Why in Ezekiel 32 does God keep talking about the land of the living. And the land of the dead back and forth?
Ezekiel 32:24-25...
"24 “‘Eʹlam is there with all her hordes around her grave, all of them fallen by the sword. They have gone down uncircumcised to the land below, those who caused terror in the land of the living. Now they will bear their shame with those going down into the pit. 25 They have made a bed for her among the slain, along with all her hordes around her graves. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword, because they caused terror in the land of the living; and they will bear their shame with those going down into the pit. He has been put among the slain."
The "Land below" is the realm of the dead...the "pit" is their grave. Their "bed among the slain" is their dead body with others buried in the ground.
And why does he talk about the pit as being deep in the earth(Ezekiel 32:18)?
"“Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and bring her down to the land below, her and the daughters of mighty nations, with those going down into the pit."
Also why does he make it look like people can talk from sheol(Ezekiel 32:21)?
This is speaking metaphorically. In Hebrews 11:4, Paul says..
."By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than that of Cain, and through that faith he received the witness that he was righteous, for God approved his gifts, and although he died, he still speaks through his faith."
Also it also looks like people can see other people coming to sheol. Which makes them happy.(Ezekiel 32:30-31)
From the Tanach...
"There are the nobles of the North and all the Zidonians, who descend with the slain, ashamed when they are destroyed in spite of their might. And the uncircumcised lay with those slain by the sword and they bore their disgrace with those who descend into the Pit.
31Pharaoh will see them and will be consoled for all his multitude slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his army, says the Lord God"
Again this is speaking metaphorically because Pharaoh and his army are long dead, all killed by his disgraceful pride....but those who are like Pharaoh in their attitude will suffer the same fate, making that original Pharaoh figuratively feel like he as not the only one to oppose Jehovah and suffer the humiliation of defeat.
Also to make things even more confusing is philippians 2:10.Were it says every knee should bow.Even under the earth.
Half the battle in understanding scripture is that you can't just pluck verses out of their context and expect to understand them. Bible study takes time and diligent effort to understand what the original Bible writers were saying and taking scripture as a whole, not bits and pieces that just happen to be in one book. It requires an understanding of the original languages and the tools necessary for that depth of study are available online.
Guidance from a trusted source is also helpful.
Philippians 2 is speaking symbolically of the resurrected ones who were sleeping in their graves when Paul wrote this letter. When they come forth from their graves, they too will bow before Jesus as their King and Redeemer.
The next verse says...
"and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus whole mission was to bring glory to his Father...not himself.
