The LORD’s Judgment & Restoration Study 2020/2021; Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m. by Zoom

Class #23, March 9, 2021

The Judge of the Nations :1-17; 26:1-21; 27:1-36; 28:20-23; 30:1-19; 32:17-32

Notes, observations, and questions on Ezekiel 25:1-17

Short Oracles Against ’s Neighbors

1. Ezekiel 25 makes a major break in the collection of Ezekiel’s oracles. Until this point his prophecies had dealt with the fate of . Now his oracles turn against the foreign nations around Israel. The reasons for judgment are similar (social sins, pride, etc.) and the divine punishment is the same.

(a) The nations addressed here all represent the enemies of Israel. Thus, a divine pronouncement of judgment on them also served as a backhanded message of hope for the Israelites. (b) In the next section of our study (The Conscience of Kings) will include specific judgments against the kings and princes of these various neighboring nations. (c) Positioned at the center of these two sections is the key that unlocks the entire unit: 28:24-26. It serves as the fulcrum, dividing the oracles against foreign nations and kings into two balanced halves, identical in length. (1) Oracles of judgment upon the six nations (25:1-28:23)—97 verses (2) Ezekiel’s word of hope (28:24-26) (3) Oracles of judgment specifically upon (29:1-32:32)—97 verses

2. vv 1-7, the oracles against (literally, “the Sons of Ammon”)

(a) Modern day ’s name follows from the ancient peoples of Ammon. (b) No doubt Nebuchadnezzar’s earlier decision to attack Jerusalem rather than Rabbath (capital of Ammon—today called Amman) in 21:18-22 had dismayed the exiles. But now God declares judgment will fall on Ammon, too. (c) The Ammonites were distant relatives of the Israelites, being descended from Lot (Gen 19:38) and occupied the land east of Israel (present day Jordan encompasses most of the ancient kingdom of Ammon). (d) They always had stormy relations with Israel. attacked Ammon and added the country to his kingdom (2 Sam 10-12). But after the death of Solomon, Ammon regained its independence. Later, Ammon entered into a treaty with Israel when the Assyrians threatened. Yet, its relationship with Israel was never close or friendly. (e) In vv 1-3, scorn is cast upon Ammon specifically for (1) their desecration of the temple, (2) their laying waste the land of Israel, and (3) their deportation of the population of Judah. These all strike the heart of Israel: God, land, and people. (f) But the Ammonites failed to realize the Yahweh had not given up on Israel. God will deliver them into the hands of their enemies (vv 4-5). (1) Their enemies here are described as “the people of the East.” It’s a vague label used to denote nomadic groups from the Arabian desert that raided nearby nations. (g) God will remove Ammon from the scene. Then Yahweh will be known.

3. vv 8-11, the oracle against Moab

(a) Once more, the Easterners will be agents of God’s divine punishment. (b) The Moabites also descended from Lot (Gen 19:37) and occupied the land east of the . The Moabites and Israel were always at odds. (c) In v 8, God accuses Moab of denying Judah’s special status among the nations. Moab’s taunts would therefore also be a direct assault on the LORD himself, for he had granted this status to his people. (d) God will destroy Moab like the rest (v 9). Three representative cities are named to indicate Moab’s destruction: Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.

4. vv 12-14, the oracle against Edom

(a) While the judgment against Edom is briefly noted here, we will return to its punishment in chapter 35. (b) Being descended from Esau, the Edomites were even more closely related to Israel than the Ammonites and Moabites. But their relationship to Judah was always conflict-ridden, just like that of Esau and Jacob. (c) While Edom’s crime is not specified (v 12), it undoubtedly relates to Edom’s (Esau’s) abandonment of his brother in the critical hour, and Edom’s glee at the destruction of Jerusalem (Ps 137:7). (d) God’s judgment will have devastating effects (v 13). (e) In v 14, God will turn the tables with poetic justice on Edom. (1) The nation that had taken excessive vengeance on Judah should prepare for divine revenge in the fullest. (2) Now Israel/Judah will be the divine agents of Edom’s destruction (cf. Obadiah, vv 15 and 18). (3) God’s fury will come to Edom by Israel. (4) All of this would have given the exiles hope.

5. vv 15-17, the oracle against the Philistines

(a) The Philistines are generally known among the ancients as the “Sea Peoples,” and their major cities were usually near the coast on the western edge of Israel. David delivered a decisive blow against them, as recorded in 2 Sam 5. (b) The oracle against them divides into the usual three parts: the indictment (v 15), the announcement of judgment (v 16-17a), and the effect of the judgment (17b). Vengeance belongs to God, especially when his own people have been abused. (c) Again, this would have stirred hope in the exiles. Yahweh was indeed their divine protector, even as they knew his severe discipline.

Notes, observations, and questions on Ezekiel 26:1-21

The Oracles Against Tyre

1. Tyre (and later Sidon) differed from the other nations around Israel. This was a territorial state according to which a single ethnic group—the Phoenicians—was divided into a series of political entities, each with its own capital city and reigning monarch. The Phoenicians represented the remnants of the original population that occupied Canaan when the Israelites arrived. 2. The name Tyre derives from the rock on which the city was built. Its relationship with Israel was a hot and cold, depending on the various historical movements at the time. The Babylonians lay siege to Tyre over a 13 year period, beginning soon after the fall of Jerusalem. Tyre and Egypt were the two that resisted the Babylonians the longest. Tyre was finally conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.

3. Because God had selected Nebuchadnezzar as his agent of judgment on Judah, any attempt by any nation to thwart Babylonian activity in the region was perceived as defiance against the irrevocable divine decree. It’s not coincidental, therefore, that of the foreign nations addressed by Ezekiel, the two singled out for the brunt of God’s judgment announcements are Tyre and Egypt.

4. vv 1-6, the announcement of Tyre’s demise

(a) vv 1-2, Jerusalem’s fall means satisfaction for Tyre’s voracious commercial appetite. So Tyre is gleeful over Jerusalem demise. God will not take lightly to this mockery. (b) Vv 3-6, God will stand in defense of his own city. His goal is for even this arrogant city to acknowledge him.

5. vv 7-14, the agent of Tyre’s demise

(a) While it may look like Nebuchadnezzar is the agent of Tyre’s destruction, he is merely a tool in Yahweh’s hands. God will bring to an end this magnificent city. While the city will not finally fall until several centuries later, the Babylonians exercised political control over Tyre for decades after the end of the 13 year siege.

6. vv 15-18, the international impact of Tyre’s demise

(a) v 15, Phase 1: News of Tyre’s collapse is received across the seas, to a great shuddering. (b) v 16, Phase 2: All governmental activity is suspended. (c) v 16, Phase 3: The kings sit on the ground and tremble with horror. (d) vv 17-18, A death lament is raised over the downfall of Tyre. (e) Given the terror Tyre had spread all around, the maritime nations might have rejoiced over its demise. Instead, they express shock. No doubt they realized they too were vulnerable.

7. vv 19-21, the role of Yahweh in Tyre’s demise

(a) This concluding part of the oracle, like the first part, highlights the role of the LORD in the demise of Tyre. God’s hand is behind all of history. (b) Tyre is now personified as a person going down to Sheol, that is, she went down to “the Pit,” that is, “the land of the depths.” The judgment of Tyre will be irreversible. The door to the Pit has been closed.

8. Theological implications

(a) History flows from the will, work, and purposes of the LORD. He alone is Sovereign.

(b) Nations that support Israel, God will favor. Nations that oppose Israel will be opposed by God (see Gen 12:2-3).