Tyndale Open Study NotesEzekiel 25

• This section contains a series of messages of judgment against nearby nations. There are six shorter messages against Judah's immediate neighbors, arranged in a clockwise order, followed by a final message against Egypt (Ezekiel 30–32). Through experiencing God's judgment, the nations would recognize God's control over everything. The nations might be used to carry out God's judgment on his people, but they would not avoid judgment themselves.

• One of the main purposes of these messages was to show that the negative part of God's promise to Abraham ("I will … curse those who curse you," Genesis 12:3) was still active. No one can harm God's people and avoid consequences, even when God's people are under his judgment.

The Ammonites celebrated Judah's downfall and the destruction of Israel's temple. So, as the prophet warned (Ezekiel 21:28–32), they would face invasion and destruction. Others would consume the Ammonites' produce, and their people would be wiped out, similar to Judah. The Ammonites' gods could not save them from the Lord's anger, and they would realize that the Lord is the true God.

The people of Moab believed they could attack Judah without punishment. They treated Judah as if it were just another nation.

This was not true. Judah had been acting like the other nations (see Ezekiel 20:32). However, Judah was different because it had a covenant with God.

God would not finally reject Judah. He would discipline his people, but he would not abandon them forever.

Moab, however, would face judgment. Like Ammon, Moab would be removed from the register of the nations (the official list of recognized nations). It would be left desolate (empty and ruined) forever.

• Ammon and Moab were happy about Judah's downfall, but Edom actively took part in it (see Ezekiel 35:5; Obadiah 1).

• vengefully: The people of Edom captured those fleeing and handed over survivors to help the Babylonians (Obadiah 1:11–14). They were opportunists, settling old conflicts from the ancient feud between Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:41). They took what they could from Judah’s suffering. In return, the Lord would destroy their land.

• The Philistines had a long-standing dislike for Judah. Their specific wrongdoings are not mentioned, but the Lord noticed them and would seek revenge. They would then understand the Lord's supreme power.

• The Kerethites were a Philistine tribe (see 1 Samuel 30:14).