Ezekiel 25

Ezekiel 25 WARNING TO Throughout history Israel experienced the hostility of the neighboring states of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia. In the time of Jerusalem’ s agony, these countries tormented and mocked God’ s people. Their attitude toward Israel was also their attitude toward Israel’ s God.The covenant with Abraham promised that God would bring “cursing” (i.e., calamity) on those who cursed Israel (Genesis 12:3). Jeremiah already had announced that God’s agent would unleash his wrath upon Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia. These nations would come under the fist of Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11).The four brief oracles in ch 25 serve the double purpose of (1) declaring God’ s wrath on all arrogant people who mock him; and (2) indicating to the penitent exiles that God was still concerned for his people in that he was punishing their enemies.WORD AGAINST AMMON Ezekiel 25:1-7 The Ammonites had been vicious enemies of Israel since the time of the judges (Judges 10:9). Their ruthlessness is clearly indicated in the account of the siege of Jabesh-gilead (1 Samuel 11). When the territories east of Jordan had fallen to Assyria, and the tribes there had been deported, the Ammonites had taken over the unoccupied area.First Announcement of Judgment (Ezekiel 25:1-5) Introduction (Ezekiel 25:1-3 a): The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (Ezekiel 25:2) Son of man, set your face against the children of Ammon. Prophesy against them (Ezekiel 25:3) and say to the children of Ammon, Hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD: The Ammon oracle begins with the strongest possible declaration of inspiration: and the word of the LORD came unto me (Ezekiel 25:1). To this is added the directive for Ezekiel to set his face against Ammon and prophesy against them (Ezekiel 25:2). This may have involved an actual facial expression, or it may simply indicate that the prophet was to deliver a negative prophecy. Ezekiel was to address the Ammonites as though he stood in their midst: Hear the word of the Lord GOD (Yahweh).

Yahweh alone was Lord, i.e., master (’adonay), not Chemosh, the god of Ammon. To further underscore the Lordship of Yahweh and the authority of what follows, Ezekiel adds the traditional messenger formula: Thus says the Lord GOD (Ezekiel 25:3 a). Ammon’s sin: arrogant gloating (Ezekiel 25:3 b): Because you have said, Aha! against my sanctuary when it was defiled, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity… The Ammonites were gloating (Aha!) over three misfortunes of the Judeans: (1) God’s sanctuary had been defiled. (2) the land of Israel had been made desolate; and (3) the house of Judah had gone into captivity. The Ammonites had cast covetous eyes on the now unoccupied land of Judah.Ammon’s sentence (Ezekiel 25:4-5): What Ammon’s enemy will do (Ezekiel 25:4): therefore, behold, I am about to give you to the children of the east for a possession. They will set their encampments and make their dwelling places among you. They will eat your fruit, and drink your milk. For their arrogant pride and blasphemous intentions, God will bring swift judgment on Ammon. Ammon will be delivered over to the children of the east, i.e., marauders from the Arabian desert. They will overrun the land, encamp within it, and build their permanent dwellings there. These strangers will forcibly take from the Ammonites the fruit of their labor. What the Lord will do (Ezekiel 25:5): I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and the children of Ammon for a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD. As a result of God’s judgment, Rabbah, Ammon’s capital city, will become a stable for the hoards of camels possessed by the desert invaders. The rest of the land will become grazing pasture for their flocks. The fulfillment of the predictions will vindicate Yahweh in the eyes of the Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:5). They will learn by bitter experience that God is not mocked. Second Announcement of Judgment(Ezekiel 25:6-7):Ammon’s sin (Ezekiel 25:6): For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped the hands, and stamped with the feet, and have rejoiced with all contempt in (your) soul against the land of Israel… The Ammonites had rejoiced with utmost glee over the fate of the land of Israel. Outwardly they were against Ammon after be had destroyed Jerusalem. Some conclude that t. 10.9.7) records that Nebuchadnezzar brought Ammon and Moab into ler, BBC. 579; Alexander, EBC. 865. tes against the Nations," PRS 22 (1995): 115-33. manifested their joy by clapping the hands and stamping the feet. Ammon’s fate (Ezekiel 25:7): therefore, behold, I have stretched forth my hand against you. I will give you for spoil to the nations.

I will cut you off from the peoples. I will cause you to perish from the lands. I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Because of their attitude, God will stretch out his hand against them, i.e., take active measures to assure their downfall. In four awesome and essentially synonymous “ I wills,” God declared that Ammon’ s national existence will come to an end.

Josephus (Ant. 10.9.7) reports that Nebuchadnezzar campaigned against Ammon and Moab in his twenty-third year (582 B.C.). The area was largely depopulated before the middle of the sixth century B.C. until the third, at which time desert tribes came in to fill the vacuum.WORD AGAINST MOAB Ezekiel 25:8-11 Ezekiel’ s attention next fell upon Ammon’ s neighbor to the south, Moab. From the earliest times the Moabites had manifested hostility toward Israel. Balak, king of Moab, had attempted to curse the children of Israel just before the death of Moses (Numbers 22-24). Legend has it that the Moabites slew the parents of David whom he had left there for safety during his flight from Saul (cf. 1 Samuel 22:3). The Moabites warred against Omri, Ahab, and the combined army of Jehoram of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Kings 3). The region of Seir, jointly occupied by Moab and Edom, is included in the present oracle. Moab’s Sin: Willful blindness (Ezekiel 25:8): Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir have said, Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations. The sin of Moab and Seir was twofold: failing to recognize (1) the distinctiveness of Israel, and (2) the uniqueness of Israel’ s God (v 8). Israel no longer enjoyed the miraculous protection she had enjoyed in the past. In their view Israel’s God was no more able to protect her than were the gods of surrounding nations.Moab’s Sentence (Ezekiel 25:9-11): Fortresses fall (Ezekiel 25:9): Therefore, behold, I am about to open the flank of Moab on the side of the cities, its cities from its frontier, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. The fortress cities of Moab will pose no obstacle to the advancing forces of Yahweh. To make this point concrete, Ezekiel names three such cities in Ezekiel 25:9. Beth-jeshimoth was on the plain of Moab opposite Jericho, about a thousand feet below sea level. Baal-meon (“house of Baal’ s habitation”) and Kiriathaim were about ten miles to the southeast on the Moab plateau, about two thousand feet above sea level. Land occupied (Ezekiel 25:10): I will give it to the children of the east, along with the children of Ammon, for a possession in order that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations. On the eastern frontier, Moab’s fate is similar to Ammon’s. Children of the east, i.e., desert raiders, will overthrow the land. WORD AGAINST MOAB Ezekiel 25:8-11 Ezekiel’ s attention next fell upon Ammon’ s neighbor to the south, Moab. From the earliest times the Moabites had manifested hostility toward Israel. Balak, king of Moab, had attempted to curse the children of Israel just before the death of Moses (Numbers 22-24). Legend has it that the Moabites slew the parents of David whom he had left there for safety during his flight from Saul (cf. 1 Samuel 22:3). The Moabites warred against Omri, Ahab, and the combined army of Jehoram of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Kings 3). The region of Seir, jointly occupied by Moab and Edom, is included in the present oracle. Moab’s Sin: Willful blindness (Ezekiel 25:8): Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir have said, Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations. The sin of Moab and Seir was twofold: failing to recognize (1) the distinctiveness of Israel, and (2) the uniqueness of Israel’ s God (Ezekiel 25:8). Israel no longer enjoyed the miraculous protection she had enjoyed in the past. In their view Israel’s God was no more able to protect her than were the gods of surrounding nations.Moab’s Sentence (Ezekiel 25:9-11):Fortresses fall (Ezekiel 25:9): Therefore, behold, I am about to open the flank of Moab on the side of the cities, its cities from its frontier, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. The fortress cities of Moab will pose no obstacle to the advancing forces of Yahweh. To make this point concrete, Ezekiel names three such cities in v 9. Beth-jeshimoth was on the plain of Moab opposite Jericho, about a thousand feet below sea level. Baal-meon (“house of Baal’ s habitation”) and Kiriathaim were about ten miles to the southeast on the Moab plateau, about two thousand feet above sea level. Land occupied (Ezekiel 25:10): I will give it to the children of the east, along with the children of Ammon, for a possession in order that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations. On the eastern frontier, Moab’s fate is similar to Ammon’s. Children of the east, i.e., desert raiders, will overthrow the land. Moab educated (Ezekiel 25:11): So in Moab I will execute judgments. They will know that I am the LORD. These judgments will convince the Moabites that Yahweh of Israel was the powerful and almighty God.WORD AGAINST EDOMEze_25:12-14 The Edomites were descended from Esau. They occupied the territory south of the Dead Sea. Although the twins, Esau and Jacob, were reconciled during their lifetime (Genesis 33), their descendants were involved in perpetual hostilities. The Edomites had not allowed the Israelites to pass through their land in the days of Moses (Numbers 20:14-21).

Amos (Amos 1:11-12) and Obadiah condemned the Edomites for earlier hostile acts against Israel. Jeremiah lashed out against them (Jeremiah 49:7-11; Lamentations 4:21-22). Later Malachi will blast Edom as well (Malachi 1:2-5). Edom’s Sin: Vengeful Conduct (Ezekiel 25:12): Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom’ s dealings with the house of Judah have been the result of vengeful conduct, he has incurred enormous guilt by executing vengeance against them. Edom’ s sin was a vengeful spirit toward the people of God. Private vengeance is forbidden in both testaments (e.g., Leviticus 19:18; Romans 12:17-19).

Even in international relations, vengeance is a divine prerogative (cf. Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30). Apparently, at the time of the Babylonian invasion of Judah, the Edomites had seized the opportunity to get revenge against Judah. Thus they had committed a grave offense.Edom’s Sentence (Ezekiel 26:13-14): Result of God’s judgment (Ezekiel 26:13): Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will stretch out my hand against Edom. I will cut off from it man and beast. I will make it a desolation. From Teman even toward Dedan they will fall by the sword. For the crimes committed against his people, God will stretch out his hand against Edom. Man and beast will be cut off from the land.

Even Teman, one of the leading cities of Edom, will become desolate. The slaughter will extend south of Edom as far as Dedan (v 13).Agents of God’s judgment (Ezekiel 26:14): I will put my vengeance in Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will deal with Edom according to my wrath and according to my anger. Thus they will know my vengeance (oracle of the Lord GOD). The devastation of Edom will be wrought by the hands of the Israelites. Acting as God’ s agents, they will teach Edom the vengeance of Yahweh.

God exercises vengeance to rectify wrong within the divine kingdom, and against that kingdom (Ezekiel 25:14). As in most of the prophecies against foreign nations, the predicted demise of Edom occurred gradually. The process started with an attack by Nebuchadnezzar. Edom fell into Arab hands in the fifth century B.C. In the third century B.C., the area was overrun by the Nabateans. In the second pre-Christian century, the remnant of the Edomites was conquered by the Jewish general Judas Maccabeus (1Ma 5:65). The Edomites were finally forced to accept circumcision and the Jewish faith.

In this amalgamation, the Edomites disappeared from history.WORD AGAINST Eze_25:15-17 The Philistines invaded Palestine about 1200 B.C. in the days of the judges. They hailed from the island of Caphtor (Amos 9:7). Knowing the secret of smelting iron, they immediately gained the advantage over the Israelites who still fought and farmed with bronze weapons and implements. Samson fought valiantly against them. Samuel inflicted upon them a stinging defeat (1 Samuel 7:13). It was David, however, who broke their power.

From that point on, in periods of strength Israel dominated Philistia. In periods of Israelite weakness, however, the Philistines broke free. During these periods of independence, the Philistines did all they could to harass the Jews. Philistia’s Sin (Ezekiel 25:15): Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines have acted in revenge. They have taken vengeance with contempt in (their) soul to destroy with eternal enmity. Ezekiel condemned the Philistines for their constant enmity against Judah.

Filled with ruthless vengeance, they were determined to destroy utterly the people of God.Philistia’s Sentence (Ezekiel 25:16-17): God’s vengeance (Ezekiel 25:16-17 a): Therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistine. I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. (Ezekiel 25:17) I will execute great vengeance on them by acts of furious chastisement. God’ s mighty hand, so recently stretched out against Jerusalem, will now be turned against these neighbors who had aided and abetted the Babylonians. The Philistines, and the Cherethites who lived among them, will be destroyed. In fact all the remnant of the seacoast will be destroyed (Ezekiel 25:16).

God’ s vengeance against these people will take place in the form of wrathful rebukes (NASB) or acts of furious chastisement (BV). This suggests that the demise of the seacoast peoples will be the result of repeated blows (Ezekiel 25:17). God’s exaltation (Ezekiel 25:17 b): They will know that I am the LORD when I execute my vengeance on them. The fulfillment of this prediction began in the sixth century B.C. during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Gaza was attacked and destroyed by Pharaoh Hophra. Later the Babylonians devastated the land. During the intertestamental period the Jewish armies made several campaigns into the area, doing substantial damage. Reading the four short oracles of ch 25, one cannot help but recall the promise made to Abraham: I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you (Genesis 12:3 a). God always has been concerned about worldly attitudes and actions toward his people. People of the world are not in sympathy with God’ s program and plan. Ammonites who gloat over the misfortune of God’ s people are still in abundance. Modern Moabites will secularize the people of God by refusing to acknowledge that he indeed has called out of the world a chosen people. The Edomites are illustrative of those who are vindictive and openly hostile toward God’ s people. The Philistines are those who act out their hatred and brutality toward God’ s people. The abiding message of this chapter is that God defends the honor of his people Ultimately he overthrows all who oppose his people. These judgments will convince the Moabites that Yahweh of Israel was the powerful and almighty God.WORD AGAINST EDOM Ezekiel 25:12-14 The Edomites were descended from Esau. They occupied the territory south of the Dead Sea. Although the twins, Esau and Jacob, were reconciled during their lifetime (Genesis 33), their descendants were involved in perpetual hostilities. The Edomites had not allowed the Israelites to pass through their land in the days of Moses (Numbers 20:14-21). Amos (1:11-12) and Obadiah condemned the Edomites for earlier hostile acts against Israel. Jeremiah lashed out against them (Jeremiah 49:7-11; Lamentations 4:21-22).

Later Malachi will blast Edom as well (Malachi 1:2-5). Edom’s Sin: Vengeful Conduct (Ezekiel 25:12): Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom’ s dealings with the house of Judah have been the result of vengeful conduct, he has incurred enormous guilt by executing vengeance against them. Edom’ s sin was a vengeful spirit toward the people of God. Private vengeance is forbidden in both testaments (e.g., Leviticus 19:18; Romans 12:17-19). Even in international relations, vengeance is a divine prerogative (cf. Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30).

Apparently, at the time of the Babylonian invasion of Judah, the Edomites had seized the opportunity to get revenge against Judah. Thus they had committed a grave offense.Edom’s Sentence (Ezekiel 25:13-14): Result of God’s judgment (Ezekiel 25:13): Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will stretch out my hand against Edom. I will cut off from it man and beast. I will make it a desolation. From Teman even toward Dedan they will fall by the sword. For the crimes committed against his people, God will stretch out his hand against Edom. Man and beast will be cut off from the land. Even Teman, one of the leading cities of Edom, will become desolate. The slaughter will extend south of Edom as far as Dedan (Ezekiel 25:13). Agents of God’s judgment (25:14): I will put my vengeance in Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will deal with Edom according to my wrath and according to my anger. Thus they will know my vengeance (oracle of the Lord GOD). The devastation of Edom will be wrought by the hands of the Israelites. Acting as God’ s agents, they will teach Edom the vengeance of Yahweh. God exercises vengeance to rectify wrong within the divine kingdom, and against that kingdom (Ezekiel 25:14). As in most of the prophecies against foreign nations, the predicted demise of Edom occurred gradually. The process started with an attack by Nebuchadnezzar. Edom fell into Arab hands in the fifth century B.C. In the third century B.C., the area was overrun by the Nabateans. In the second pre-Christian century, the remnant of the Edomites was conquered by the Jewish general Judas Maccabeus (1Ma 5:65). The Edomites were finally forced to accept circumcision and the Jewish faith.

In this amalgamation, the Edomites disappeared from history.WORD AGAINST Exe 25:15-17 The Philistines invaded Palestine about 1200 B.C. in the days of the judges. They hailed from the island of Caphtor (Amos 9:7). Knowing the secret of smelting iron, they immediately gained the advantage over the Israelites who still fought and farmed with bronze weapons and implements. Samson fought valiantly against them. Samuel inflicted upon them a stinging defeat (1 Samuel 7:13). It was David, however, who broke their power.

Filled with ruthless vengeance, they were determined to destroy utterly the people of God.Philistia’s Sentence (Ezekiel 25:16-17): God’s vengeance (Ezekiel 25:16-17 a): Therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistine. I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. (17) I will execute great vengeance on them by acts of furious chastisement. God’ s mighty hand, so recently stretched out against Jerusalem, will now be turned against these neighbors who had aided and abetted the Babylonians. The Philistines, and the Cherethites who lived among them, will be destroyed. In fact all the remnant of the seacoast will be destroyed (v 16). God’ s vengeance against these people will take place in the form of wrathful rebukes (NASB) or acts of furious chastisement (BV). This suggests that the demise of the seacoast peoples will be the result of repeated blows (Ezekiel 25:17). God’s exaltation (Ezekiel 25:17 b): They will know that I am the LORD when I execute my vengeance on them. The fulfillment of this prediction began in the sixth century B.C. during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Gaza was attacked and destroyed by Pharaoh Hophra. Later the Babylonians devastated the land. During the intertestamental period the Jewish armies made several campaigns into the area, doing substantial damage. Reading the four short oracles of ch 25, one cannot help but recall the promise made to Abraham: I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you (Genesis 12:3 a). God always has been concerned about worldly attitudes and actions toward his people. People of the world are not in sympathy with God’ s program and plan. Ammonites who gloat over the misfortune of God’ s people are still in abundance. Modern Moabites will secularize the people of God by refusing to acknowledge that he indeed has called out of the world a chosen people. The Edomites are illustrative of those who are vindictive and openly hostile toward God’ s people. The Philistines are those who act out their hatred and brutality toward God’ s people. The abiding message of this chapter is that God defends the honor of his people Ultimately he overthrows all who oppose his people.Ezekiel Chapter Twenty-FiveVerse 1 PART II; ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS(Ezekiel 25-32) ORACLES AGAINST AMMON; MOAB; EDOM; AND In our commentaries upon four dozen Biblical books, we have already commented upon the Divine Oracles against these four nations. For those who are interested in a more detailed study of these, reference is here made to: (1) the prophecies against Ammon: (Vol. 1 of Minor Prophets, pp. 92-94, Vol. 3 of Minor Prophets, p. 151, and Vol. 2, Major prophets, pp. 511-514); (2) the prophecies against Moab: (Vol. 1, Minor Prophets, pp. 97-99); (3) the prophecies against Edom: (Vol. 1 of Major Prophets, all of Isaiah 34, pp. 309-314, Vol. 2, Major Prophets, pp. 514-519, Vol. 2, Minor Prophets, the whole Book of Obadiah, pp. 247-263); and (4) the prophecies against Philistia: (Vol. 4, Minor Prophets, pp. 134,135, Vol. 1, Minor Prophets, pp. 87-90, and Vol. 2, Major Prophets, all of chapter 47, pp. 491-495). Because of extensive comments we have already made on oracles against these nations, our treatment of the subject here will be somewhat abbreviated. Ezekiel 25:1-7“And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them: and say unto the children of Ammon. Hear the word of the Lord Jehovah, Because thou saidest, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity: therefore, behold, I will deliver thee to the children of the east for a possession, and they shall set their encampments in thee, and make their dwellings in thee; they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the children of Ammon a couching-place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: because thou hast clapped with thy hands, and stamped with thy feet, and rejoiced with all the despite of thy soul against the land of Israel; therefore, behold, 1have stretched out my hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the nations; and I will cut thee off from the peoples, and will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee, and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.” AGAINST AMMONThe history of Ammon began with the drunken and incestuous conduct of Lot; and the entire record of the Ammonites and Moabites, both of which began on that same occasion (Genesis 19), was one of rebellion against God and hatred of their kinsmen, the posterity of Abraham. The most recent example of their perfidy is recorded in Jeremiah, where the Ammonites arranged for the murder of Gedaliah the Jew, whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed governor of Judah. Some have misunderstood the reasons that God gave here for his judgment of Ammon, namely, because Ammon had said “Aha!” and had rejoiced over the ruin of Judah and Jerusalem, and the profanation of God’s sanctuary. Serious as such offenses indeed were, Bruce pointed out that there was something else behind their conduct. “The Ammonites, along with the other nations, imagined that the collapse of the Judean monarchy also meant the eclipse of the God of Israel."[1]It was no doubt this very result of God’s severe punishment of Israel which had delayed God’s actions for such a long time. now, that God had done it, or was in the process of doing it, the mistaken notion that God was no longer able to protect Israel, on the part of the surrounding nations, absolutely necessitated the destruction of those nations. After all, they were guilty of the very sins that had mined Israel; and it was absolutely impossible for God to have allowed them to escape. We believe this is the reason for the inclusion here of the prophecies against the seven nations (four of them in this chapter). Furthermore, as Keil pointed out, “These seven nations selected for the oracles here may be understood as representative of all the heathen nations, indicating thereby that the judgments predicted will be executed and completed upon the whole heathen world."[2] The omission of Babylon from the list gives weight to Keil’s understanding of the chapter. “I will make Rabbah a stable for camels …” (Ezekiel 25:5). This infamous stronghold is now the modern Amman. In Roman times, Ptolemy rebuilt the place and called it Philadelphia (after himself); and in the times of David, it was remembered as the fortress where David contrived the brutal murder of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. Both Cooke and May have written of the radical differences in style between this chapter and the following, suggesting that perhaps this chapter was not written by Ezekiel; and although Cooke admitted that the differences may be explained otherwise, it remained for Thompson to demonstrate convincingly that this chapter, no less than the others, is absolutely in keeping with Ezekiel’s style.[3]“Because thou hast clapped thy hands … and rejoiced …” (Ezekiel 25:6). “Because Ammon has rejoiced at the grief of others, she herself shall be brought to grief. In such actions, God reveals that behind all human events, there stands the Author and Finisher of history, who is the judge of all men and nations."[4]Regarding the date of this chapter, McFadyen believed that none of it was written until after the fall of Jerusalem; but some disagree with this. It seems to us that the question demands little, if any priority. Of course, the “captivity” is mentioned in this oracle as an event already accomplished; but there were three phases of the captivity; and therefore the mention of it can have no weight at all in determining the date. Verse 8 “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the nations; therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, unto the children of the east, to go against the children of Ammon; and I will give them for a possession, that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations: and I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.” AGAINST MOABSome seem surprised that the prophecy against Ammon spills over into these words regarding Moab; but, in view of the long association of the two wicked peoples, and their common enmity against God and the children of Israel, it is not at all inappropriate that their judgments should have occurred simultaneously. The long hatred on the part of Moab came to a crisis in the later chapters of Numbers, where the evil prophet Balaam cooperated with Balak, king of Moab, in their devices against Israel. It was finally the “daughters of Moab” who seduced practically the whole nation of Israel, including a thousand of its leaders in the shameful orgy of Numbers 25 at Baal-Peor. “Not long after Ezekiel wrote this, both Ammon and Moab were overran by Nabatean tribesmen and ceased to have any independent existence as nations."[5]Bruce, on the testimony of Josephus, fixed the date of Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Moab and Ammon in 583 B.C.[6]As a further corroboration of the view expressed above that the heathen nations all thought that the ruin of Israel was the end of Jehovah’s power, we cite the inscription on the Moabite Stone, “Which quotes the boast of the king of Moab that his god Chemosh had vanquished Israel."[7] This was precisely the development that called forth these prophecies from Jehovah and resulted in the execution of God’s wrath upon all the pagan nations of antiquity. Such actions alone could have preserved and perpetuated the knowledge of God’s integrity. Verse 12 “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and avenged himself upon them; therefore, thus saith the Lord Jehovah, I will stretch out my hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord Jehovah.“The prophecy in Amos especially mentioned the “anger and hatred of Edom” which did “tear perpetually,” indicating the implacable hatred of the Edomites for God’s people. Although Israel did indeed punish them; and under Hyrcanus, the Edomites were captured and somewhat forcibly taken into Judaism; nevertheless, the perpetual evil of the Edomites was sufficiently strong to be chosen by God Himself as the symbol of the totality of human wickedness, the final judgment itself being depicted in Isaiah 34 th chapter as the “judgment of Edom.” The Edomites were featured as enemies of God and of the spread of the gospel of Christ in the Book of Acts, where Herod Agrippa I (an Edomite) attempted to kill all of the apostles, for which intention God executed him (Acts 12). Verse 15 “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with despite of soul to destroy with perpetual enmity; therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon the Philistine, and I will cut off the Cherothites, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with wrathful rebukes; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.” AGAINST THE It is amazing that these ancient enemies of Israel finally gave their name to the Holy Land itself, Palestine! “I will cut off the Cherothites …” (Ezekiel 25:16). These are supposed to be the Cretans, ancient ancestors of the Philistines. The teaching of the series of oracles here is that God will judge and destroy wicked mankind, a sentence that has been hanging over the head of the human race, like the sword of Damocles, since the sentence in Eden, “In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” The tragic judgments prophesied here were far earlier than the Final Judgment, of course, but they were necessitated by the situation in which the pagan nations were deceived into believing that Jehovah was not God of all gods. It is repeated throughout these passages that the reason for God’s actions was primarily this: “And thou shalt know that I am Jehovah, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.”

Ezekiel 25:1-2

General remarks. The writing against the people of Judah is now interrupted and for several chapters the prophet will give God’ s judgments against some heathen nations. The next time he writes concerning Judah it will be chiefly of a reassuring tone. But before taking up that line it will be appropriate to publish the Lord’s denunciations against these foreign peoples because they had been so hostile against His people. It will be well, therefore, to regard these chapters as an interval in the general book of Ezekiel, and the comments will he made an if the several chapters were an independent document. It will also be seen that the chapters in this interval are not always chronological as to dates. We will now study the chapters as they come. Ezekiel 25:1-2. Set thy face is a figurative way of telling Ezekiel to prophesy against the Ammonites. These people were distantly related to Judah but had been hostile against them and were considered their enemies.

Ezekiel 25:3

Ezekiel 25:3. God has always been jealous of his own people and would tolerate no rejoicing when they met with any misfortune. This verse explains why Ezekiel was told to set his face against the Ammonites. They had said aha when the land of Israel was made desolate and when the temple was defiled by strangers. That is an expression of derision and Indicates a feeling of rejoicing over the misfortunes of God’ s people.

Ezekiel 25:4

Ezekiel 25:4. East is defined in Smith’ s Bible Dictionary as referring to the lands lying immediately eastward of Palestine namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Babylonia. The men of the east, therefore, means the people of those territories who -were to come against the Ammonites, destroy their buildings and consume their products.

Ezekiel 25:5

Ezekiel 25:5. Kabbah was the chief city of the Ammonites, and it would he a reproach to have it reduced to a stabling place for the beasts of service. The people in general were destined to become a couch ingplace or place for resting for the flocks.

Ezekiel 25:6

Ezekiel 25:6. The bodily acts described were condemned because they were done in a tone of rejoicing over Judah’ s experiences. With all thy despite means they had a feeling of contempt for God’ s people.

Ezekiel 25:7

Ezekiel 25:7. I will stretch out mine hand indicates that God would be the cause of the defeat coming upon the Ammonites. That people was a heathen nation, itself, but tlie word is used in the general sense and the prediction meant that another nation was to be used as an instrument of the Lord for the purpose of chastisement

Ezekiel 25:8

Ezekiel 25:8. Moab and Seir were two countries bordering against each other and joined In their belittling of Judah, which was bound to bring down the wrath of God upon them.

Ezekiel 25:9

Ezekiel 25:9. Open the side means the Lord decreed a general attack upon these people, beginning with the frontier cities named in this verse.

Ezekiel 25:10

Ezekiel 25:10. Verse 4 threatened the Ammonites with invasion by the men of the east and the lands of Moab and Seir are here destined to meet the same fate.

Ezekiel 25:11

Ezekiel 25:11. The primary motive of all these instances of chastisement is stated, which was that people would know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 25:12

Ezekiel 25:12. The Edomites were indirectly referred to in verse 8 where Seir (“ Edom was called Mount Seir and Idumea,"— Smith’s Bible Dictionary) and Moab are included in the same prediction. In the present verse they are considered as a separate people.

Ezekiel 25:13

Ezekiel 25:13. When God decrees that one nation shall come against another, that is regarded as the work of His hand. Teman and Dedan were districts in the Edomite country located in opposite directions from each other. The last clause of the verse means that the slaying of their men would take place from one of these sections to the other.

Ezekiel 25:14

Ezekiel 25:14. Sometimes the Lord chastises one heathen nation by the services of another, but in the case of the Edomites it was to be accomplished by the hand of my people Israel. In performing this service they would he manifesting the vengeance of God. (See Romans 12:19; 2 Corinthians 7:11.)

Ezekiel 25:15

Ezekiel 25:15. The Philistines were a People who lived near the Mediterranean Sea, With a despiteful heart means to do something “ for spite,” and these people were charged with that in their dealings with God’ s People. Old hatred. According to the lexicon the first word may be defined either by “ old” or “perpetual,” The history shows that either definition may apply, Tor the hatred of the Philistines against the Israelites was con-tinually manifested from the beginning of their residence in Palestine and that would make it old, -

Ezekiel 25:16

Ezekiel 25:16. The Cherethtms were lifeguards according to Smith’ s Bible Dictionary and the lexicon of Strong agrees with it. Doubtless they were employed by the Philistines to serve and support them against the people of God. The present prediction threatened to take this support from them as a punishment for their hateful conduct.

Ezekiel 25:17

Ezekiel 25:17. Again the chief purpose of God in his chastisements of evil nations is stated, and it is that they shall know that I am the Lord.