A Message Condemning Ammon
25 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, turn your attention[a] to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke[b] them. 3 Tell the Ammonites: ‘Listen to a message from[c] the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: “Because you have said, ‘Aha!’[d] about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it became desolate, and about the households of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore you’d better look out! I’m going to turn you over to men[e] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. They will set up military encampments and permanent places[f] in which to live among you, and then they’ll eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will turn Rabbah[g] into a pasture for camels, and Ammon will become a resting place for flocks of sheep. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.”’”
Why God Condemned Ammon
6 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you’ve applauded, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all sorts of malice in your heart[h] against the land of Israel, 7 therefore you’d better[i] watch out! I’m raising a clenched fist[j] in your direction! I’m about to feed you to the surrounding[k] nations as war plunder. I’m going to eliminate you as a nation and kill off those of you who survive to live in other[l] countries. I’m going to destroy you, and that’s how you’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
A Message Rebuking Moab and Seir
8 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Moab and Seir are claiming, “Judah’s citizens are[m] just like every other[n] nation,” 9 therefore you’d better watch out! I’m going to tear open Moab’s flanks, starting with its frontier cities—the very glory of the nation!—including Beth-jeshimoth,[o] Baal-meon,[p] and Kiriathaim.[q] 10 I’m going to turn these cities[r] over to men[s] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. As a result, Ammon will be forgotten as a nation. 11 I’m also going to punish Moab, and that’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
The Coming Destruction of Edom
12 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Edom has made it their practice to seek extraordinary vengeance against Judah’s citizens,[t] and by doing so has incurred extraordinary guilt by taking revenge against them,’ 13 therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘I’m going to raise my clenched fist[u] in Edom’s direction and eliminate every single human being and animal from Edom! I’m going to turn everything into a wasteland, starting with Teman, and Dedan will fall by violence![v] 14 I’m going to inundate Edom with[w] my retribution, using my people Israel to carry it out! They’ll deliver my anger, acting as an agent of my fury. Edom will come to know my vengeance,’ declares the Lord God.’”
A Message Condemning Philistia
15 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Philistia has made it their practice to carry out retribution, accompanied by extraordinary malice in their personal vendettas—vendettas that spring from their everlasting hostility— 16 this is what the Lord God says: “Look out! I’m raising my clenched fist[x] in Philistia’s direction. I’m going to execute[y] the Cherethites[z] and destroy what’s left of the coastline of the Mediterranean[aa] Sea. 17 I’ll take vengeance on them, punishing them severely in my anger. They’ll know that I am the Lord when I take my vengeance on them.”’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 25:2 Lit. face
- Ezekiel 25:2 Lit. and prophesy against
- Ezekiel 25:3 Lit. to the word of
- Ezekiel 25:3 I.e. an expression of delight upon hearing that disaster has befallen another
- Ezekiel 25:4 Lit. to children
- Ezekiel 25:4 Lit. tents
- Ezekiel 25:5 I.e. the capital city of the Ammonites, located east of the Jordan River
- Ezekiel 25:6 I.e. expressions of delight upon hearing that disaster has befallen another
- Ezekiel 25:7 The Heb. lacks you’d better
- Ezekiel 25:7 Lit. I’m stretching out my hand
- Ezekiel 25:7 The Heb. lacks surrounding
- Ezekiel 25:7 The Heb. lacks other
- Ezekiel 25:8 Lit. Judah’s household is
- Ezekiel 25:8 The Heb. lacks other
- Ezekiel 25:9 This city was originally intended to be owned by the tribe of Reuben. Cf. Num 33:49; Josh 12:3; 13:20. The name means House of Destruction.
- Ezekiel 25:9 This city was originally intended to be owned by the tribe of Reuben. Cf. Num 33:38; 1Chron 5:8. The name means Lord of the Habitation.
- Ezekiel 25:9 This city was originally intended to be owned by the tribe of Reuben. Cf. Num 32:37; Josh 13:19. The name means Twin Cities.
- Ezekiel 25:10 Lit. give it
- Ezekiel 25:10 Lit. to children
- Ezekiel 25:12 Lit. household
- Ezekiel 25:13 Lit. to stretch out my hand
- Ezekiel 25:13 Lit. by the sword
- Ezekiel 25:14 Lit. give Edom
- Ezekiel 25:16 Lit. to stretch out my hand
- Ezekiel 25:16 Lit. cut off; the Heb. verb is the root upon which the Heb. term Cherethites is based.
- Ezekiel 25:16 Lit. executioners; i.e. Philistines who originally served as bodyguards for King David, but by the date of this writing had become rogue mercenaries who harassed the territory of ancient Israel.
- Ezekiel 25:16 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean