Description
Ezekiel prophesies end-time judgments against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia, corresponding with modern-day Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Gaza.
Commentary
This chapter describes God's judgment of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia. In verse 14, God says he will stretch out his hand against Edom and exact vengeance upon them by the hand of his people Israel. This indicates that the judgment in view is an end-time judgment, not one that took place in history, since the Jews never desolated Edom after their return from exile in Babylon. If that is the case concerning Edom, it is also likely that the judgments in view against Ammon, Moab and Philistia are also end-time judgments.
Edom corresponds with southern Jordan extending down into Arabia. In verse 13, Edom is described as being from Teman in the north (southern Jordan) to Dedan in the south (modern-day Al-Ula in western Saudi Arabia). Therefore, Edom seems to represent northern Arabia (or possibly Arabia in general). Ammon and Moab correspond with northern and central Jordan. Ezekiel prophesies that Ammon and Moab will be handed over to the tribes of the east (vs 5 & 10). Verse 7 indicates that God will judge the Ammonites not just in their homeland, but will also purge them from the countries they have been scattered to.
Philistia corresponds with modern-day Gaza, which today belongs to the Palestinians and is controlled by Hamas.
These nations are accused of rejoicing over God's judgments against Israel and Judah when they were invaded by Assyria (in 722 BC) and Babylon (in 597 and 586 BC).
Verse 15 describes the modern-day desire of Hamas to destroy Judah, showing unrelenting hostility towards the Jews. God promises to personally destroy them.
As in Habakkuk 3, God's personal judgment of these muslim nations, by his own hand, takes place after Jesus' glorious appearance at the last of the seven trumpets. Jesus will first restore the Jews in their desert safe-place (Ezekiel 20:35, Hosea 2:14 and Revelation 12:14), and they will then participate with him as he fights and defeats these muslim nations during the time of the bowl judgments (Revelation 16 and Psalm 110:3).
Edom corresponds with southern Jordan extending down into Arabia. In verse 13, Edom is described as being from Teman in the north (southern Jordan) to Dedan in the south (modern-day Al-Ula in western Saudi Arabia). Therefore, Edom seems to represent northern Arabia (or possibly Arabia in general). Ammon and Moab correspond with northern and central Jordan. Ezekiel prophesies that Ammon and Moab will be handed over to the tribes of the east (vs 5 & 10). Verse 7 indicates that God will judge the Ammonites not just in their homeland, but will also purge them from the countries they have been scattered to.
Philistia corresponds with modern-day Gaza, which today belongs to the Palestinians and is controlled by Hamas.
These nations are accused of rejoicing over God's judgments against Israel and Judah when they were invaded by Assyria (in 722 BC) and Babylon (in 597 and 586 BC).
Verse 15 describes the modern-day desire of Hamas to destroy Judah, showing unrelenting hostility towards the Jews. God promises to personally destroy them.
As in Habakkuk 3, God's personal judgment of these muslim nations, by his own hand, takes place after Jesus' glorious appearance at the last of the seven trumpets. Jesus will first restore the Jews in their desert safe-place (Ezekiel 20:35, Hosea 2:14 and Revelation 12:14), and they will then participate with him as he fights and defeats these muslim nations during the time of the bowl judgments (Revelation 16 and Psalm 110:3).
Tags
Places: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Gaza, Jordan, Arabia
Symbols:
Tags: Jesus fights muslim nations, Israel fights her enemies, Jesus musters an army
Symbols:
Tags: Jesus fights muslim nations, Israel fights her enemies, Jesus musters an army
A Prophecy Against Ammon
1 The Lord’s message came to me:
2 “Son of man, turn toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
3 Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You said “Aha!” about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile.
4 So take note, I am about to make you slaves of the tribes of the east. They will make camps among you and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
6 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with intense scorn over the land of Israel,
7 take note, I have stretched out my hand against you, and I will hand you over as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands. I will destroy you; then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Moab
8 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Moab and Seir say, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations.”
9 So look, I am about to open up Moab’s flank, eliminating the cities, including its frontier cities, the beauty of the land – Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim.
10 I will hand it over, along with the Ammonites, to the tribes of the east, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations.
11 I will execute judgments against Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Edom
12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable by taking vengeance on them.
13 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom, and I will kill the people and animals within her, and I will make her desolate; from Teman to Dedan they will die by the sword.
14 I will exact my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will carry out in Edom my anger and rage; they will experience my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Philistia
15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘The Philistines have exacted merciless revenge, showing intense scorn in their effort to destroy Judah with unrelenting hostility.
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take note, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines. I will kill the Cherethites and destroy those who remain on the seacoast.
17 I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I exact my vengeance upon them.’”
1 The Lord’s message came to me:
2 “Son of man, turn toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
3 Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You said “Aha!” about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile.
4 So take note, I am about to make you slaves of the tribes of the east. They will make camps among you and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
6 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with intense scorn over the land of Israel,
7 take note, I have stretched out my hand against you, and I will hand you over as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands. I will destroy you; then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Moab
8 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Moab and Seir say, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations.”
9 So look, I am about to open up Moab’s flank, eliminating the cities, including its frontier cities, the beauty of the land – Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim.
10 I will hand it over, along with the Ammonites, to the tribes of the east, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations.
11 I will execute judgments against Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Edom
12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable by taking vengeance on them.
13 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom, and I will kill the people and animals within her, and I will make her desolate; from Teman to Dedan they will die by the sword.
14 I will exact my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will carry out in Edom my anger and rage; they will experience my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
A Prophecy Against Philistia
15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘The Philistines have exacted merciless revenge, showing intense scorn in their effort to destroy Judah with unrelenting hostility.
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take note, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines. I will kill the Cherethites and destroy those who remain on the seacoast.
17 I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I exact my vengeance upon them.’”
(NET)
