Ezekiel 25:9

9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side[a] of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,

Ezekiel 25:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 25:9

Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the
cities
Or, "the shoulder of Moab" F20; that part of their country where their greatest strength lay, So the Targum renders it,

``the strength of Moab;''
where their principal cities were, their frontier towns, and fortified places, as appears by what follows: from his cities which are on his frontiers;
or, "from his Ars" F21, from his cities which are at his end;
at the extreme part of the land, upon the borders of his countries; the two cities of Ar and Aroer, ( Numbers 21:28 ) ( Deuteronomy 2:36 ) : the glory of the country;
as the above cities were, and what follow: Bethjeshimoth;
this was formerly in the tribe of Reuben, now in the possession of the Moabites, and one of their principal cities, ( Joshua 13:20 ) : Baalmeon;
the same with Bethbaalmeon, and which was also of the tribe of Reuben, ( Joshua 13:17 ) ( Numbers 32:38 ) , in Jerom's time it was a large village in Moab, about nine miles from Heshbon: some think by Meon is meant Menes, or Osiris the god of the Egyptians, and so this might be a temple of his; or at least he might have a temple in it, from whence it had its name: and Kirjathaim;
or the double city, built also by the Reubenites, ( Numbers 32:37 ) ( Joshua 13:19 ) , now in the hands of the Moabites, ten miles from Medeba; on this side of the country of Moab, and through these cities, the Lord threatens to open a way for their enemies to enter in and destroy them, as follows:
FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Ptk) (ton wmon) , Sept.; "humerum", V. L. Montanus.
F21 (Myrehm) "ab ipsis", Haris, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus.

Ezekiel 25:9 In-Context

7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
8 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;
9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,
10 Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.
11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. side...: Heb. shoulder of Moab
The King James Version is in the public domain.