EZEKIEL LESSON 27


     We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 25:1 "The word of the LORD
came again unto me, saying,"

     This is a new series of prophecies about the seven nations
associated with Judah.

     Ezekiel 25:2 "Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and
prophesy against them;"

     The Ammonites had been enemies of Israel for many years. In this
particular instance, they had sided with Nebuchadnezzar against Judah.

     Ezekiel 25:3 "And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the
Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against
my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel,
when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went
into captivity;"

     God had actually brought judgement on Jerusalem and His people.
The temple was destroyed, so they would not have a place to fellowship
with God. The thing that caused God's great anger at the Ammonites was
the fact, they were proud when the sanctuary was destroyed. They had
enjoyed the destruction of the temple and the people. They praised the
downfall of Judah, Jerusalem, and the temple.

     Ezekiel 25:4 "Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of
the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee,
and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they
shall drink thy milk."

     The "men of the east" are, probably, speaking of the Midianites.
They were the descendents of Ishmael. "Palaces", here is speaking of
tent villages. Nebuchadnezzar, probably, left this area in just the
condition for the nomads.

     Ezekiel 25:5 "And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the
Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I [am]
the LORD."

     Rabbah had been the chief city of the Ammonites. It had been a
large city. Ezekiel speaks of its destruction here. It will become
like a pasture for flocks. The Lord has spoken judgement on Rabbah.

     Ezekiel 25:6 "For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast
clapped [thine] hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in
heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;"

     They had rejoiced at the downfall of Jerusalem. Now, the same
judgement is upon them.

     Ezekiel 25:7 "Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon
thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut
thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the
countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I [am] the
LORD."

     The difference here, and in Jerusalem's destruction, is Jerusalem
had a remenant saved, and they will not. The "stretched out hand of
God" speaks of judgement. The destruction will be so great, there will
be no doubt that this judgement is from God.

     Ezekiel 25:8  "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and
Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah [is] like unto all the
heathen;"

     We see again here, they had spoken evil of the house of Judah,
whom God loved. Judgement will come on them, also.

     Ezekiel 25:9 "Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab
from the cities, from his cities [which are] on his frontiers, the
glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim,"

     This is speaking of the border cities, which will be overrun.

     Ezekiel 25:10 "Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and
will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered
among the nations."

     The Ammonites will never be remembered anymore. This is the end
of the Ammonites.

     Ezekiel 25:11 "And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they
shall know that I [am] the LORD."

     It appears, that this very destruction occurs about 5 years after
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem. We dealt with this more fully in
the book of Jeremiah. Nebuchadnezzar did not stop with Judah and
Jerusalem, but went on a siege of all the adjoining nations.

     Ezekiel 25:12  "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath
dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly
offended, and revenged himself upon them;"

     Edom was the land that Esau founded. It seemed every chance Edom
had, they did wrong to Judah. The hatred went all the way back to
Jacob and Esau. Esau felt Jacob had taken his birthright, when in
fact, he had traded it to him for a bowl of soup.

     Ezekiel 25:13 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also
stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from
it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall
fall by the sword."

     In all of these that were against Israel, we will see the
fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. The following
Scripture says God will curse those who curse Abraham. This includes
his descendents. 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."  This is a fulfillment. God will destroy them for
their hatred of Israel.

     Ezekiel 25:14 "And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand
of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger
and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the
Lord GOD."

     God is taking vengeance for Israel here. This could be speaking,
also, of a future time, when the vengeance will be carried out by
Israel. Many of the prophecies have several fulfillments.

     Ezekiel 25:15  "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines
have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful
heart, to destroy [it] for the old hatred;"

     The Philistines were very much like the Edomites. They were the
natural enemy of Israel. Again, Israel's enemies are God's enemies.

     Ezekiel 25:16 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will
stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the
Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast."

     The Cherethims were the Philistines who dwelt in the southwest of
Canaan. It really was another name for the Philistines. This is
speaking of the widespread destruction of the Philistines on orders
from God.

     Ezekiel 25:17 "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with
furious rebukes; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I
shall lay my vengeance upon them."

     The punishment on all the nations was so they would not doubt
that God is God. The judgement was on Judah first because judgement
begins at the house of God. We must be sure God will not overlook the
heathen's sin anymore, than he will the Israelite's sin.















                         Ezekiel 27 Questions


1.  Who was this prophecy spoken against?
2.  Who were the Ammonites?
3.  Why was God's anger kindled against the Ammonites?
4.  Who would God deliver them to?
5.  Who is this, probably, speaking of?
6.  Who were "the men of the east" descended from?
7.  What was "palaces" in verse 4, speaking of?
8.  What was Rabbah?
9.  What will it become?
10. They had __________ at the downfall of Jerusalem.
11. What does the "stretched out hand of God" speak of?
12. What is verse 9 speaking of?
13. What will happen to the Ammonites?
14. When does Moab's destruction occur?
15. Where did we deal with these destructions more fully?
16. Who founded Edom?
17. How old was Edom's hatred for Israel?
18. What promise had God made Abraham about his enemies?
19. Whose hand does God use to destroy Edom?
20. What is another name for the Philistines?
21. Where did they dwell?
22. What will all nations know, after God's punishment?