Ezek. 25 God’s vengeance upon the Ammonites, Ezek. 25:1–7, upon Moab and Seir, Ezek. 25:7–11, upon Edom, Ezek. 25:12–14, and upon the Philistines, for their declared malevolence to the Jews, Ezek. 25:15–17.

Though he had order no more yet awhile to prophesy against the Jews, he was to be dumb as to them, yet he hath commission to foretell sad tidings to other nations round about the Jews.

Set thy face against: the phrase you have Ezek. 20:46. It includeth anger, menaces, and intention of mind. The Ammonites; the posterity of Lot by the younger daughter, near neighbours, but bitter enemies to the Jews.

Say unto the Ammonites; 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 Nebuchadnezzar’s camp, which was in that time a school of arms, that they may tell others;…

I, the God whom thou hast despised, whose people thou hast reproached, whose worship thou hast vilified, I will avenge myself, and deliver time up. To the men of the East; the Medes and Persians, say some; the Babylonians, say others, but this suits not well with geography; Arabians, say others,…

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 receptacle of camels, and their drivers.

Clapped thine hands; expressed thy joy in that insolent manner. And stamped with the feet; and added this sign of more than ordinary joy at this. Rejoiced in heart; it was that which affected thy heart with gladness, thy soul and mind were in this thy rejoicing.

Thou stretchedst out thy hand in joy, I will stretch out mine in wrath; thou, against my people, I, against thee. For a spoil; for a prey, or for meat, so the word will bear. The greedy, covetous soldier shall make thy wealth his prey; the hungry enemy shall eat thee up.

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 Judah.

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 easy, and his soldiers shall break through the defences, that were vainly boasted impregnable.

The men of the East: see Ezek. 25:4. With; rather against, and so the Hebrew, 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 Chaldeans first, who will give Moab to the Arabians. Possession: see Ezek. 25:4.

I will execute; though the Chaldeans do it, it is by God’s direction, and he is principal therein. Judgments; the judgment passed by my prophet. They, those brutish nations, shall know this is my hand.

Edom; the Idumeans, children of Esau. The house of Judah; the kingdom of David after the division of the tribes, when but two remained constant to the house of David.

Stretch out mine hand: see Ezek. 25:7, Ezek. 16:27. Cut off man, by the sword of the Chaldeans, and by other wasting evils which accompany wars, as famine, pestilence, and other diseases.

I will lay my vengeance upon Edom; which as it is great, so just, sure, and opportune, their foot slideth in due time, Deut. 32:35. By the hand of my people Israel; no history mentions the fulfilling of this, as it sounds in the letter of it, unless 1Ma 5:3, 2; Matt.

The Philistines; next neighbours to the Jews, 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.

The Cherethims; either a name for all the Philistines, 1 Sam. 30:14, or else the principal soldiers, expert bowmen, the strength of Philistia. The remnant, which had escaped the sword of Samuel, David, Hezekiah, and of Psammeticus king of Egypt. Of the sea-coast; the Mediterranean about Azotus.

This verse is a confirmation of all spoken against the Philistines, and is in all the particulars explained in what went before. Vengeance; great for measure, and many for number, vengeances, as the Hebrew. With furious rebukes; in fierceness of anger, and without pity.