Ezekiel 25 Study Notes

25:12-13 The struggle between Edom and Judah began when their respective patriarchs were born as twin brothers. Jacob, who went on to father the Israelites, grabbed the heel of Esau, who fathered the Edomites, as they struggled to emerge from Rebekah’s womb (Gn 25:21-34). Centuries later, shortly after the Israelites emerged from bondage in Egypt, Edom refused to let them pass through their land en route to Canaan (Nm 20:14-21). This was the beginning of a long adversarial relationship between Israel and Edom. There were conflicts between Israel and Edom during the reigns of Saul (1Sm 14:47), Solomon (1Kg 11:14-22), Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:1-23), Jehoram (2Kg 8:20-21), and Ahaz (2Ch 28:17). The most blatant example of Edom’s opposition to the people of God was Edom’s role in the destruction of the Jerusalem temple (Ps 137:7; Lm 4:21-22; Ob 1-14). Like the Moabites and Ammonites, the Edomites were a warring (Gn 27:39-40), idolatrous (2Ch 25:14,20), cruel (Am 1:11-12), and vengeful (Ezk 25:12-14) people. Ezekiel and other prophets declared that Israel would possess Edom in the end time (35:1-36:15; Is 11:14; Dn 11:41; Am 9:12; Ob 18-19). This prophecy was fulfilled when Edom was defeated by the Maccabees and incorporated into the Jewish state.

25:14 God announced his verdict on Edom, and this judgment is further expanded in 35:1-36:15. Edom is always included in oracles against nations by the Major Prophets. For other oracles against Edom, see Is 34:5-17; 63:1-6; Jr 49:7-22; Am 1:11-12; Obadiah.

25:15 The Philistines migrated to the coast of Palestine from the Greek coasts and islands of the Aegean Sea (Jr 47:4; Am 9:7; Zph 2:5). As early as the time of the judges they were constant adversaries of Israel (Jdg 3:31; 10:7; 13-16; 1Sm 4; 13; 31; 2Sm 5; 2Kg 18:8; 2Ch 21:16-17; 28:18). David was credited with the final subjugation of the Philistines during his reign (2Sm 5:17-25). Though there is virtually no record of the existence of the Philistines after the time of the Maccabees (second century BC), the region of Canaan came to be called Palestine (Philistine = Palestine). For other oracles against Philistia, see Is 14:28-32; Jr 47:1-7; Am 1:6-8.

25:16-17 The Cherethites (possibly Cretans) were presumably an ethnic group of Aegean origin that settled along the southwestern coast of Canaan. By David’s time they had such a positive relationship with Israel that David chose many Cherethites as his personal guardsmen (1Sm 30:14; 2Sm 8:18). They are frequently mentioned along with the Pelethite forces that together formed a mercenary unit during the time of David (2Sm 8:18; 20:23). The Pelethites and Cherethites accompanied David on his flight from Absalom (2Sm 15:18).