Ezekiel 25 4

Ezekiel 25:4 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 25:4 nkjv

indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.

Ezekiel 25:4 niv

therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.

Ezekiel 25:4 esv

therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.

Ezekiel 25:4 nlt

I will allow nomads from the eastern deserts to overrun your country. They will set up their camps among you and pitch their tents on your land. They will harvest all your fruit and drink the milk from your livestock.

Ezekiel 25 verses

Ezekiel 25 4 Meaning

This verse prophesies the destruction of Ammon by the Babylonians. It highlights God's judgment on their destructive actions against His people and the land of Judah, specifically their triumphant joy and possession of Israel's inheritance during the devastation.

Ezekiel 25 4 Context

Ezekiel 25 is part of a larger oracle of judgment directed at the surrounding nations for their actions against Israel during the Babylonian conquest. Specifically, this chapter addresses the Ammonites (vv. 1-7), Moabites (vv. 8-11), Edomites (vv. 12-14), and Philistines (vv. 15-17). The historical context is the period of the Babylonian exile of Judah, where these nations exhibited animosity and celebrated Jerusalem's downfall. They took advantage of Israel's weakness and encroached upon their land. The Ammonites, in particular, are accused of rejoicing over Israel's destruction and laying claim to their territory.

Ezekiel 25 4 Word Analysis

• "Therefore": Indicates a consequence for previous actions or a logical progression from divine judgment announced. Connects the pronouncement of judgment directly to the Ammonites' behavior.

• "thus says the Lord God": Emphatic declaration of the divine origin of the prophecy. Establishes the authority and source of the message, signifying God's active intervention and decree.

• "behold": Draws attention, calling for immediate consideration of what follows. Signals an important pronouncement and prepares the hearer for significant news.

• "against the Ammonites": Clearly identifies the target of God's judgment. This specifies that the oracle's focus is exclusively on this particular nation and its people.

• "because": Introduces the reason or cause for the divine judgment. Explains the theological basis for the pronouncement of doom.

• "you have said": Refers to the pronouncements or taunts made by the Ammonites. It highlights their spoken words and attitude.

• "Aha!": An exclamation of derision, triumph, or mockery. Expresses malicious glee and scorn directed towards Jerusalem and its inhabitants.

• "against my sanctuary": Identifies the object of their mockery as the Temple in Jerusalem. This reveals their disrespect and opposition towards God's dwelling place and His covenant relationship with Israel.

• "when it was profaned": Refers to the defilement of the sanctuary, which occurred during the Babylonian siege and destruction. The Ammonites saw this as God's abandonment of His people.

• "and against the land of Israel": Denotes their scorn for the entirety of God's chosen land. This includes their disregard for the covenant promises associated with the land.

• "when it was desolate": Acknowledges the devastation inflicted upon the land by the Babylonians. This was the occasion for their cruel remarks.

• "and against the house of Judah": Specifically targets their mockery towards the remaining inhabitants of Judah. Their gloating intensified during the exile.

• "when they went into exile": Points to the Babylonian captivity of the Judeans. The Ammonites found satisfaction in seeing their neighbors punished.

• "you shall be brought down to Sheol": Prophesies the ultimate destruction and downfall of Ammon. "Sheol" represents the abode of the dead, signifying utter annihilation and descent into judgment.

• "O Ammonite": Addresses the Ammonites directly in the pronouncement of their fate.

• "with the slain in the sword": Specifies the instrument of their destruction. This indicates a violent end through warfare.

• "and the pillars of Rabbah shall be made a wilderness": Refers to the capital city of Ammon (Rabbah) and its fortified structures or perhaps symbolic monuments, which will be destroyed and left barren. "Wilderness" signifies desolation and abandonment.

• "with destruction": Reinforces the thoroughness and completeness of their ruin.

• "in the day of my provocation": Links their punishment to God's righteous anger or "zeal." It implies their actions stirred God's wrath.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "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 exile": This phrase encapsulates the Ammonites' collective hostile and gleeful response to Israel's misfortune. Their "Aha!" (derision) targeted God's sanctuary, the land, and the people of Judah during their darkest hours, revealing a deep-seated malice and opposition to God's covenant people.
  • "you shall be brought down to Sheol...with the slain in the sword, and the pillars of Rabbah shall be made a wilderness with destruction, in the day of my provocation": This sequence pronounces the complete and utter annihilation of the Ammonites and their capital city. The descent into Sheol, death by the sword, and the utter desolation of Rabbah all attest to the comprehensive nature of God's retributive judgment for their hostile rejoicing and actions.

Ezekiel 25 4 Bonus Section

The Ammonites’ hostile rejoicing over Israel's suffering, particularly during the Babylonian invasion, reflects a deep spiritual antagonism. Their words and attitudes are described as a "provocation" to God, indicating that their malice directly challenged God's covenantal commitment to Israel. The destruction prophesied for Ammon serves as a precedent for God's dealings with all nations and individuals who actively oppose or delight in the downfall of believers. The parallel prophecies in Jeremiah 49 and Zephaniah 2 reinforce the comprehensive divine judgment against Ammon for its persistent enmity towards Israel.

Ezekiel 25 4 Commentary

The Ammonites' sin was not simply occupying unclaimed territory, but a heart filled with malice and schadenfreude towards God's covenant people. Their exclamations of "Aha!" demonstrated a spirit of gloating and triumph over the suffering of Israel, including the profanation of the sanctuary and the exile of Judah. This joy at the misfortune of God's people is seen as a direct affront to God Himself. Consequently, God declares that the Ammonites will experience a similar fate of desolation and destruction. Their capital, Rabbah, along with its structures, will be reduced to ruins, signifying a complete downfall. This judgment serves as a stark warning that rejoicing in the afflictions of God's people incurs divine wrath. God's justice is impartial; those who align themselves against His chosen people, especially in their times of weakness, will face His severe judgment. This emphasizes the principle of reaping what you sow and that God is a protector of His people.