Ezekiel 25
OGCREVIEW QUESTIONS
Why does Ezekiel devote so much attention to the fate of foreign nations?
Why does Ezekiel include no oracle against Babylon?
How many different nations does Ezekiel condemn? Any significance in this number?
How had Ammonite hostility toward Judah been manifested throughout the years? What about the hostility of Moab, Edom and Philistia?
For what sin was Ammon condemned? Moab? Edom? Philistia?
How does Ezekiel describe the judgment on Ammon and Moab? What would happen to Edom and Philistia?
What is the abiding lesson derived from Ezekiel 25?
Ezekiel 25:1-7
JUDGMENT ON NEIGHBORING NATIONS
25:1-17
Ezekiel devotes eight Chapter s of his book to oracles against foreign nations. Jerusalem had fallen. Yet before Ezekiel related this fact to his readers he recorded the revelation that God would some day judge the heathen nations and cities around Judah. He speaks of seven different nations in all. The small neighboring states of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia are first denounced (Ezekiel 25:1-17). In greater detail he denounced the two commercial centers of the day, Tyre and Sidon (Ezekiel 26:1 to Ezekiel 28:26). The final blast is directed against Egypt (Ezekiel 29:1 to Ezekiel 32:32). The Egyptian oracle itself breaks down into seven distinct oracles. The number seven here is not likely accidental. In prophecy seven is the number of perfection or completeness. Hence, God will completely and fully deal with the enemies of His people.
Some commentators express surprise that Babylon is not singled out in this section for condemnation. Ezekiel deliberately refrained from announcing the destruction of that nation, for to do so would have been too glaring a provocation. However, it did not demand great intelligence to conclude that if God was going to pour out His judgment upon these nations, Babylon surely could not altogether escape. Jeremiah already had written a lengthy condemnation of Babylon, so one from Ezekiel was unnecessary. Furthermore, an anti-Babylon oracle by Ezekiel might have stirred up the exiles to foolish resistance to the Babylonian government.
The foreign nation oracles are arranged topically rather than chronologically. Seven dates from 587 to 571 B.C. are mentioned in this section. About two years have elapsed since the last events and prophecies recorded in the book (cf. Ezekiel 24:1-2 and Ezekiel 26:1). Arranged in chronological order the oracles in this section were delivered in the following sequence:
CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF EZEKIEL’S FOREIGN NATION ORACLES
Passage
Ezekiel’s Dating (Year/Month/Day)
Modern Dating
Foreign Nation
10/10/10
January 7, 587 B C
Egypt
11/1/7
April 30, 587 B C
Egypt
11/3/1
June 21, 587 B C
Egypt
11/3/1
September 18, 587 B C
Tyre
12/12/1
March 4, 585 B C
Egypt
12/2/15
March 18, 585 B C
Egypt
27/1/1
April 26, 571 B C
Egypt
No dates are attached to the first four oracles. They are probably to be dated earlier than the first Egypt oracle. Throughout history Israel experienced the hostility of the neighboring states of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia. In the time of Jerusalem’s dying agony these countries had tormented and mocked God’s people. Their attitude toward Israel was also their attitude toward Israel’s God. The four brief oracles in chapter 25 serve the double purpose of (1) declaring God’s wrath on all arrogant people who mock Him; and (2) indicating to the repentant exiles that God was still concerned for His people in that He was punishing their enemies.
I. THE WORD AGAINST AMMON 25:1-7
TRANSLATION
(1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set your face against the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them, (3) and say to the children of Ammon, Hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD: 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, (4) therefore, behold I am about to give you to the children of the east for a possession, and they will set their encampments among you, and they will make their dwelling places among you; they will eat your fruit, and they will drink your milk. (5) And 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. (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, (7) therefore, behold, I have stretched forth My hand against you, and I have given you for spoil to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
COMMENTS
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 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).
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. Now that Jerusalem had fallen, they had designs on the western bank of the Jordan (cf. Jeremiah 41:10). They had chuckled Aha and gleefully watched from afar the desecration and destruction of Jerusalem’s sanctuary at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar’s agents. They had cast covetous eyes on the now desolate land of Israel once occupied by the house of Judah (Ezekiel 25:3),
For their arrogant pride and blasphemous intentions, God would bring swift judgment on Ammon. Ammon would be delivered over to the children of the east, i.e., marauders from the Arabian desert.[367] They would overrun the land, encamp within it, build their permanent dwellings there. These strangers would forcibly take from the Ammonites the fruit of their labor (Ezekiel 25:4). The capital city Rabbah would become a stable for the hoards of camels possessed by the desert invaders. The rest of the land would become grazing pasture for their flocks. The fulfillment of the predictions would vindicate Yahweh in the eyes of the Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:5). They would learn by bitter experience that God is not mocked.
[367] In Ezekiel 21:28-32 Ezekiel had predicted Nebuchadnezzar would turn his wrath against Ammon after be had destroyed Jerusalem. Grider (BBC, p. 579) feels that the children from the east here are the Babylonians.
There was yet more that the Lord had to say to Ammon. The Ammonites had rejoiced with utmost glee over the fate of the land of Israel and had outwardly manifested their joy by clapping the hands and stamping the feet (Ezekiel 25:6). Because of their attitude God would stretch out His hand against them, i.e., take active measures to assure their downfall. In four awesome and essentially synonymous I wills[368] God declared that Ammon’s national existence would come to an end.
[368] I will (1) deliver you for spoil; (2) cut you off; (3) cause you to perish; (4) destroy you.
Ammon continued to exist as a nation until the second century before Christ. The great general Judas Maccabaeus launched an awesome attack against that people (1 Mace. Ezekiel 5:6). Subsequent thereto the area of Transjordan was overrun by Bedouin Arabs. Today the area has been organized into the Kingdom of Jordan,
Ezekiel 25:8-11
II. THE WORD AGAINST MOAB 25:8-11
TRANSLATION
(8) Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir have said, Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations, (9) therefore, behold, I am about to open the flank[369] of Moab on the side of the cities, its cities from its frontier,[370] the glory of the land, Bethjeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim, (10) and 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. (11) So in Moab I will execute judgments; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
[369] Literally, shoulder of Moab, i.e., the side of Moab exposed to invasion.
[370] Literally, its end.
COMMENTS
Ezekiel’s attention next fell upon Ammon’s brother and 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 and Ahab,[371] and the combined army of
[371] The Moabite Stone records the boasts of the king of Moab in this respect.
Jehoram of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Kings 3). The region of Seir,[372] jointly occupied by Moab and Edom, is included in the present oracle.
[372] Seir is not found in the Greek text of Ezekiel. Due to the fact that Seir is usually associated with Edom, rather than Moab, the Greek translators apparently deliberately omitted the word.
The sin of Moab and Seir was in failing to recognize the distinctiveness of Israel and, consequently, of Israel’s God (Ezekiel 25:8). Israel no longer enjoyed the miraculous protection she had enjoyed in the past. Her God was no more able to protect her than were the gods of surrounding nations.
The judgment on Moab was similar to that of Ammon. The children from the East would push in out of the desert to occupy the cities of Moab Beth-jeshimoth (the house of waters), Baal-meon (house of Baal’s habitation), and Kiriathaim (double city; Ezekiel 25:9). Thus the desert raiders would dispossess the Moabites as well as the Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:10). These judgments would convince the Moabites that Yahweh of Israel was the powerful and almighty God (Ezekiel 25:11).
Ezekiel 25:12-14
III. THE WORD AGAINST EDOM 25:12-14
TRANSLATION
(12) Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom’s dealings with the house of Judah have been the result of vengeful conduct, and he has incurred enormous guilt by executing vengeance against them, (13) therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will stretch out MY hand against Edom, and I will cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it a desolation from Teman; even toward Dedan they shall fall by the sword. (14) And I will put My vengeance in Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they shall deal with Edom according to My wrath and according to MY anger; thus they will know My vengeance (oracle of the Lord GOD).
COMMENTS
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 (Ezekiel 1:11-12) and Obadiah[373] condemned the Edomites for early attacks against Israel.[374] Jeremiah lashed out against them (Jeremiah 49:7-11; Lamentations 4:21-22), and later Malachi would blast them (Malachi 1:2-5).
[373] The date of Obadiah is in dispute among Bible scholars. Many scholars consider Obadiah as one of the earliest of the writing prophets, He may have been active during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (848-841 B.C.)
[374] The historical record Indicates that Israel had responded in kind to the viciousness of the Edomites (2 Samuel 8:13, 1 Kings 11:15; 1 Kings 11:15; 2 Chronicles 25:11-12).
Edom’s sin was a vengeful spirit toward the people of God. 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 (Ezekiel 25:12).
For the crimes committed against His people God would stretch out His hand against Edom. Man and beast would be cut off from the land. Even Teman, one of the leading cities of Edom, would become desolate. The slaughter would extend south of Edom as far as Dedan[375] (Ezekiel 25:13). The devastation of Edom would be wrought by the hands of the Israelites. Acting as God’s agents, they would teach Edom the vengeance of the true Lord, Yahweh of Israel (Ezekiel 25:14).
[375] The Dedan most frequently mentioned in the Scripture was located in Arabia, about 300 miles southeast of Teman. Dedan is elsewhere mentioned in connection with Edom only in Jeremiah 49:8. Possibly Jeremiah and Ezekiel are referring to a settlement of Dedanites within the territory of Edom rather than to the famous caravan city of that name. On the other hand, the two prophets may be suggesting that the disaster which would befall Edom would sweep southward even to Dedan.
As in most of the prophecies against foreign nations, the predicted demise of Edom occurred gradually. Edom proper fell into Arab hands in the fifth century B.C. In the third century B.C. the area was overrun by the Nabataeans. In the second pre-Christian century the remnant of the Edomites were conquered by the Jewish general Judas Maccabeus (1Ma. 5:65). They were finally forced to accept circumcision and the Jewish faith. In this amalgamation the Edomites disappeared from history.
Ezekiel 25:15-17
IV. THE WORD AGAINST PHILISTIA 25:15-17
TRANSLATION
(15) Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistine have acted in revenge, and have taken vengeance with contempt in (their) soul to destroy with eternal enmity, (16) therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am about to stretch out My hand against the Philistine, and I shall cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. (17) And I will execute great vengeance on them by acts of furious chastisement;[376] and they shall know that I am the LORD when I execute My vengeance on them.
[376] Rendering of the Berkeley Version; NASB, with wrathful rebukes.
COMMENTS
The Philistine 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, and 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, and in periods of Israelite weakness the Philistine broke free. During these periods of independence the Philistine did all they could to harass the Jews.
Ezekiel condemned the Philistine for their constant enmity against Judah. Filled with ruthless vengeance, they were determined to utterly destroy the people of God (Ezekiel 25:15).
God’s mighty hand, which so recently had been stretched out against Jerusalem, would now be turned against these neighbors who had aided and abetted the Babylonians. The Philistine and the Cherethites[377] who lived among them would be destroyed. In fact all the remnant of the seacoast was to be destroyed (Ezekiel 25:16). God’s vengeance against these people would take place in the form of wrathful rebukes (NASB) or acts of furious chastisement (BV). This suggests that the demise of the seacoast peoples would be the result of repeated blows (Ezekiel 25:17).
[377] It is thought that the Cherethites were a band of Cretan mercenaries brought to the south coast of Palestine by the Egyptians. David hired them for his personal bodyguards, and they proved intensely loyal to him. In this passage as well as Zephaniah 2:5, Cherethities are condemned along with Philistine. It is not clear whether these terms are synonymous, or whether separate peoples are intended.
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[378] doing substantial damage.
[378] 1Ma. 5:68; 1Ma. 10:84; 1Ma. 13:47-48.
As one reads the four short oracles of chapter 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 day Moabites would 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 Philistine 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, and ultimately overthrows all who oppose His people.