Ezekiel Chapter 25
Ezekiel 25
Judgment on the Nations Near Judah
Ezekiel 25 begins a new section of the book, running through Ezekiel 32, where the LORD turns from direct judgment on Jerusalem to judgments against the surrounding nations. This does not mean God has forgotten Israel. It means that the same holy God who judges His own covenant people also judges the nations around them. Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia all sinned against Judah in her downfall. They mocked, rejoiced, took vengeance, and treated Jerusalem’s collapse as proof that Judah was no different from the nations. But the LORD had not surrendered His sovereignty. Jerusalem’s destruction was a warning to the Gentiles as well as judgment upon Judah. The nations would learn that the God of Israel is the LORD over all nations. The uploaded notes emphasize that the nations are judged for their hostility toward Israel, their rejoicing over Judah’s fall, and their refusal to recognize the LORD’s hand in history.
1. Ezekiel 25:1-5, Against the Ammonites.
Ezekiel 25:1, The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 25:2, Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
Ezekiel 25:3, And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;
Ezekiel 25:4, Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
Ezekiel 25:5, And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
The word of the LORD came again unto me introduces the next major section of Ezekiel’s prophecy. The focus now turns outward to the nations surrounding Judah. God had judged Jerusalem first, but He had not forgotten the sins of the Gentile nations.
This agrees with the biblical principle that judgment begins with God’s own house, but does not end there.
1 Peter 4:17, For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Peter 4:18, And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
The prophets often declared judgment against the nations to show that the LORD rules over the whole earth, not only Israel. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos all contain similar sections against surrounding nations.
Isaiah 13:1, The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
Jeremiah 46:1, The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
Amos 1:3, Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
Set thy face against the Ammonites means Ezekiel is to turn in prophetic opposition to Ammon. The Ammonites lived east of the Jordan River, north of Moab. They were related to Israel through Lot, but they had a long history of hostility toward God’s people.
The origin of Ammon is recorded in Genesis.
Genesis 19:38, And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
Hear the word of the Lord GOD means Ammon is accountable to the LORD’s word even though Ammon is not Israel. The nations may not acknowledge Yahweh, but He still rules them and judges them.
Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned gives the first charge. Ammon rejoiced over the profaning of the sanctuary. They did not mourn that the temple of the true God had been desecrated. They mocked. Their gloating revealed contempt for the LORD.
Against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity shows that Ammon rejoiced not only over the temple’s profaning, but also over the land’s desolation and Judah’s captivity. They took pleasure in the suffering of God’s people.
This sin is serious. God may discipline His people, but the nations have no right to rejoice maliciously over their calamity. The Abrahamic covenant remains a standing warning regarding how nations treat Israel.
Genesis 12:1, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 12:2, And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Genesis 12:3, And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession means Ammon would be handed over to eastern peoples. These may refer to nomadic tribes east of the Jordan, Ishmaelites, Bedouin groups, or forces connected with Babylonian power. Whoever the immediate instrument, the LORD would give Ammon over.
They shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee means foreign peoples would occupy Ammon’s territory. The land Ammon celebrated as secure would become someone else’s dwelling.
They shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk means the invaders would consume Ammon’s produce and wealth. The fruit and milk represent the agricultural and pastoral resources of the land. What Ammon possessed would be enjoyed by others.
I will make Rabbah a stable for camels refers to Rabbah, the chief city of Ammon, associated with modern Amman in Jordan. The city would be reduced from human pride and political importance to a place fit for animals.
And the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks means Ammon’s inhabited places would become pastureland. This is a picture of depopulation and humiliation.
Ye shall know that I am the LORD gives the purpose. Ammon would know Yahweh through judgment. They had mocked His sanctuary and His people, but they would learn that He is the LORD.
2. Ezekiel 25:6-7, The guilt of the Ammonites.
Ezekiel 25:6, For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
Ezekiel 25:7, 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.
Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart expands the accusation from verse 3. Ammon’s sin was not merely a passing word of mockery. Their whole body and heart celebrated Judah’s fall. Clapping, stamping, and rejoicing show open delight in Israel’s calamity.
With all thy despite against the land of Israel means their joy was mixed with contempt. They despised the land and the people connected to the LORD’s covenant promises.
Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee means the LORD Himself will act against Ammon. God’s stretched-out hand is now against the nation that mocked His people.
And will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen means Ammon would become plunder for the nations. The one who rejoiced over Judah’s ruin would experience ruin.
I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries means Ammon’s national identity would be broken. Individual descendants might remain, but Ammon as a distinct nation would pass from history.
Jeremiah also prophesied judgment against Ammon, while also speaking of a later restoration in some sense.
Jeremiah 49:1, Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?
Jeremiah 49:2, Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 49:6, And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.
I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD closes Ammon’s oracle with the repeated purpose. The nation that rejoiced in the profaning of the sanctuary would know the LORD by His judgment.
B. Judgment upon Moab, Edom, and the Philistines.
1. Ezekiel 25:8-11, Moab and Seir numbered among the Ammonites.
Ezekiel 25:8, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;
Ezekiel 25:9, 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,
Ezekiel 25:10, 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.
Ezekiel 25:11, And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Moab and Seir brings the next nations into view. Moab, like Ammon, descended from Lot. Seir is associated with Edom, the descendants of Esau. Both had kinship ties to Israel, yet both opposed Judah.
Moab’s origin is recorded in Genesis.
Genesis 19:37, And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
Edom’s connection to Seir is also established in Genesis.
Genesis 36:8, Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen identifies their sin. They mocked Judah’s special covenant status. Jerusalem’s fall made them say that Judah was no different from any other nation. In one sense, Judah had acted like the nations, but Moab and Seir went further. They treated Judah’s judgment as proof that Judah had no special covenant relationship with the LORD.
This was an assault not only on Judah, but on the LORD who chose Judah, placed His name in Jerusalem, and made covenant promises to Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:6, For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities means Moab’s defenses and frontier cities would be exposed. The LORD would open the land to invasion.
Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim were notable Moabite locations. The glory of Moab’s country would not protect her.
Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession means Moab would share Ammon’s fate. Eastern peoples would possess the territory.
That the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations shows that Ammon’s memory as a distinct nation would fade. Moab is included in this same wave of judgment.
I will execute judgments upon Moab means Moab’s mockery would not go unanswered. The LORD would judge them.
And they shall know that I am the LORD gives the repeated purpose. Moab mocked Judah’s covenant identity, but through judgment Moab would learn that the LORD is God.
Moab had a long and complicated history with Israel. Balak king of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel.
Numbers 22:3, And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
Numbers 22:4, And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Numbers 22:5, He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Moab also oppressed Israel in the days of the judges.
Judges 3:12, And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
Judges 3:13, And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
Judges 3:14, So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
Yet Ruth the Moabitess was brought into Israel and became an ancestor of David, showing that individual Moabites could be received by grace.
Ruth 4:13, So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
Ruth 4:17, And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
The national judgment of Moab does not deny God’s mercy to individuals who come under His covenant grace.
2. Ezekiel 25:12-14, More on Edom’s guilt and judgment.
Ezekiel 25:12, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
Ezekiel 25:13, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel 25:14, And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance gives Edom’s guilt. Edom did not merely observe Judah’s fall. Edom acted with revenge. The language is intense: Edom took vengeance and revenged himself upon Judah.
Edom descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. Their hostility against Israel had deep historical roots.
Genesis 36:1, Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
Genesis 36:8, Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
When Jerusalem fell, Edom appears to have rejoiced, assisted, or exploited Judah’s collapse. Psalm 137 remembers Edom’s attitude.
Psalm 137:7, Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
Obadiah gives a fuller indictment of Edom’s violence and gloating.
Obadiah 1:10, For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
Obadiah 1:11, In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
Obadiah 1:12, But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger, neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction, neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
Obadiah 1:13, Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity, yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
Obadiah 1:14, Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape, neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
Lamentations also speaks to Edom in connection with Jerusalem’s fall.
Lamentations 4:21, Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
Lamentations 4:22, The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom means the LORD Himself would judge Edom. Edom may have acted as if Judah’s fall was her opportunity for revenge, but the LORD would bring vengeance upon Edom.
Will cut off man and beast from it shows the extent of the judgment. Edom’s population and livestock would be struck. The judgment would affect the whole land.
I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword uses locations to describe the sweep of judgment. Teman and Dedan mark areas connected with Edom and its region. From one end to another, Edom would feel the sword.
I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel is notable because God promises that Israel will be involved in Edom’s judgment. This had historical fulfillment in later Jewish victories over Edom, including the Maccabean and Hasmonean period, but it also fits the broader prophetic theme that the LORD vindicates His covenant people.
They shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury means Israel’s action would be an instrument of divine judgment, not private revenge.
They shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD means Edom would know the LORD by experiencing His righteous vengeance. Edom had taken revenge; now God would lay His vengeance upon Edom.
3. Ezekiel 25:15-17, Judgment against the Philistines.
Ezekiel 25:15, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
Ezekiel 25:16, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
Ezekiel 25:17, 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.
Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge gives the charge against the Philistines. Like Edom, they acted with vengeance against Judah. Their hostility was ancient and bitter.
With a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred means their violence came from deep-rooted hatred. This was not merely military opportunism. It was old enmity expressing itself when Judah was vulnerable.
The Philistines had been enemies of Israel from the early history of the nation. They oppressed Israel in the days of Saul and were finally subdued under David.
1 Samuel 13:17, And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
1 Samuel 13:18, And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
2 Samuel 5:17, But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
2 Samuel 5:18, The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
2 Samuel 5:19, And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
The Philistines were later involved in opposition to Judah during the divided monarchy.
2 Chronicles 21:16, Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
2 Chronicles 28:18, The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines means the LORD will judge them directly. Their old hatred has come before Him.
I will cut off the Cherethims likely refers to a Philistine-related group, sometimes associated with the sea peoples and the southern coast. The LORD’s judgment will reach them as well.
Cherethites also appear among David’s military servants, showing their connection to the broader Philistine coastal region.
2 Samuel 15:18, And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
And destroy the remnant of the sea coast means the Philistine coastal people would be brought down. Their cities and identity would fade under judgment.
I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes means the LORD’s judgment will answer their spiteful vengeance. They acted in hatred, and God answers with holy vengeance.
They shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them gives the purpose. The Philistines, like Ammon, Moab, and Edom, would learn that Yahweh is not merely Israel’s tribal deity. He is the LORD over all nations.
Ezekiel 25 shows that God’s judgment of Jerusalem was not permission for the nations to mock, rejoice, and take revenge. Ammon said, “Aha,” and rejoiced over the sanctuary’s profaning. Moab and Seir claimed Judah was like all the nations. Edom took vengeance in the day of Jerusalem’s calamity. The Philistines acted from old hatred. Each nation sinned against Judah and against the LORD who had chosen Israel. Therefore, the LORD would judge them. The chapter teaches that God’s sovereignty extends over every nation, His covenant promises still matter, and no people can mistreat Israel or rejoice in her calamity without answering to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
