Oracles
of Judgment Against the Nations
Ezekiel 25:1 – 17
New
Internal Version (KJV)
25 A Prophecy Against Ammon
The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of
man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to
them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over
the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when
they went into exile, 4 therefore I am going to give you to the people of the
East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among
you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will turn Rabbah into a
pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know
that I am the Lord. 6 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you
have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of
your heart against the land of Israel, 7 therefore I will stretch out my hand
against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will wipe you out from
among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you,
and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Moab
8 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other
nations,” 9 therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its
frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim—the glory of that land.
10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a
possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations; 11
and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the
Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Edom
12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13
therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand
against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman
to Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the
hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my
anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’
25:1-32:32 Oracles are
given against seven nations. Most of these prophecies are never heard by the
nations themselves, but are delivered to Israel to emphasize the sovereignty of
God, which includes His guidance of his own people and His rule over and
judgment of the nations with whom Israel had come into contact. The nations
fall into two groups: One consists of the Ammonites (25:1-7), Moabites
(25:8-11), Edomites (25:12-14), and, Philistines (25:15-17), all of whom were
probably involved with Judah in rebellion against Nebuchadnezza. The other
group consists of the nations of Tyre (26:1-28:19), Sidon (28:20-24), and Egypt
(chs. 29-32).
25:3 Ammonities: Ammon was situated just east of Judah
across the Jordan. The Ammonites and Israelites were long-time enemies.
Conflict began in the period of the judges with Jephithan (see Judg.
10:6-11:33) and continued with Saul (see 1 Sam. 11:1-11; 14:47),
David (see 2 Sam. 11. 11:1; 1Chr. 19:1-20:3), and Jehospaphat (see 2
Chr.20: 1 –23). Because Judah was attacked by Nebuchadnezzar instead of
Ammon, the Ammonites gloated and said Aha, which is a cry of joy for the
misfortune of another (see 26:2, 36:2; Ps. 35:21)
25:4 Men of the east: Perhaps
nomadic tribes. See v. 10; Gen. 29:1; Judg. 6:33.
25:6 Clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet: A sign of
deep emotion, a personal involvement and rejoicing in the judgment. Rejoicing
is called for because the accumulated sin of Israel will be purged away.
25:7 Stretch out mine hand:
They used their own intellect and followed
their own spirit, rather than listening to God.
25:8 Moab was situated east of the
Dead Sea and south of Ammon. When the northern kingdom of Israel was strong,
she controlled the land of Moab. Seir is another name for Edom.
25:12 Edom: was situated south of
Moab, and south of the Dead Sea. Edom was an enemy of Israel throughout its
history. She refused to allow the Israelites under Moses to cross her territory
(Num. 20:14-21). She fought wars with Saul (1Sam: 14:47). Edom joined with
Nebuchadnezzar in the invasion that led to Judah’s destruction (Jer. 49:7-22).
25:13 Teman: An area in central Edom
near Petra. Dedan: A tribe and territory in southern Edom.
25:15 The Philistines occupied the southern coast of Canaan along the
Mediterranean Sea. They entered Canaan in large numbers in the early part of
the thirteenth century B.C. At least three of the judges had conflicts with them: Shamgar
(Judg. 3:31), Samson (Judg. 13-16), and Samuel (1Sam.7: 7-14). They controlled
much of the territory of Israel during the reign of Saul, but were subdued by
David. During the divided monarchy they again were a threat. Tribute was paid
by them to Jehoshaphat, they successfully attacked and plundered Jehoram, they
were defeated by Uzziah, and they took territory fro Ahaz. They were finally
deported by Neuchadnezzar and passed from history.
25:16 The Cherethims lived between
Gerar and Sharuhen and may be synonymous with Philistines. They are one of the groups, along with the
Pelethites, which formed David’s bodyguards and may originally have come from
Caphtor, that is, Crete.
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