Ezekiel25
New International Version
1The word of the Lord came to me:
2“Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
3Say 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,
4therefore 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.
5I 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.
6For 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,
7therefore 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.’”
8“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,”
9therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim—the glory of that land.
10I 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;
11and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”
12“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so,
13therefore 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.
14I 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.’”
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,
16therefore 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.
17I 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.’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Judgments against the Ammonites. (1-7). Against the Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines. (8-17).
vv1-7
It is wicked to be glad at the calamities of any, especially of God's people; it is a sin for which he will surely reckon. God will make it appear that he is the God of Israel, though he suffers them for a time to be captives in Babylon. It is better to know Him, and to be poor, than to be rich and ignorant of him.
vv8-17
Though one event seem to the righteous and wicked, it is vastly different. Those who glory in any other defence and protection than the Divine power, providence, and promise, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of their glorying. Those who will not leave it to God to take vengeance for them, may expect that he will take vengeance on them. The equity of the Lord's judgments is to be observed, when he not only avenges injuries upon those that did them, but by those against whom they were done. Those who treasure up old hatred, and watch for the opportunity of manifesting it, are treasuring up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
נָבָא: to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
Cross References
Ezekiel 25Parallels Ammon's pride, taunts, and "Aha" against God's people, with subsequent judgment by eastern tribes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed indictment of Edom's active vengeance and rejoicing over Judah's day of calamity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Ezekiel's closely related prophecy concerning the sword drawn against the insulting Ammonites.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical conspiracy of confederate nations, including Moab, Ammon, and Edom (Seir), against Israel.
Supported by JFB
Extended prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom) for its perpetual hatred and vengeance against Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jeremiah's parallel judgment on Edom, mentioning Teman and Dedan being laid waste.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Amos's earlier prophecy against Ammon for their cruel boundary-stretching and hostility.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jeremiah's extensive judgment on Moab, matching Ezekiel's warning of Moab's impending ruin.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophecy of Israel laying hand upon Edom and Moab, executing God's anger.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Amos condemns the Philistines for their relentless enmity and taking captive whole communities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel judgment on the Philistines and Cherethites by the sea coast.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the prophetic posture "set thy face against" as a sign of divine menace.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Lists the frontier cities of Reuben, including Baal-meon, later reclaimed by Moab.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the Cherethites in the southern territory associated with Philistine geography.
Supported by Matthew Poole