Old Testament · Prophecy

Ezekiel 25

Against the Neighbors

Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia — each celebrated Judah's fall. Each will answer for their mockery. Schadenfreude has consequences.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV
Read the commentary What this chapter means, the background behind it, and why it still matters

1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2“Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.

3Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD, for this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you exclaimed, “Aha!” when My sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and when the house of Judah went into exile,

4therefore I will indeed give you as a possession to the people of the East. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk.

5I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

6For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you clapped your hands and stomped your feet and rejoiced over the land of Israel with a heart full of contempt,

7therefore I will indeed stretch out My hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.’

8This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,”

9therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land.

10I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations.

11So I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the LORD.’

12This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,

13therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

14I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

15This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility,

16therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast.

17I will execute great vengeance against them with furious reproof. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’”

Commentary

Ezekiel 25, explained

What Ezekiel 25 is saying

Ezekiel delivers oracles against four of Judah's neighbors: Ammon for gloating over the temple's destruction, Moab for denying Judah's uniqueness, Edom for taking revenge, and Philistia for acting in malicious vengeance. Each will face destruction proportional to their offenses.

The background behind it

These oracles against the nations (chapters 25-32) follow the pattern established by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos. The four nations addressed here share borders with Judah and had long, adversarial histories with Israel.

Themes running underneath

God's sovereignty extends beyond Israel to all nations. Schadenfreude—rejoicing over another's downfall—is itself a punishable offense before God. The nations are held accountable for their treatment of God's people even during God's own disciplining of Israel.

Why it still matters

Taking pleasure in the suffering of others, even those who seem to deserve it, reveals a heart condition that God opposes. Justice belongs to God alone, and He holds all peoples accountable.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.

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