Judgment on the Gentile Nations: Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia
Text: Ezekiel 25
I. The Ammonites - Ezekiel 25:1-7
A. Recall that Nebuchadnezzar had a choice between conquering Ammon or Israel first. He chose Israel.
B. The Ammonites rejoiced to see the downfall of Israel and sued for peace with Babylon. But that lasted only for five years.
1. Don’t rejoice at another’s calamity - Proverbs 17:5; 24:17-18
2. They helped in the destruction of Israel - II Kings 24:2
C. Jeremiah 49:1-6
1. They saw it as an opportunity to increase their land - Amos 1:13; Psalm 83:12
D. The punishment would be their destruction at the hands of the Arabs
1. Nebuchadnezzar gave the Arabs the land of Ammon in compensation for their aid in its overthrow
E. All because they rejoiced at Israel’s fall - Zephaniah 2:8–10
1. The country of Ammon has disappeared. The are only remembered in history.
2. They too suffered captivity - Amos 1:14-15
II. The Moabites - Ezekiel 25:8-11
A. Recall that Nebuchadnezzar’s anger was because of an alliance headed by Zedekiah that failed - Jeremiah 27:3
B. Moab and Edom’s sin was deciding that Israel was just another nation. In other words, a reject that God existed.
C. Amos 2:1-3 - Moab had attacked Edom
D. Jeremiah 48:1-47 - They relied on their god, Chemosh
E. They too would be overthrown by the Arabs when Ammon falls
III. The Edomites - Ezekiel 25:12-14
A. Edom’s sin was taking vengeance on Israel
B. Details listed in Obadiah 10-14
1. They stood by while others plundered Israel
2. They came in behind and raided what was left
3. They prevented people from escaping the destruction
C. They were on the side lines rooting for the Babylonians - Psalm 137:7
D. They could not let go of their anger against Israel - Amos 1:11
E. Jeremiah 49:7-22 - Details of Edom’s destruction
F. The whole country would be made desolate, from Teman to Dedan
G. Israel would have a hand in its fall.
1. Fulfilled during the times of the Macabbees. “Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.” (I Maccabees 5:65).
2. “Maccabeus and his companions, after public prayers asking God to be their ally, moved quickly against the strongholds of the Idumeans. Attacking vigorously, they gained control of the places, drove back all who manned the walls, and cut down those who opposed them, killing as many as twenty thousand men. When at least nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers, containing everything necessary to sustain a siege, Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, along with Zacchaeus and his men, in sufficient numbers to besiege them, while he himself went off to places where he was more urgently needed. But some of the men in Simon's force who were money lovers let themselves be bribed by some of the men in the towers; on receiving seventy thousand drachmas, they allowed a number of them to escape. When Maccabeus was told what had happened, he assembled the rulers of the people and accused those men of having sold their kinsmen for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. So he put them to death as traitors, and without delay captured the two towers. As he was successful at arms in all his undertakings, he destroyed more than twenty thousand men in the two strongholds.” (II Maccabees 10:16-23).
3. They were forced to accept circumcision and were merged with the Jewish state.
IV. The Philistines - Ezekiel 25:15-17
A. These people also took vengeance because of old hatred
1. They were conquered by David, Uzziah (II Chronicles 26:6), and Hezekiah (II Kings 18:8).
2. Now Babylon would conquer them
B. Amos 1:6 - They also prevented people from escaping
C. Jeremiah 47:1-7
D. God will have His vengeance - Psalm 9:16