Ezekiel 25

1 The word of ADONAI came to me:

2 "Human being, turn your face toward the people of 'Amon and prophesy against them;

3 say to the people of 'Amon, 'Hear the word of Adonai ELOHIM. Adonai ELOHIM says, "Because you gloated when my sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Isra'el was laid waste, and when the house of Y'hudah went into exile;

4 I will let the people from the east take possession of you. They will set up camps and build their homes among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.

5 I will turn Rabbah into a camel pasture and 'Amon into a sheep-yard. Then you will know that I am ADONAI."

6 For here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: "Because you clapped your hands and stamped your feet, full of malicious joy over the land of Isra'el;

7 I am going to stretch out my hand over you and deliver you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from being a people and cause you to cease from being a nation; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am ADONAI.'"

8 "Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Because Mo'av and Se'ir say, "The house of Y'hudah is like all the other nations,"

9 I will expose the flank of Mo'av, with all its cities - that is, all the cities on its frontier, the glory of the land, Beit-Yeshimot, Ba'al-M'on and Kiryatayim -

10 together with the people of 'Amon, to the people from the east, whom I will let take possession of them. Thus the people of 'Amon will not be remembered as being one of the nations;

11 and I will execute judgments on Mo'av. Then they will know that I am ADONAI.'

12 "Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Because Edom has taken severe vengeance against the house of Y'hudah, incurring much guilt by its acts of vengeance against them,

13 therefore,' Adonai ELOHIM says, 'I will stretch my hand out over Edom and eliminate both its humans and its animals. I will make it a ruin; from Teman to D'dan they will die by the sword.

14 Moreover, I will lay my vengeance on Edom through my people Isra'el; they will treat Edom in accordance with my anger and my fury; and they will know my vengeance' says Adonai ELOHIM.

15 "Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Because the P'lishtim have acted out of vengeance, taking revenge and destroying with malice of heart, due to their long-standing hatred;

16 therefore,' Adonai ELOHIM says, 'I will stretch out my hand over the P'lishtim, eliminate the K'reti and destroy the rest of the seacoast peoples.

17 I will execute great vengeance on them with furious punishments; and they will know that I am ADONAI when I lay my vengeance on them.'"

Ezekiel 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

Judgments against the Ammonites. (1-7) Against the Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines. (8-17)

1-7. 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.

Verses 8-17 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 25

In this chapter the prophet foretells the judgments of God upon the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines, for their ill usage of the Jews; on the Ammonites, Eze 25:1-7, on the Moabites, Eze 25:8-11, on the Edomites, Eze 25:12-14, on the Philistines, Eze 25:15-17.