Ezekiel 25

THE word of the LORD came Though he had order no more yet a while to prophesie against the Jews, he was to be dumb as to them, yet he has Commission to foretel sad tidings to other Nations round about the Jews. again unto me, saying,

Son of man set thy face The phrase you have, chap. 20.46. let. o. It includeth Anger, Menaces, and intention of mind. against the Ammonites The posterity of Lot by the younger Daughter, near Neighbours, but bitter Enemies to the Jews., and prophesie Leave recorded what heavy things shall befall them in after days. against them:

And say Either tell Ammonite Merchants, or Travellers of which some might likely be in Babylon for Trade, or to see its State: or else, send by Letter to them of their Nation, who may serve in Nebuchadnezzars Camp, which was in that time a School of Armes, that they may tell others: or else, so plainly declare it, that in time they may know this. 'Tis not the ambiguous, or delusive Oracle of your Idols, but the plain, and true, and unfailing word of the only true God, the God of Israel, as Zeph. 2.8. unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD p; Thus says the Lord GOD; Because thou saidest, Aha When thou shouldest have pitied, and been sorry, thou didst rejoyce, and proudly didst insult, magnified thy self, and reproachedst my people, wert glad that so great Calamities were come upon them., against my sanctuary Both the Temple, and the Worship of God, 'tis like in their pride, they boasted their Idols power to Preserve their Temples, and blasphemed God as unable to preserve his Sacred Rites, and Worship., when it was prophaned When the Heathen entred into, and when they burnt it., and against the land of Israel They insulted on the Ten Tribes, the Kingdom of Israel when afflicted., when it was desolate Wasted by Pul and Tiglath Pileser, and captivated by Salmanezer., and against the land of Judah The Two Tribes, the Kingdom of Iudah. when it went into captivity First, with Iehojakim, then with Iekoniah, and which was worse, then both these, when it was captivated with Zedekiah, and the City burnt; a most mournful sight, and at which none, but inhumane barbarous men could do less, then weep, but these rejoyce, and cry, Aha.;

Behold, therefore, I The God whom thou hast despised, whose People thou hast reproacht, whose Worship thou hast vilified, I will avenge my self, and deliver thee up. will deliver thee to the men of the east The M des and Persians say some, the Babylonians say others, but this suits not well with Geographie; Arabians say others, associates of Nebuchadnezzar, who 'tis likely, recompenced their labour and service with giving them this Countrey when it was conquered, as 'twas five years after the desolation of Ierusalem. for a possession They shall settle on it, as a very convenient Country for their Sheep and Camels, and possess it, as their Inheritance., and they shall set their palaces The word Palaces seems little to agree with Arabians, who dwelt in Tents, but this manner of dwelling many of them would be ready to change, where they might to so great advantage, as in that Countrey, which was fruitful, as this was; beside the word signifieth, what is fenced, as Isa. 2.15. and is paraphrased by Camp, and Arabians had their Munitions and fortified Camps, and these they shall set here, while they stay. And I add this also that the next words explain these. in thee, and make their dwellings They shall set up their Tents, as the word properly; their Tents and Habitations they would fortifie in some manner, or other, that in their Camp they might be safe, if they did not build Cities in the Countrey. in thee: they shall eat thy The Fruit of that Land was once thine, of the Trees thou plantedst. fruit, and they shall drink thy milk Which in so fruitful Land, and rich Pastures they had in abundance from the multitude of their Kine, and 'twas a drink that well suited with those hot Regions..

And I will make Rabbah The Royal City, and Seat of the Kings of Ammon, called since Philadelphia, from Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, King of Egypt, who built it. a stable Turn it from a Royal Palace to be a recep acle of Camels, and their drivers. for Camels Wherewith not the Chaldaeans, and Bactrians, but the Arabians also were well stored; all the men of the East, as appears in Iob, using them for conveying Merchandize, and for Travels., and the Ammonites The people for the Land they dwelt in. a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know Then shall you know, I was as able to have defended my own People, House, and Worship, as I was able to destroy your Gods, your Cities, and your People that I am the LORD.

For thus says the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands Exprest thy joy in that insolent manner., and stamped with the feet And added this sign of more, then ordinary Joy at this., and rejoyced in heart It was that which affected thy heart with gladness, thy soul, and mind were in this thy rejoycing. with all thy despight Hatred and contempt, thou wast heartily glad, such vile people, as thou countedst them, were made, what thou thoughtest they best deserved, Slaves, Beggars, and Captives. against the land For the people. of Israel Either the Ten Tribes, or rather the Two Tribes with the small remnant of the others, that kept to the House of David..

Behold therefore, I will stretch Thou stretchedst out thy hand in Joy, I will stretch out mine in Wrath, thou, against my people, I, against thee. out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil For a prey, or for meat, so the word will bear. The greedy covetous Souldier shall make thy wealth his prey; the hungry Enemy shall eat thee up. to the heathen Babylonians, and their Confederates., and I will cut thee off Explained by that follows, Ammon, thou shalt no more be accounted among the Nations, but cease from being a people. from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countrey: I will destroy So shalt thou be destroyed. thee; and thou shalt know Vide ver. 5. let. l. that I am the LORD.

Thus says the Lord GOD; because that Moab The Children of Lot by the Elder Daughter the whole Nation going under the Name of the first Father of them near but evil Neighbours to Israel, and Iudah., and Seir The seed of Esau, who are, Edom, Idumaeans, or Seir, from the Mountain, where they first planted themselves; near of Kin in blood, but bitter Enemies to the Jews, though both here joyned, yet Moab is first doomed here, ver. 9, 10, 11. and Seir next, ver. 12 13, 14. do say, Behold, the house of Judah The peculiar people of God, who had his Law, Temple, Worship of his own appointment among them. is like Are no more a select people than others; their Religion no better, nor their God, but as the Gods of their Neighbours. And they no more benefited by their worshipping of him, thus Atheist like, they dethrone God, and debase him to an equality with their own Idols, more particularly Moab's sin is set out. Ier. 48. t. unto all the heathen.

Therefore, behold, I will open When the Lord will open the Gates of Iron, and say, the Gates shall not be shut, as Isa. 45.1. 2, Every attempt shall be easie, and his Souldiers shall break through the defences, that were vainly boasted impregnable. the side That part of his Country, which was best fortified for the safeguard of the whole. of Moab from the cities From the Cities of strength, called here his, because he gloryed, and trusted in them such as Har and Aroer seated on Arnon, very strong Garrisons., from his cities which are on Or from his Frontiers, (for 'tis the same construction Hebr.) or from his outmost bounds, I will lay all open to the Chaldaeans, they shall over-run it, as if 'twere an open Countrey, as easily, as if no Fortresses to impede them. his frontiers, the glory So the great, strong, and beautiful, or regularly built, and fortified Cities are ever accounted the Glory of the Countrey, and these are reckoned beside Ar and Aroer. of the country Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon Called also Meon, and Baiith, and Beth-Baal-Meon, Mansion-House of Baal, word for word; it was scituate on the North Coast of Moab, as the other on the West., and Kiriathaim A City, which probably consisted of two Cities, or principal parts, a very strong Frontier Town, but not able to keep out those that God would lead in.. Bethjesimoth, an ancient City, and formerly Reuben's lot, Ioh. 13.20. its name tells you, it was a fortress toward the desert, which watched, lest any should, through those wastes, make an inroad on the Countrey.

Unto the men See ver. 4. let. a. of the east with Rather against, and so the Hebr. and the sense is plain, or as our Translation reads it, with i. e. as I have given Ammon, so I will with them give Moab to the Chaldaeans first, who will give Moab to the Arabians. the Ammonites, and will give them in possession Ver. 4. let. b. that the Ammonites I suppose here is either an ellipsis, thus, that as the Ammonites should so perish, as not to be remembred, so should Moab also, or else Ammon is appellative here, and speaks the numerousness of Moab, which yet should so cease as to be forgotten. may not be remembred among the nations.

And I Tho' the Chaldaeans do it, 'tis by God's direction, and he is principal therein. will execute judgment The judgment passed by my Prophet. upon Moab; and they Those brutish Nations shall know this is my hand. shall know that I am the LORD.

Thus says the LORD; Because that Edom The Idumaeans Children of Esau. has dealt against the house of The Kingdom of David after the division of the Tribes, when but two remained constant to the House of David. Judah by taking vengeance For the old quarrel, because Iacob got the blessing from Esau, or rather in revenging a later quarrel, which they had against Iudah for the Slaughter, spoil, and captivity they suffered by David's conquering Sword., and has greatly offended Both in the thing it self; for vengeance belongs to God, and in the manner and measures of executing it, as appears, both from Psal. 137.7. and the prophesie of Obadia 10. to 15. we see, and consider., and revenged himself upon them;

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out See ver. 7. let.. and cap. 16. ver. 27. let. n, o. mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man By the Sword of the Chaldaeans, and by other wasting evils, which accompany Wars as Famine, Pestilence, and other Diseases. and beast Either their Cattel should be driven away by the plundring Souldier, or devoured by the mighty numerous Army of Nebuchadnezzar, or wasted with murrain, or all should concur to unstock their pastures. from it, and I will make it desolate A desolation, i. e. most desolate. from Teman From the South, so the Chald. Paraph. but 'tis rather the Name of the Region, called by the name of Esau's Grandson Teman, who also gave name to the Metropolis of Idu aea, and probably 'twas in the Southern Coast of Edoms Countrey.; and they of Dedan The Dedanites, who were of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25.3. and these were Neighbours to Edom, on Arabia side, or else intermixt with the Edomites in Habitation and Commerce, so that it might be a City reckoned; either to Edom, or Arabia from Teman to Dedan, the Chaldaean Sword should waste all. shall fall by the sword.

And I will lay my vengeance Which as 'tis great, so just, sure, and opportune, their foot slideth in due time, Deut. 32.35. upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel No History mentions the fulfilling of this, as it sounds in the letter of it, unless 1 Mac. 5.3. and 2 Mac. 10.16, 17. some therefore interpret; by the hand, by the same hand, that I used in punishing my people Israel; others refer it to a spiritual meaning, as Isa. 11.14. and Ier. 49.2. and Obad. ver. 21.; and they The Instruments God used, whether Maccabees in after times, or the Chaldaeans in that present age. shall do in Edom according My just displeasure, as it set them on work, shall give them their strength, and measures; they shall do as much as I intended agai Edom. to my anger, and according to my fury Redoubled to affect the more, and confirm the pr diction.; and they Both Edom, my people and those I employ shall see this was my quarrel, which I threatned to revenge, and now have done it, and Edom shall know, I am not like their Gods, though they said so, ver. 8. shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD.

Thus says the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines Next Neighbours to the Iews, between whom, many quarrels, wars, and mutual spoil, slaughter, and injuries happened, as ever among Borderers, who make all their own they can catch. have dealt by revenge Took the opportunity to revenge themselves, when the Jews were weak and low., and have taken vengeance with a despiteful With hatred to them, and contempt of them. heart, to destroy This tells us what their hatred appeared in, 'twas a hatred to the Name, and being of Israel they would cut them off; as Psal. 83.7. it for the old With a perpetuated endless enmity pursuing them. hatred.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out See chap. 7. ver. 5. let. s. and chap. 16. ver. 27. let. n, o. mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the cheruthims Either a name for all the Philistines, 1 Sam. 30.14. or else the principal Souldiers, expert Bowmen, the strength of Philistia., and destroy the remnant Which had escapt the sword of Samuel, David, Hezekiah, and of Psammetichus King of Egypt. of the sea coast Mediterran about Az tus..

And I will execute great vengeance Great for measure, and many for number, vengeances, as Heb. upon them with furious In fierceness of anger, and without pity. rebukes: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay They, as other stupid Nations, will not see, till they feel, and then they shall confess 'tis the hand of an angry, but just, and mighty God. my vengeance upon them. This verse is a confirmation of all spoken against the Philistines, and is in all the particulars explained in what went before.