30:12 the hand of strangers. Egypt, certainly one of the greatest nations of the world historically, has been ruled by various “stranger” nations for over two thousand years, from Persia to Rome, to Arabs, to Britain and others.

30:13 Noph. Noph is the same as Memphis, the ancient capital of lower Egypt. This prophecy has been completely fulfilled. The great buildings and temples of Memphis, with their giant images, are completely gone.

30:14 Pathros. Pathros was the name for Upper Egypt, whose capital and chief metropolis was No, or Thebes. It was greater and more magnificent than even Memphis. It was not, like Memphis, doomed to extinction, but was to be “rent asunder” (Ezekiel 30:16), with all its multitudes “cut off” (Ezekiel 30:15). Today, its remarkable ruins constitute one of Egypt’s chief tourist attractions.

30:18 At Tehaphnehes. The last of the cities designated in this prophecy would actually be the first entered by the invading Babylonians, situated near Egypt’s northeast corner. Same as Tahpanhes.