In this chapter and the following chapters, we read of Ezekiel’s prophecies during the siege. Predictions of judgment upon the foreign, heathen nations, Ezekiel 25-32. Jeremiah’s prophecies during the siege are from Zedekiah’s inquires of his fate, Jeremiah 21:1-2. A lasting Jerusalem, Jeremiah 31:38-40.
God speaks against seven nations, Ezekiel 25-32.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says we are given two major lessons.
1. ‘If God will not tolerate ungodliness and insolence in his own people, he will certainly not tolerate it in others.’
2. ‘God is no local deity whose power is limited to the land of Palestine. He can reach out and judge nations wherever they live, for he is Lord of all.’
These chapters are here primarily for Israel’s sake. Ezekiel 28:24-26. It is highly unlikely that the nations around Judah ever heard Ezekiel make these statements, and also unlikely that the prophet ever travelled to these places.
The understanding of these prophecies is not essential to the scope of the book, so in this study, we will note the sin of each nation, its reason for punishment and a few important points only on the way through.
The time for these prophecies against the nations that surrounded Israel came before the announcement of the fall of Jerusalem. All these nations were related in some way to Israel through Abraham.
Throughout their history, they seem to have manifested their envy that Israel was considered the chosen people of God, and not their forefathers from whom they originated. Because they possibly dealt in an envious manner toward their relative, Israel, they rejoiced when she was humbled through destruction and captivity.
Here we read the prophecy against Ammon, 588 B.C. Ezekiel 25:1-2 / Jeremiah 49:1-6 / Amos 1:13-15 / Zephaniah 2:8-11. Their sin was that they rejoiced over the desolation of Israel.
When Nebuchadnezzar finally brought an end to Judah through the destruction of Jerusalem, Ammon rejoiced, Ezekiel 25:3. Ammon rejoiced when the temple was defiled, Ezekiel 24:21, and the land lay waste, Ezekiel 25:3 / Ezekiel 26:2 / Ezekiel 36:2, and because they rejoiced when God’s went into exile, 2 Kings 24:2 / Jeremiah 49:1 / Zephaniah 2:8-10.
She possibly saw Judah’s demise as revenge for what had formerly transpired when Israel conquered her many years before, when they were entering the promised land, Judges 10:9-11:40.
Wright, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Ammon evidently took advantage of Babylon’s victory and grabbed whatever land and property that they could. This is implied in Ezekiel 25:3 and is confirmed by Jeremiah 49:1. Here is the temporarily strong nation taking advantage of the weaker neighbour.’
Bruce, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Ammonites, along with the other nations, imagined that the collapse of the Judean monarchy also meant the eclipse of the God of Israel.’
The Ammonites would be assimilated into the world powers, the Babylonians, that would control the Near East and thus go out of existence as a nation of people, Ezekiel 25:4.
Rabbah, the capital city, is going to become uninhabited by humans, but will have camels and flocks of sheep, and then they will know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 25:5.
When the northern kingdom of Israel fell in 722/721 B.C., the Ammonites reclaimed the territory that was formerly taken from them, Jeremiah 49:1. She then attacked the southern kingdom of Judah in 600 B.C.
Because of her resentment and evil actions toward Judah, and her clapping her hands, Ezekiel 25:6, the judgment that would be brought on her would result in her termination from history as a nation, Ezekiel 25:7. Then they would know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 25:7.
Here we read the prophecy against Moab, the descendants of Lot, Genesis 19:37, and Seir, a city of the Edomites. Their sin was that they ignored the family ties between the two nations, Isaiah 15-16 / Jeremiah 48 / Jeremiah 25:8 / Amos 2:1-3 / Zephaniah 2:8-11.
Moab and Seir regarded Judah as just another nation, despite them being relatives, Ezekiel 25:8 / Jeremiah 48:27 / Zephaniah 2:8-9. Israel was arrogant in the fact that she was the chosen of God.
Wiersbe, in his commentary, says the following.
‘To the Moabites, the fall of Jerusalem proved that the Jews were just like any other people. ‘If you are such a special nation,’ they argued, ‘why have you experienced such a humiliating defeat?’
Since Judah had fallen to the Babylonians and she went into apostasy by adopting the idol gods of her neighbours, her neighbours said that she was no different from them.
When Jerusalem fell, and the temple was destroyed, the nations mocked Israel, reaffirming their claim that she too was only another nation of the world like them. Since Israel could no longer claim to have the special protection of her God, she could no longer claim to be the special people of God.
God said He was going to destroy their frontier towns, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim, the towns in which they were proud, Ezekiel 25:9. The name Kiriathaim ironically means ‘the glory of the land,’ so this is clearly a play on words.
Moab, along with the Ammonites, would be given over to the people of the East, Ezekiel 25:10, that is, the Babylonians, and they would cease to exist as a nation, Ezekiel 25:10 / Ezekiel 25:7 / Jeremiah 48:7-9. Moab will be punished, 583 B.C. and then they will know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 25:11.
Here we read the prophecy against Edom. Their sin was taking revenge on their brother nation, Ezekiel 25:12 / Isaiah 21:11-12 / Isaiah 34:5-17 / Psalm 137:7 / Jeremiah 49:7-22 / Lamentations 4:21 / Ezekiel 35 / Ezekiel 36:1-7 / Amos 1:11-12 / Obadiah 1-21.
From the day that Israel came out of Egyptian captivity, the Edomites were antagonistic toward Israel. These descendants of Esau seemed never to forgive Abraham for allowing their forefather to be cast out of his camp, Genesis 35:22-36:43.
Their hatred went so far as to murder the Israelites who escaped from Jerusalem when it was under siege by the Babylonians. Their hatred of Israel led them to work against God’s plan through Israel.
As part of their judgment, God would cause both man and beast to die from their land, Ezekiel 25:13 / Ezekiel 35:1-36:15. God would make the land desolate from Teman to Dedan, Ezekiel 25:13, as a result of an army invasion, Jeremiah 9:26 / Jeremiah 25:21 / Jeremiah 27:1-11 / Joel 3:19 / Obadiah 1:1-12.
Notice that Israel would play a part in Edom’s judgment as they carried out God’s anger and wrath, Ezekiel 25:14. Because of their work against the plan of God, they brought judgment on themselves, which judgment meant their extinction from history, Ezekiel 35:1-36:15/ Isaiah 11:14 / Daniel 11:41 / Amos 9:12 / Obadiah 1:18. The they would know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 25:14.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This was fulfilled by the Maccabees, who not only defeated them and brought them under complete subjection, but obliged them to receive circumcision, 1 Maccabees 5:65 / 2 Maccabees 10:16.’
Here we read the prophecy against Philistia. Their sin was their continual vengefulness, Ezekiel 25:15 / Judges 13-16 / 1 Samuel 4 / 1 Samuel 13 / 1 Samuel 31 / 2 Samuel 5:17-25 / 2 Kings 18:8 / 2 Chronicles 21:16-17 / 2 Chronicles 28:18 / Isaiah 14:29-32 / Jeremiah 47 / Amos 1:6-8 / Zephaniah 2:4-7.
From the time Joshua led the Israelites into the land of promise, the Philistines were the continual antagonist against Israel’s possession of the land, Judges 3:31 / Judges 14:1-16 / 1 Samuel 4:1-6 / 2 Chronicles 26:6-7.
Because the Israelites had throughout their history defeated the Philistines on many occasions, they harboured an ongoing hatred of Israel. When Israel fell, they rejoiced over her demise.
With an outstretched hand God was going to wipe out the Philistines and the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast, Ezekiel 25:16. Kerethites, Ezekiel 25:16, was another name for the Philistines, 1 Samuel 30:14 / 2 Samuel 15:18 / Zephaniah 2:5.
This name was possibly given to the Philistines before the Israelites arrived in Palestine, for they had migrated from Crete, or Caphtor, Deuteronomy 2:23 / Jeremiah 47:4 / Amos 9:7.
Because of their actions against Israel, God’s prophets pronounced their certain demise and extinction from history, Isaiah 11:14 / Isaiah 14:29-32 / Jeremiah 25:20 / Jeremiah 47:1-7 / Joel 3:1-4 / Obadiah 1:19 / Zephaniah 2:4-7 / Amos 1:6-8. Then they will know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 25:17.
Morgan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Here is the one purpose of Jehovah in His dealings with all nations. Those who fail to find Him in the light of His revelation of Himself by law or in the natural order, he brings to know Him through judgment.’