Ezekiel25
New King James Version
1The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them.
3Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity,
4indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.
5And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”
6‘For thus says the Lord God: “Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel,
7indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
8‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Look! The house of Judah is like all the nations,’
9therefore, behold, I will clear the territory of Moab of cities, of the cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kirjathaim.
10To the men of the East I will give it as a possession, together with the Ammonites, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.
11And I will execute judgments upon Moab, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”
12‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,”
13therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword.
14I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord God.
15‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,”
16therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast.
17I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I lay My vengeance upon 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