Study notes

Ezekiel 25

Introducing EzekielWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

25:1–32:32

  • 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.

25:1–32:32 Section

Messages of judgement about other nations come in the middle of the book of Ezekiel. These messages were about Ammon, Moab, Edom and the Philistines. They were also about Egypt, Tyre and Sidon.

These messages divide the book of Ezekiel into two sections. Ezekiel’s prophecies in the first section announced that Jerusalem would be completely destroyed. Ezekiel’s prophecies in the second section were after Jerusalem had been destroyed. Ezekiel spoke the messages of judgement about other nations to the Jews in Babylon. These messages taught the Jews several lessons about God, judgement and other nations.

One lesson was that the southern kingdom wasn’t the only nation God brought judgement against. God judged the governments and people of other nations based on how they treated others. Ammon and Moab were punished for being happy when trouble came to the southern kingdom. Edom and the Philistines were punished for hating Judah and treating the southern kingdom badly. Tyre was punished for its practices of dishonest trade.

Another lesson was that no nation’s government or army would rescue Jerusalem from God’s judgement. The leaders of the southern kingdom had a treaty with Egypt. They trusted Egypt to save them. But Egypt would also be destroyed by Babylon.

Another lesson was that God used nations and kings as his tools. Nebuchadnezzar wanted the Babylonian government to be powerful and wealthy. So he fought wars to take control of many other nations. At the same time, God used these events for his own purposes. He used them to put an end to certain nations for evil things they had done.

This taught another lesson. God has authority over all human rulers. Yet some of the human rulers of these nations didn’t recognise that this was true. God told a story about this. He compared Egypt to a cedar tree that was strong, tall and beautiful. The tree was also very proud and evil. God had the Babylonians cut the tree down. God said that trees shouldn’t grow so high that they become proud. This meant that rulers must be humble and remember that they aren’t gods.

The king of Tyre had claimed that he was a god. Rulers must remember that they are human beings who will die like all other humans. Only God is the Lord and King.

25:3–7

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.

25:8–11

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.

25:12–14

  • 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.

25:15–17

  • 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).

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources