Ezekiel25
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face toward the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them.
3Tell the children of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh! The Lord Yahweh says, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against my sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity,
4therefore, behold, I will deliver you to the children of the east for a possession. They will set their encampments in you and make their dwellings in you. They will eat your fruit and they will drink your milk.
5I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and the children of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
6For the Lord Yahweh says: “Because you have clapped your hands, stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the contempt of your soul against the land of Israel,
7therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand on you, and will deliver you for a plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish out of the countries. I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
8“‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’
9therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim,
10to the children of the east, to go against the children of Ammon; and I will give them for a possession, that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations.
11I will execute judgments on Moab. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”
12“‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and taken revenge on them,”
13therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “I will stretch out my hand on Edom, and will cut off man and animal from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman. They will fall by the sword even to Dedan.
14I will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath. Then they will know my vengeance,” says the Lord Yahweh.
15“‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because the Philistines have taken revenge, and have taken vengeance with contempt of soul to destroy with perpetual hostility,”
16therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I will stretch out my hand on the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
17I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I lay my 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