Ezekiel 25 Study Notes

25:1-32:32 This section of Ezekiel bridges the book’s message of doom and its message of hope. Doom for Israel’s antagonists spells hope for Israel itself. The placement of these oracles at this point disrupts the flow of the book and heightens the tension as the destruction of the temple is imminent. God’s judgment on these nations is based on the Abrahamic covenant, which said that those who cursed Israel would be cursed by God (Gn 12:1-3). All the nations named in the oracle had either taken part in Jerusalem’s destruction or had rejoiced over it. The audience for these oracles was Judean, and so they had cause for future hope.

25:1-2 Ammon, Moab, and Edom are mentioned in the order of their geographic location, from north to south. The Ammonites are perhaps mentioned first in this section of oracles because the only previous oracle against a foreign nation was also about Ammon (21:28-32). The Ammonites were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot (Gn 19:30-38). The Ammonites were known for their idolatry (1Kg 11:7,33), cruelty (Am 1:13), pride (Zph 2:9-10), and opposition to God’s people (Dt 23:3-4; Jdg 3:13; 1Sm 11:1-3; 2Sm 10:1-14; 2Kg 24:2; Neh 4:3,7-8). For Jeremiah’s oracle against Ammon, see Jr 49:1-6; for Amos’s oracle, see Am 1:13-15.

25:3-6 Because they applauded the misfortune of Judah, Ammon will be given to the people of the east.

25:7 With ironic justice, the nation that rejoiced over the destruction of Judah (v. 3) will suffer the same fate. They will be conquered and oppressed by their enemies, a standard covenant punishment (Lv 26:16-17; Dt 28:31,33,43).

25:8-11 Like the Ammonites, the people of Moab were descendants of Lot and one of his daughters (Gn 19:30-38). Shortly after the Israelites were released from Egyptian bondage, the Moabites caused a great setback for the young Israelite nation by introducing them to Baal worship (Nm 21:1-25; 31:16). Judah went on to dominate Moab both politically and militarily throughout much of its history. During Ezekiel’s time, however, Moabite troops joined forces with Nebuchadnezzar and attacked King Jehoiakim of Jerusalem (2Kg 24:2). When Judah was defeated, the Moabites responded with delight (Jr 48:29; Zph 2:8-9). For earlier oracles against Moab, see Is 15:1-16:14; Jr 48:1-47; Am 2:1-3.

25:12-13 The struggle between Edom and Judah began when their respective patriarchs were born as twin brothers. Jacob, who went on to father the Israelites, grabbed the heel of Esau, who fathered the Edomites, as they struggled to emerge from Rebekah’s womb (Gn 25:21-34). Centuries later, shortly after the Israelites emerged from bondage in Egypt, Edom refused to let them pass through their land en route to Canaan (Nm 20:14-21). This was the beginning of a long adversarial relationship between Israel and Edom. There were conflicts between Israel and Edom during the reigns of Saul (1Sm 14:47), Solomon (1Kg 11:14-22), Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:1-23), Jehoram (2Kg 8:20-21), and Ahaz (2Ch 28:17). The most blatant example of Edom’s opposition to the people of God was Edom’s role in the destruction of the Jerusalem temple (Ps 137:7; Lm 4:21-22; Ob 1-14). Like the Moabites and Ammonites, the Edomites were a warring (Gn 27:39-40), idolatrous (2Ch 25:14,20), cruel (Am 1:11-12), and vengeful (Ezk 25:12-14) people. Ezekiel and other prophets declared that Israel would possess Edom in the end time (35:1-36:15; Is 11:14; Dn 11:41; Am 9:12; Ob 18-19). This prophecy was fulfilled when Edom was defeated by the Maccabees and incorporated into the Jewish state.

25:14 God announced his verdict on Edom, and this judgment is further expanded in 35:1-36:15. Edom is always included in oracles against nations by the Major Prophets. For other oracles against Edom, see Is 34:5-17; 63:1-6; Jr 49:7-22; Am 1:11-12; Obadiah.

25:15 The Philistines migrated to the coast of Palestine from the Greek coasts and islands of the Aegean Sea (Jr 47:4; Am 9:7; Zph 2:5). As early as the time of the judges they were constant adversaries of Israel (Jdg 3:31; 10:7; 13-16; 1Sm 4; 13; 31; 2Sm 5; 2Kg 18:8; 2Ch 21:16-17; 28:18). David was credited with the final subjugation of the Philistines during his reign (2Sm 5:17-25). Though there is virtually no record of the existence of the Philistines after the time of the Maccabees (second century BC), the region of Canaan came to be called Palestine (Philistine = Palestine). For other oracles against Philistia, see Is 14:28-32; Jr 47:1-7; Am 1:6-8.

25:16-17 The Cherethites (possibly Cretans) were presumably an ethnic group of Aegean origin that settled along the southwestern coast of Canaan. By David’s time they had such a positive relationship with Israel that David chose many Cherethites as his personal guardsmen (1Sm 30:14; 2Sm 8:18). They are frequently mentioned along with the Pelethite forces that together formed a mercenary unit during the time of David (2Sm 8:18; 20:23). The Pelethites and Cherethites accompanied David on his flight from Absalom (2Sm 15:18).