FRAMEWORKS:
Ezekiel 25: Prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia
Context
Part
5: Prophecies of warnings against other peoples
Ch.25
– Prophecies against Ammon,
Moab, Edom, Philistia
Part
5a: Tyre
Ch.26
– A prophecy against Tyre
Ch.27
– A lament that will be sung over Tyre
Ch.28
– A prophecy against the king of Tyre
Part
5b Egypt
Ch.29
– Prophecies,
Parts 1 & 2 against Egypt
Ch.30
– Prophecies,
Parts 3 & 4 against Egypt
Ch.31
– Prophecy,
Part 5 against Egypt
Ch.32
– Prophecies,
Parts 6 & 7 against Egypt
[Preliminary
Comment: The end of chapter 24 brought to an end the
section of prophecies against Jerusalem up to the point where
Ezekiel is warned that the fall of Jerusalem is very near. Now
follows a number of chapters of prophecies against various peoples
in the region, most of whom have been a thorn in Israel's side
at some time or another.]
v.1-7
A prophecy against Ammon
v.1
The
word of the Lord came to me:
v.2
‘Son
of man, set your face against the Ammonites
and prophesy against them.
v.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,
v.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.
v.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.
v.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,
v.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.”'
[Notes:
A
word to the people to the far east of the nation who had attacked
Israel numerous times – see Judg 10,11, 1 Sam 11, 2 Sam 10 – and
whose gods infiltrated the life of Israel – 1 Kings 11. They had
rejoiced when Israel suffered so now they will be overrun and
destroyed.]
v.8-11
A prophecy against Moab
v.8
‘This
is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Because Moab and Seir said,
‘Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,'
v.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.
v.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;
v.11
and
I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I
am the Lord.”'
[Notes:
Likewise
Moab, to the southeast of the nation, who disdained Israel, will
suffer the same fate as the Ammonites.]
v.12-14
A prophecy against Edom
v.12
‘This
is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Because Edom took revenge on
Judah and became very guilty by doing so,
v.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.
v.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.”'
[Notes:
Edom,
descended from Esau, living in the far south, had always been
negative towards Israel and had taken whatever opportunity that
arose to oppose them, most recently in the reign of Ahaz [2 Chron
28:17]; thus now they will be punished.]
v.15-17
A prophecy against Philistia
v.15
‘This
is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Because the Philistines acted
in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and
with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah,
v.16
therefore
this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out
my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites
and destroy those remaining along the coast.
v.17
I
will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath.
Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I take vengeance
on them.”'
[Notes:
The
Philistines, in the south-west, had been an enemy of Israel from
their earlies days in the land [after a number of amicable years
previously with the Patriarchs]. For their ongoing incursions
against Israel they would now be punished.]
Continue
to Chapter 26