Old Testament · Prophecy

Ezekiel 25

Against the Neighbors

Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia — each celebrated Judah's fall. Each will answer for their mockery. Schadenfreude has consequences.

King James Version BSB KJV

1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

2Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;

3And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;

4Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

5And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

6For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;

7Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

8Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;

9Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim,

10Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.

11And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

12Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;

13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

14And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.

15Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

17And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Understand This

Ezekiel 25, explained

What Ezekiel 25 is saying

Ezekiel delivers oracles against four of Judah's neighbors: Ammon for gloating over the temple's destruction, Moab for denying Judah's uniqueness, Edom for taking revenge, and Philistia for acting in malicious vengeance. Each will face destruction proportional to their offenses.

The background behind it

These oracles against the nations (chapters 25-32) follow the pattern established by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos. The four nations addressed here share borders with Judah and had long, adversarial histories with Israel.

Themes running underneath

God's sovereignty extends beyond Israel to all nations. Schadenfreude—rejoicing over another's downfall—is itself a punishable offense before God. The nations are held accountable for their treatment of God's people even during God's own disciplining of Israel.

Why it still matters

Taking pleasure in the suffering of others, even those who seem to deserve it, reveals a heart condition that God opposes. Justice belongs to God alone, and He holds all peoples accountable.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.