INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 25 In this chapter the prophet foretells the judgments of God upon the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines, for their ill usage of the Jews; on the Ammonites, Ezekiel 25:1, on the Moabites, Ezekiel 25:8, on the Edomites, Ezekiel 25:12, on the Philistines, Ezekiel... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME,.... After he had done prophesying to the Jews, he is bid to prophesy against the Gentiles, the nations that lay nearest the Jews: SAYING; as follows:... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, SET THY FACE AGAINST THE AMMONITES,.... Who were of the posterity of Lot, implacable enemies of the Jews; who hated their religion, and envied their wealth and happiness; against these the prophet is bid to "set his face"; to look that way where they lived, and to put on a frowning count... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAY UNTO THE AMMONITES,.... Either to their ambassadors at Babylon, or merchants there; or by letters to them, the prophet being in Chaldea, at a distance from them: HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD GOD; not Chemosh their idol, nor their lying oracles, but the word of the true and living God; which is... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEREFORE, I WILL DELIVER THEE TO THE MEN OF THE EAST FOR A POSSESSION,.... The Chaldeans and Syrians, which were on the east side, as Jarchi; or the Medes and Persians, as Kimchi, which lay more eastward; or it may be the Arabians, who are commonly called the men of the east; who were a par... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MAKE RABBATH A STABLE FOR CAMELS,.... Creatures much used by the eastern nations, especially the Arabians; who pitching their tents about Rabbath, the royal city, the metropolis of the children of Ammon, would convert the houses, and even palaces in it, into stables for their camels. This... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Their sin and punishment are further enlarged upon: BECAUSE THOU HAST CLAPPED THINE HANDS, AND STAMPED WITH THY FEET: gestures expressive of joy and gladness, Isaiah 55:12, the Ammonites clapped their hands together, and leaped and skipped for joy, when they heard o... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEREFORE, I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON THEE,.... In just retaliation for clapping their hands against his people; and which hand of the Lord they would find to be a heavy one, and which they would not be able either to resist or bear. The Targum is, "I will lift up the stroke of my po... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... By his servant the prophet, to whom the word of the Lord came; as concerning the Ammonites, so likewise concerning the Moabites, as follows: BECAUSE THAT MOAB AND SEIR DO SAY; that is, the Moabites, and the Edomites, which latter are meant by Seir, that being the seat o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL OPEN THE SIDE OF MOAB FROM THE CITIES,.... Or, "the shoulder of Moab" t; that part of their country where their greatest strength lay, So the Targum renders it, "the strength of Moab;'' where their principal cities were, their frontier towns, and fortified places, as appe... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE MEN OF THE EAST WITH THE AMMONITES, AND I WILL GIVE THEM IN POSSESSION,.... Or, "against the Ammonites", as the Targum; that is, way should be made for the same people of the east, the Chaldeans or Arabians, that came against the Ammonites and destroyed them, to enter into the land of Moab... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS UPON MOAB,.... For though the Chaldeans and Arabians were the instruments of their ruin, their destruction was of the Lord; it was his hand that was upon them, and his vengeance that was executed on them, for their hard sayings against his people; for though he had spoke aga... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Concerning Seir or the Edomites, the prophecy concerning the Moabites being finished: BECAUSE THAT EDOM HATH DEALT AGAINST THE HOUSE OF JUDAH BY TAKING VENGEANCE: or, "revenging a revenge" w; the Edomites bore an old grudge against the Jews, not only because their fathe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Because of such base and barbarous usage, from a people that were originally brethren: I WILL ALSO STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON EDOM, AND WILL CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT; by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, by the sword of the Chaldeans, and by famine and pestilen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL LAY MY VENGEANCE UPON EDOM BY FIE HAND OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL,.... This was fulfilled in the times of the Maccabees, when Judas Maccabins overthrew and conquered them, "Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a gre... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Once more, and concerning another enemy of the people of Israel, and who had been of old an implacable one: BECAUSE THE PHILISTINES HAVE DEALT BY REVENGE: for what they suffered in the times of Saul, when Goliath was slain by David, and their army was discomfited; and f... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Because of such wretched malice and despiteful usage: BEHOLD, I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON THE PHILISTINES; as is foretold, Jeremiah 47:1, AND I WILL CUT OFF THE CHERETHIMS: one of the tribes of the Philistines, a principal part of their country, which l... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL EXECUTE GREAT VENGEANCE UPON THEM WITH FURIOUS REBUKES,.... By way of retaliation for their vengeance and fury, wrath and malice, against his people; suggesting, that the judgments inflicted on them, for quantity and quality, should be very great: AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD,... [ Continue Reading ]