F2 e1 1-3. Incrimination.
f1 4,5. Threatening.
e2 6. Incrimination.
f2 7. Threatening.
e3 8. Incrimination.
f3 9-11. Threatening.
e4 12. Incrimination.
f4 13,14. Threatening.
e5 15. Incrimination.
e5 16,17. Threatening.
480 B.C.
Ezekiel 25)
1 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
3 And say to the Ammonites (see 21:28. Ammon was a party to the plot against Gedaliah, the governor who Nebuchadnezzar appointed after the destruction of Jerusalem. See Jer. 40:14; 41:10,15), 'Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Because you said, 'Aha,' against My sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the soil of Israel (see 11:17), when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;
4 Behold, therefore I will deliver you (Josephus tells us that Nebuchadnezzar subdued the Ammonites and Moabites in the 5th year after the destruction of Jerusalem. Cp. Jer. 49:28) to the sons of the east for a possession (i.e. the Babylonians. See 21:19,20. Jer. 25:21), and they shall set their encampments in you, and make their dwellings in you: they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.
5 And I will make Rabbah (see Deut. 3:11) a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and you shall know that I am the LORD.' (See 6:7.)
6 For thus says the Lord GOD; 'Because you have clapped your hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your despite against the land of Israel;
7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out My hand upon you, and will deliver you for a spoil to the nations; and I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish out of the countries: I will destroy you; and you shall know that I am the LORD.' (So in 16:22; 22:16; 25:7; 35:4.)
8 Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Because that Moab (descended from Lot, like the Ammorites [Gen. 19:37]. Usually hostile to Israel) and Seir do say, 'Behold, the house of Judah is like to all the nations;'
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 (now 'Ain Surveimeh, near the north-east corner of the Dead Sea [Num. 38:49. Josh. 12:3; 13:20), Baalmeon (now Tel M'ain [Num. 32:38. 1 Chron. 5:8], 2 miles south of Heshbon), and Kiriathaim, (Now el Kureiyat, between Dibon and Medeba [Jer. 48:1,23].)
10 To 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.'
12 Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Because that Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance (descended from Esau [Gen. 36:1,43]. For their unbrotherly spirit, see Ps. 137:7. Lam. 4:21,22; and Obad. 10-16), and has greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; 'I will also stretch out My hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman (a grandson of Esau [gen. 36:11]. A town or city in Edom, not yet identified); and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of My people Israel (see Num. 24:17-19): and they shall do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.'
15 Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despitefull heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
16 Therefore' thus says the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I will stretch out My hand upon the Philistines (cp. Ps. 60:8,9; 108:9,10. Isa. 11:14), and I will cut off the Cherethims (a tribe of the Philistines [1 Sam. 30:14. Zeph. 2:5. Heb. hikratti kerethim, in Eng. = I will cut off the cutters off. David's body-guard partly from them), and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay My vengeance upon them.' ' "