What does Ezechiel Chapter 25 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Ammon’s taunt precedes eastern inheritance. Moab, Edom and Philistines receive distinct judgments. Recognition of the Lord concludes the oracles.

Chapter breakdown

Ezechiel 25 turns against Ammon for its taunt at the profaned sanctuary, wasted Israel and captive Juda. Men of the east receive its inheritance, set sheepcotes and tents, eat fruit and drink milk. Rabbath becomes a camel stable and Ammon a resting place for flocks. The edition separately identifies Rabbath as the capital afterwards called Philadelphia. Clapping hands, stamping feet and heartfelt rejoicing against Israel bring spoil, exclusion and destruction. Immediate timing and a named nomadic tribe are not specified.

Moab and Seir say Juda is like other nations. The Lord opens Moab's shoulder and borders with the noble cities Bethiesimoth, Beelmeon and Cariathaim to the eastern people alongside Ammon. The stated loss of remembrance concerns Ammon, not explicitly both nations. Judgment in Moab brings recognition of the Lord; fortified perimeter details and a formulated denial of covenant election are not supplied in the verse.

Edom's revenge against Juda and great offense bring removal of man and beast, desolation from the south and sword for Dedan. The Lord's vengeance is carried out by Israel. The Philistines' revenge satisfies old enmities and leads to killing the killers and destruction of the coastal remnant with great vengeance. No specific generational grievance is assigned to Edom, nor does this oracle guarantee immediate sword judgment for every hostile nation in all history.

The story inside

Opening: Ammon’s taunt precedes eastern inheritance. Development: Moab, Edom and Philistines receive distinct judgments. Conclusion: Recognition of the Lord concludes the oracles.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Ammon’s taunt precedes eastern inheritance.
2
Moab, Edom and Philistines receive distinct judgments.
3
Recognition of the Lord concludes the oracles.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 94004–94023
25:2. Son of man, set thy face against the children of Ammon, and thou shalt prophesy of them. 25:3. And thou shalt say to the children of Ammon: Hear ye the word of the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast said: Ha, ha, upon my sanctuary, because it was profaned: and upon the land of Israel, because it was laid waste: and upon the house of Juda, because they are led into captivity: 25:4. Therefore will I deliver thee to the men of the east for an inheritance, and they shall place their sheepcotes in thee, and shall set up their tents in thee: they shall eat thy fruits: and they shall drink thy milk. 25:5. And I will make Rabbath a stable for camels, and the children of Ammon a couching place for flocks: and you shall know that I am the Lord. Rabbath.... The capital city of the Ammonites: it was afterwards called Philadelphia.
Lines 94034–94046
25:8. Thus saith the Lord God: Because Moab and Seir have said: Behold the house of Juda is like all other nations: 25:9. Therefore behold I will open the shoulder of Moab from the cities, from his cities, I say, and his borders, the noble cities of the land of Bethiesimoth, and Beelmeon, and Cariathaim, 25:10. To the people of the east with the children of Ammon, and I will give it them for an inheritance: that there may be no more any remembrance of the children of Ammon among the nations. 25:11. And I will execute judgments in Moab: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Lines 94048–94071
25:12. Thus saith the Lord God: Because Edom hath taken vengeance to revenge herself of the children of Juda, and hath greatly offended, and hath sought revenge of them: 25:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: I will stretch forth my hand upon Edom, and will take away out of it man and beast, and will make it desolate from the south: and they that are in Dedan shall fall by the sword. 25:14. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to my wrath, and my fury: and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God. 25:15. Thus saith the Lord God: Because the Philistines have taken vengeance, and have revenged themselves with all their mind, destroying and satisfying old enmities: 25:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will stretch forth my hand upon the Philistines, and will kill the killers, and will destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 25:17. And I will execute great vengeance upon them, rebuking them in fury: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.