In this passage they stand for the various nations God placed in the earth, with Israel at the centre.
The neighbouring powers were like Eden's trees too. Yet all of them lived in Assyria's shade:
Numerical Bible NotesIn Assyria and the neighbouring powers, the trees of the Garden of God might seem to have appeared again in another form. But all alike lived under the shadow of the one supreme power, which was the envy of them all.
Why a tree pictures an empire
The verses around it fill in the picture. Birds nest in the boughs, animals rest under the branches, and nations sit in the shade. Scripture itself supplies the key to what those creatures stand for:
The Bible TreasuryIt is evident here that Assyria is a vast power, for great nations dwelt under his shadow. The picture is a tree. The birds that nested in his branches, and the animals that looked for protection and shelter under them, are, according to the word of God, the surrounding nations. All we need to notice now is that the tree pictures a towering earthly power.
The same picture returns in a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Daniel had to interpret it:
Edward DennettThe prophets often use a tree as a figure for men in their earthly greatness. This close match helps us understand the symbolism of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. It shows how fitting the picture is for being raised high in the government of the earth, with the far-reaching, wide-spreading, sheltering protection such power gives to people of every rank and condition.
"I made it beautiful"
God takes the credit for everything Assyria had — its beauty, its size, and its power over its neighbours:
William KellyThe Assyrian stood among the nations as the cedar of Lebanon stands among the trees — in height, size, and spread of shade, as well as beauty. God grudged nothing that could adorn Nineveh and make it great, or the people whose capital it was. Yes, He let it exercise enormous, far-reaching power and influence over the countries around it, so that all envied it.
From gift to boast
The verse credits God with the greatness. The question that follows is what man does with a gift like that:
Numerical Bible NotesBut God's fostering care made it great, and it only repeated the old story. Is there any gift of God that man will not abuse?
From height to downfall
The very stature God gave became the thing the Assyrian claimed for himself:
William KellyBut the Assyrian wanted the glory of a king of kings for himself. His heart was lifted up because of his height, and that brought his doom on him.
The ruin was not a random misfortune. It carried a message for every watching nation:
Numerical Bible NotesAll the peoples of the earth had gone down from his shadow and left him. This was no disaster without explanation. It was a warning against pride, one that God's sure government preaches everywhere.
Summary
- Gift. Every branch of that beauty came from God's hand; He "grudged nothing" that could make Assyria great.
- Garden. The trees of Eden are nations God Himself planted, with Israel at the centre. So the envy here is one nation eyeing another's God-given place.
- Shade. The tree pictures a towering earthly power, with nations sheltering under it. Daniel read the same image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
- Grasp. Assyria claimed the height God gave as its own glory. That lifting up of the heart brought its doom.
- Warning. God shows Egypt the fall of Assyria, because we all want to be the one exception. The fallen cedar warns everyone against pride.