Ezekiel 25 • They Will Know God’s Vengeance Introduction The first 24 chapters of Ezekiel are directed to the Jews during a kind of final judgment leading to the whole of Israel being taken into captivity, the conquest of the land, and the destruction of both the Temple and Jerusalem. For the next 8 chapters beginning in chapter 25 there is a kind of “silence” wherein God does not talk to Israel directly but instead pronounces judgment on the rest of the world. As Peter says, For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? 1 Peter 4:17-18 In this chapter God pronounced judgment against the first four of seven nations covered in chapters 25-32. An important difference to keep in mind is that while Israel’s ruin was but temporary, these nations’ was to be total, complete, and permanent. “O Jacob My servant, do not fear,” declares the LORD, “For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations Where I have driven you, Yet I will not make a full end of you; But I will correct you properly And by no means leave you unpunished.” Jeremiah 46:28 1 And the word of the LORD came to me [Read v.1-7] 2 saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the sons of Ammon and prophesy Q: Who exactly is Ammon and the Ammonites? 3 against them, and say to the sons of A: They are descended from Lot’s son Ben-Ammi. (Gen. 19:30-38) Their Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord land was located to the north and east of Moab on the other side of the GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because Jordan/Dead Sea and its capital (mentioned in v.5) was Rabbah. (The you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary name of the modern-day capital of Jordan “Amman” is a continuing use when it was profaned, and against the of the ancient name.) In other words, these were remote relatives of the land of Israel when it was made desolate, Israelites. and against the house of Judah when they 4 went into exile, therefore, behold, I am The Mosaic Law specifically prohibited Israel from associating with going to give you to the sons of the east Ammonites (Deut. 23:3) and tensions grew over the centuries between for a possession, and they will set their them. Time and again they would align themselves with enemies of Israel encampments among you and make their if they saw an opportunity to take Israel’s possessions for themselves. dwellings among you; they will eat your Archeological evidence suggests that the Ammonites existence came to 5 fruit and drink your milk. I will make an end in approximately 600 BC. In Psalm 83 they are specifically Rabbah a pasture for camels and the sons mentioned as one of the nations who desire Israel’s annihilation: of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.” They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, 6 For thus says the Lord GOD, “Because That the name of Israel be remembered no more.” you have clapped your hands and Psalm 83:4 stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Q: What does God highlight about their particular crimes? 7 Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched A: They don’t just rejoice over the fall of the nation or its people, but they out My hand against you and I will give take exceptional delight in the destruction of God’s Temple. Notice how you for spoil to the nations. And I will cut they first rejoiced in Israel’s destruction at the hand of Assyria (“against you off from the peoples and make you the land of Israel when it was made desolate”) and then again when perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Judah was overtaken by Babylon (“and against the house of Judah when Thus you will know that I am the LORD.” they went into exile”). This speaks of a very long and continuing hatred Ezekiel 25 • They Will Know God's Vengeance, Page 1 of 5 Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. All other content, materials, etc. are Copyright © 2010 by Walk with the Word. Permission for personal and/or not-for-profit use freely granted. Any questions or comments concerning Walk with the Word should be directed to [email protected] culminating at the destruction of Jerusalem. Q: What is ironic about the nature of their punishment? A: Because they took such joy in what happened to Israel, basically the same things will happen to them: they will be conquered by the same enemy and both their land and capital will be completely destroyed and forever uninhabited. Notice how in v.6 it is said, “you have clapped your hands” and in v.7 God’s response is, “I have stretched out My hand against you”. Q: Did these events ever come about? A: Historically, as recorded by Josephus, these events took place approximately 5 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. It is important to note that God still gave them time to repent between His pronouncement through His prophets and actually carrying them out. Q: What is the problem for people like the Ammonites where v.7 is concerned? A: They had every opportunity to “know that I am LORD” in a meaningful and positive way, but because of their continued and willful disobedience only came to know this for certain at the moment of their destruction when it is too late. Point: These were people to whom God gave their own land and their own opportunities to reconcile with Him. Instead they schemed at every opportunity to take away what was rightfully given to their neighboring cousins Israel. In the end they became so corrupted in following false gods that they were particularly happy when the Temple of the One True God was destroyed. They thought Israel’s destruction in some way justified their own false beliefs. 8 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because [Read v.8-11] Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of 9 Judah is like all the nations,’ therefore, Q: Who is Moab and the Moabites? behold, I am going to deprive the flank of A: They are the other son of Lot by an incestuous relationship with his Moab of its cities, of its cities which are daughter (Gen. 19:37) who occupied land along the eastern border and on its frontiers, the glory of the land, southern half of the Dead Sea. Ammon, Seir, and Moab occupied the Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon and land to the east of the Dead Sea all the way from Israel to the Red Sea. 10 Kiriathaim, and I will give it for a Because the tribes of Reuben and Gad settled the northern part of possession along with the sons of Ammon Moab’s territory there was a perpetual state of animosity between them. to the sons of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among It was Balak, then king of the Moabites, who joined with the Midians in 11 the nations. Thus I will execute hiring the prophet-magician Balaam to curse Israel. When that failed, judgments on Moab, and they will know Moab enticed Israel into a form of idolatry involving sexual immorality that that I am the LORD.” resulted in God’s judgment against Israel. (Num. 25:1-9) In other words, Moab became one of Israel’s worst spiritual enemies and are mentioned in Psalm 83 as well as desiring Israel’s total destruction. Q: Who is Seir? A: Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, lived in Seir. Q: What does God highlight about their particular crimes? A: Their assertion, “Behold the house of Judah is like all the nations” is a way of stating that their faith in the One True God shows that it is no more special or powerful than any of the gods worshiped by the rest of the nations. Whereas the Ammonites rejoiced over the destruction of God’s Temple – His house, the Moabites rejoice over what they perceived as the end of God’s influence on earth when His “Chosen Ezekiel 25 • They Will Know God's Vengeance, Page 2 of 5 Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. All other content, materials, etc. are Copyright © 2010 by Walk with the Word. Permission for personal and/or not-for-profit use freely granted. Any questions or comments concerning Walk with the Word should be directed to [email protected] People” fell. Q: What does it mean when God says, “I will deprive the flank”? A: The word for “flank” could be translated as “shoulder”. It is a way of stating that the very place where Moab believes itself to be strongest is going to be the way by which they fall. It’s a way of stating in the language of the time that pride is going to be their undoing.