Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 25

Verses 1-7

Immediate Neighbors of Judah (25:1-17)

Ammon (25:1-7)

The contempt in which Ammon was held by the Hebrews is best reflected in the account of this nation’s origin, which explains that Ammon is the issue of the drunken, incestuous activity of Lot (Genesis 19:30-38). Subsequent history unfolded a series of incidents which deepened the enmity between the two neighboring states (for example, Judges 11:4-33; 1 Samuel 11:1-4; 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:11-12; 2 Samuel 10:1-14). In Judah’s present extremity Ammon showed great delight at the tragedy which had befallen God’s people, not because the tragedy vindicated God, but because it satisfied a sadistic bestiality in the Ammonites.

The warning to the culprit Ammon is that marauders from the East will dwell in her land, which will become a "pasture for camels"; her cities will be a "fold for flocks" (vs. 5). Because Ammon has enjoyed the grief of others, she shall herself be brought to grief. In such action God will reveal that behind all events stands the Author and Finisher of history, who becomes Judge of all men and nations.

Verses 1-32

PROPHECIES AGAINST FOREIGN NATIONS

Ezekiel 25:1 to Ezekiel 32:32

The second major division of the prophecy is the natural outgrowth of the expansive vision which opened the ministry of Ezekiel and of the great theme which underlies his writing. God-who can no longer be identified with Palestine alone, who can be met in the Mesopotamian mudflats in a summer storm, who can withdraw from Jerusalem to go where he will — is a God who by his very nature relates himself to all nations.

These oracles serve to establish two concepts very clearly: first, all mankind is morally and spiritually responsible to Almighty God; second, no nation will escape the responsibility to obey the common laws of humanity. Neither imperial greatness (Tyre and Egypt) nor insignificant powerlessness (Ammon, Edom, and the like) could mean that judgment would be withheld.

Verses 8-11

Moab (25:8-11)

Moab showed herself to be insensitive to the peculiarity of Judah’s mission, saying, "Judah is like all the other nations." When this people, who had a long history of violence against Judah, saw the land destroyed they were delighted that the Hebrews did not have, as they had claimed, the special blessing and protection of God. Since Moab had rejoiced she, too, would be invaded and her cities destroyed.

Verses 12-14

Edom (25:12-14)

Judah’s third neighbor, Edom, whose kinship with the Hebrews is traced back to the Esau-Jacob cycle of stories in Genesis, was guilty of taking vengeance upon the house of Judah, apparently during a period when Judah was helpless against attack. This vengeance was not of God, hence it offended him. The whole country of Edom is consigned to desolation from one end to the other (from Teman to Dedan), and God’s vengeance will be meted out by the hand of his people Israel. This became a reality during the Maccabean ascendancy in the second century B.C. Those who arrogate to themselves the vengeance of God will quickly learn what God’s vengeance really is (vs. 14).

Verses 15-17

Philistia (25:15-17)

Since the period of the Judges, "never-ending enmity" had existed between the Hebrews and the Philistines and related sea peoples ("Cherethites"). Because the remnants of Philistia had taken advantage of Judah in the past, destruction now casts a heavy shadow on their future. The brief oracle, however, is not as vibrant with anger as the previous three oracles.