EZEKIEL 25-32: ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS “Then the nations will know that I am the Lord” The dawn of a new era: the end of the old world and the beginning of a new world

■ Ch. 24 is the last of the judgment oracles in the first part of the book (chs. 1-24). The opening of the ’s mouth (v.27) signified a turning point in ’s history: the old era of sin and judgment had come to an end; the new era of hope and salvation could begin. ■ Thus, the exiles would refrain from mourning not because they would be paralyzed by grief or calloused by sin, but because they would recognize the dawn of a new age – there is a ray of hope. ■ The fugitive’s announcement of the fall of the city would mark the end of the old world. It will in effect be welcome news. No more false hope of return: will have paid her debts; the judgment will have passed. ■ This chapter points toward Ch. 33 (in an earlier edition of ’s prophecies, ch. 33 seems to have followed immediately after ch. 24); instead, like the exilic community, we have to wait. And in the meantime, we have chs. 25-32. Structure of Chapters 25-32 (A series of oracles against the surrounding nations)

■ 6 oracles addressed to Judah’s immediate neighbours (chs. 25-28) – Arranged in clockwise order – starting with in the Transjordan to the east, – moving south to the other Transjordan foes: and – Then turning west to in the southern coastal plain – Finally north to the coastal cities of Tyre (26:1-28:19) and Sidon (28:20-23) ■ A climatic 7th oracle against the traditional enemy, (chs. 29-32) Structure of Chapters 25-32 (A series of oracles against the surrounding nations)

Some background ■ Ammon and Moab were the sons of Lot, ’s nephew (with his daughters, Gen 19:30-33) – Israelites did not have a good relationship with them, esp. Moab, e.g. who seduced Israelites into idolatry and immorality (Num 22- 25) ■ Edom and Israel were from the twin sons of Isaac – Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:21- 26) The insertion of chs. 25-32

■ In an earlier version of Ezekiel, ch. 24 (esp. after 24:26) was followed immediately by ch. 33 (news about the fall of Jerusalem) ■ Given the final sign and announcement in ch. 24 about the fate of Jerusalem and the temple, it took almost two years for it to happen – 18 months of the siege itself – 6 months for the news to arrive among the exiles ■ With chs. 25-32 in between the announcement of ch. 24 and the actual arrival of the news in ch. 33, it created the sense of a gap and the suspense of a long wait – A literary and chronological pause, marking the turning point of Ezekiel’s ministry ■ Why 7 nations? All nations? – The prophet Amos condemns 7 nations including Israel and Judah. The pre- Israelite nations in Canaan were listed as seven Oracle against the nations are common in prophetic literature

■ The prophet Amos proclaims ’s judgment against Israel’s neighbouring nations in -20: (Syria), Gaza (Philistine), Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab. – Note at the end, the prophet turns against Judah and Israel, proclaiming the same judgment on them ■ But in Ezekiel chs 1-24, the prophet has been proclaiming judgment on Judah, why turn against the nations here? The purpose of chs 25-32: note the insertion of 28:24-26

■ “‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord. ■ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God. ’”

■ Words of hope and future security for Israel in the midst of condemnation of surrounding nations – especially during the siege of Jerusalem, the darkest moment. Ezekiel was preaching the message that while Jerusalem would fall, there would still be hope and Yahweh is still their protector against their enemies. Yahweh had neither totally abandoned them nor was defeated Ch. 25

■ Starts with the word-event formula “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, ...” ■ Ends with the recognition formula “Then they will know that I am the Lord”. Prophecy against Ammon (25:1-7)

Word pattern: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: … Because …. therefore …. Then you will know that I am the Lord -- similar to all 4 oracles in ch. 25 ■ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: [citation formula] ■ Because you said “Aha! ” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile, [the accusation] ■ therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East [tribes of desert peoples to the east of ] as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep [judgment: suffer destruction from some source, if not ] ■ Then you will know that I am the Lord. [recognition formula] They/you “will know that I am the Lord”

■ The phrase occurs 53 times in Ezekiel, 16 times in chs. 25-32 ■ They/you “will know that I am the Lord” – what does it mean? Who are “they”? – Do they know that Yahweh is the Lord during their death/execution? – Or is there any indication of some future hope of restoration for these nations, through repentance and the true worship of Yahweh, similar to Israel? ■ Ref: Jer 12:14-17; esp. 48;7 and 49:6 on the restoration of fortunes of Moab and Ammon, even thought the restoration was never literally actualized ■ These oracles are not just for comfort to Israel but more importantly, for the glory of the Lord among all nations – Both judgment and restoration for the nations, the same consistent way as with Israel – the hope of salvation is extended to the nations (through Israel) Oracle against Tyre (26:1-28:19) and Sidon (28:20-23)

■ Tyre and Sidon: two great trading cities of the Phoenicians on the Mediterranean coast north of Israel (Tyre, “rock”, built on a rocky island and part on mainland) ■ Structure: 3 distinct but essentially parallel literary panels – each begin with “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man” (26:1-2; 27:1; 28:1) [word-event formula] – Each panel ends with the same concluding phrase about Tyre: “you have come to a horrible end and will be no more” (26:21; 27:36; 28:19) ■ The 3 oracles about Tyre are essentially the same, but presented in 3 different ways – 26:1-21 – 27:1-36 – 28:1-19 The first oracle: against the city of Tyre (26:2-21)

■ Date: on the 1st day , the 11th month of the 12th year (26:1, no date in ch. 25) – Jerusalem was under sieged on 10th day, 10th month, 9th year (24:1) – News of the fall of Jerusalem came to Ezekiel on 5th day, 10th month, 12th year (33:21) ■ The oracle is further subdivided into four oracles, each begins with the citation formula: “this is what the Sovereign Lord says” (26:3, 7, 15, 19) The first oracle (26:1-6)

■ The charge against Tyre is similar to that raised against Judah’s other neighbors: – this is what the Sovereign Lord says (26:3) – Because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ (26:2). – Therefore (this is what the Sovereign Lord says): I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock [recall: Tyre means rock] …(26:3-5a) – Then they will know that I am the Lord (26:5b) The first oracle (26:2-21)

■ She rejoiced when Jerusalem fell, seeing in that event the opportunity for personal gain: A potential rival for her trading empire has been eliminated, opening up new avenues to prosperity. ■ Ezekiel is quick to point out the flaw in Tyre’s thinking. – The God who brought judgment on Jerusalem is also against Tyre and will judge her in an almost exactly corresponding manner (26:3). The first oracle (26:2-21)

■ Does Tyre hope to become the new meeting place for the nations? – The Lord will bring many nations against her (26:3). ■ Did Tyre rejoice to see Jerusalem’s doors shattered? – Her walls will be destroyed and her towers torn down (26:4). ■ Did Tyre expect to prosper? – She will become plunder for the nations (26:5). ■ Point by point, Tyre’s positive expectations are turned on their heads. The destruction of Tyre

■ Who is the agent of Judgment for the Lord against Tyre? – (26:7) – The Babylonians did lay siege of Tyre, but for 13 years, and finally a negotiated settlement with Tyre’s submission to Babylon. Tyre was finally conquered and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. The second oracle: a lament for the city of Tyre (27:1-36)

■ “I am perfect in beauty” (27:3) – self-made, based on its huge fortunes from trade ■ The description of their ships- Tyre as a huge sailing ship (vv. 4-9) – Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection. – The wood; the linen; the sailors and all those on board ■ The description of their army (vv. 10-11) – They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection. (27:11) ■ I am rich, super rich, I have everything! (27:12-24) – Everyone trade with me (from in Spain to Arabia) because of my great wealth of goods and they give me all kinds of treasures in exchange ■ BUT suddenly in the sea, a shipwreck , “Who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea? ”“you have come to a horrible end and will be no more” (27:36) The 3rd oracle: a lament for the king of Tyre (28:1-19)

■ King Ethbaal II ruled over Tyre at the time ■ Again, it can be subdivided into two oracles, beginning with the word-event formula “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man” (28:1, 11) – The fall of the King of Tyre (28:1-10) – A lament for the king (28:11-19) The first of the 3rd oracle (28:1-10)

■ The accusation (vv. 1-5): "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: in the pride of your heart, you say, “I am a god”’ – Egyptian kings were hailed as divinities, also Roman emperors at a later time – The King of Tyre was behaving as if it has divine power and authority – Wealth such as gold and silver makes one’s heart grow proud ■ The judgment (vv. 6-10): “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:” – Will you then say, “I am a god,” – in the presence of those who kill you? – You will be but a mortal, not a god, – in the hands of those who slay you. The second of the 3rd oracle (28:11-19): a lament

■ Ezekiel’s colourful poetic use of ancient tradition regarding the creation of humanity and the garden of Eden raises the question whether we should read it literally – Was King Ethbaal II in the garden of Eden (ref: 31:9)? Was he really a guardian ? Was he on the holy mount of God? ■ OR is a metaphor to convey the great height from which the king of Tyre would fall? – The king of Tyre has enormous power and wealth, but he is also entrusted with enormous responsibility (like the first human family, and also those of us today) ■ But the king of Tyre is accused of a triplet of sins – Violence associated with the domination of trade (v.16) – Arrogance associated with beauty and wisdom (v.17) – Dishonest trading practices that contradicts religious practice (v.18) Who is the king of Tyre of today?

■ Powerful economic empires that dominate the world? ■ In the NT – King Herod in Acts 12:19-23 – “this is the voice of a god, not of a man” – In Revelation 17-18 (esp. 18:1113), “Babylon” Oracle against Sidon (28:20-23)

■ Start: word-event formula “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man …” (v.20) ■ End: recognition formula “Then you will know that I am the Lord their God” (v.23b) Address to the people of the Lord (28:24-26)

■ A ray of hope for the exiles during the oracles against their surrounding nations The 7th climatic oracle – against Egypt (chs. 29-32)

7 subunits/oracles: each start with the citation formula “the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man”; most of them include a date as well ■ 29:1-16 ■ 29:17-21 ■ 30:1-19 ■ 30:20-26 ■ 31:1-18 ■ 32: 1-16 ■ 32:17-32 Egypt – the great sea monster – and Judah

■ Hophra had been Pharaoh of Egypt since 589 BC, and had expansionist plans in Palestine, which provided hope to the people of Jerusalem (and to the exiles in Babylon) that they could yet be saved from the Babylonians by the help of Egypt. ■ But for Ezekiel (and Jeremiah), Nebuchadnezzar was the agent of Yahweh ■ Egypt was traditionally perceived as the enemy of Yahweh – Ezekiel uses two images for Egypt – The great sea-monster (i.e. Rahab or Leviathan – the mythological creature that represented all that opposed Yahweh) – A more local and lowly creature - the crocodiles in the River Nile – So Pharaoh is the grand crocodile in the Nile, who owns the river 29:17-21 Babylon, Tyre and Egypt

■ Date: 27th year = 26 April 571 BC – the last recorded prophecy of Ezekiel, two years after the great visions of chs. 40-48 ■ Concerning the siege and capture of Tyre (ch. 26) and the siege had gone on for 13 years. Eventually the city surrendered, but there was no destruction such as Ezekiel hd predicted and no booty for Nebuchadnezzar and his army ■ Instead, Yahweh gave Egypt as a reward for Nebuchadnezzar, Yahweh’s agent ■ Ezekiel’s prophecy against Tyre unfulfilled? – The prophecy should not be interpreted literally; e.g. Tyre was an island and the siege was described in terms that fit mainland warfare only – Tyre changed their policy and decided to submit Nebuchadnezzar (Yahweh’s agent), thus escaped destruction – Tyre was captured and destroyed eventually, not by the Babylonians, but by Alexander the great in 332 BC