Warning: God is Jealous of Israel! (Ezekiel 25)

Scripture reading – Ezekiel 25

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* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification.

Ezekiel 25 marks the beginning of the third segment of our study of Ezekiel’s prophecies. So far, we have considered: 1) The Call and Commission of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1-3:27) and 2) The Coming Judgment of Judah and Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:1-24:27).

Ezekiel 25 introduces the third section: 3) The Coming Judgment of the Nations (Ezekiel 25:1-32:32).

Ezekiel 25

Because the LORD is jealous of His people, we should not be surprised that the main adversaries of Israel were identified in Ezekiel 25 as the focus of God’s wrath. Seeing the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the heathen nations rejoiced in Judah’s sorrows and sufferings, even as the people were led away into captivity. Despite their sins, the LORD took no pleasure in judging Jerusalem and Judah, and He despised the heathen for rejoicing in the sorrows of His people. 

The Judgment of the Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:1-7)

The Ammonites were descendants of Lot’s incest with his youngest daughter after the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19:36, 38) and were perpetual enemies of Israel (Ezekiel 25:3). They took pleasure in the Temple’s destruction (Ezekiel 25:3). Therefore, the LORD determined to destroy Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and make it “a stable for camels…a couchingplace for flocks” (Ezekiel 25:4-5).

Because the Ammonites clapped their hands and stamped their feet in delight at Jerusalem’s destruction (Ezekiel 25:6), God declared that Ammon would be destroyed and cease to exist as a nation (Ezekiel 25:7).

The Judgment of the Moabites (Ezekiel 25:8-11)

The Moabites were descendants of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter (Genesis 19:36-37). Like the Ammonites, the Moabites delighted in the destruction of Jerusalem. They mocked, saying, “The house of Judah is like unto all the heathen” (Ezekiel 25:8). Remembering how Moab united with Babylon against Judah (2 Kings 24:2), we read that they too would go the way of Ammon. Therefore, the LORD declared, “I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 25:11).

The Judgment of the Edomites (Ezekiel 25:12-14)

The Edomites descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother (Genesis 36:11). They harbored a long history of anger, bitterness, and revenge against Israel, and the prophet Obadiah condemned them for their brutality (Obadiah 1:13-15). Because Edom oppressed Israel for centuries, the LORD declared that He would punish them (see Numbers 20:14-22; 2 Chronicles 20:8-21). In fulfillment of Obadiah’s prophecies, the LORD determined to take vengeance against Edom (Ezekiel 25:15; Obadiah 1:8).

The Judgment of the Philistines (Ezekiel 25:15-17)

Like the Edomites, the Philistines had a long history of distressing Israel and took pleasure in oppressing and terrorizing God’s people. Ezekiel foretold that the Philistine cities along the Mediterranean coast (i.e., modern-day Gaza) would be destroyed as the LORD executed vengeance against them.

Closing thought–

Why did the LORD “execute great vengeance upon” the heathen? So that they would know that the God of Israel is LORD (Ezekiel 25:5, 7, 11, 14, 17). Although modern Israel has not repented of her sins and turned to the LORD, God is nevertheless jealous for the Jews, His chosen people, and no nation will prosper that abuses them (Genesis 12:3).

Genesis 12:3 – “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”