Ezekiel
Chapter 25
ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS
Against Ammon
The word of the Lord came to me in these words,
“Turn toward the people of the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
Say to them on my behalf: This is what the Lord says: Because you mocked when my Sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and the Judeans were exiled,
I am giving you over to the people of the East as their possession; they will pitch their camps and settle among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and the towns of the Ammonites into a sheepfold; and you will know that I am the Lord.”
Thus says the Lord: “Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and danced for joy with an evil heart against the land of Israel,
I will extend my hand against you and deliver you over as plunder to the nations. I will remove you from among the nations;you will no longer be counted among them. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord.”
Against Moab
Thus says the Lord: “Because Moab said: ‘Judah is like all the other nations,’
I will leave Moab unprotected and destroy the towns that are her pridy: Beth-jeshimoth, Baalmeon, Kiriathaim.
I will give Moab, along with the Ammonites, as a possession to the people of the East,so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations.
When I will punish Moab,they will know I am the Lord.”
Against Edom
Word of the Lord: “Because Edom took revenge on Judah and was guilty in doing so, this is what
the Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom, destroying people and animals. I will make it a ruin from Teman and let them be slain as far as Dedan.
I will put Israel in charge of my revenge against Edom. They will deal with Edom according to my wrath and my fury; and Edom will experience my revenge”—word of the Lord.
Against the Philistines
Word of the Lord:“Because the Philistines have taken revenge with an evil heart, and because of their ceaseless hatred, Thus says the Lord:
I intend to stretch out my hand against the Philistines; I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the coast.
I will take terrible revenge, and punish them in my wrath—then they will know I am the Lord.”
Commentaries
Oracles Against the Nations.
This type of oracle against the nations also appears in other prophets such as Amos 1-2, Isaiah 13-23, and Jeremiah 27-28. Although the enemies of Israel are condemned, the primary audience is the exiles of Judah. The main reason for the condemnation is their mockery and joy over Jerusalem’s fall. God tells the exiles that He will punish these nations when He reveals His holiness by restoring Israel (28:25-26).