Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 25

1 THE word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

Though he had order no more yet a while to prophesie against the Jews, he was to be dumb as to them, yet he hath Commission to foretel sad tidings to other Nations round about the Jews.

2 Son of man set thy face against the Ammonites , and prophesie against them:

The phrase you have, chap. 20.46. let. o. It includeth Anger, Menaces, and intention of mind.

The posterity of Lot by the younger Daughter, near Neighbours, but bitter Enemies to the Jews.

Leave recorded what heavy things shall befall them in after dayes.

Marginal references: Jer. [illegible: 2 letters] ▪ &c. ch. 21.[illegible: 1 letter] Amo. 1.[illegible: 1 letter]

3 And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD p; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidest, Aha , against my sanctuary , when it was prophaned , and against the land of Israel , when it was desolate , and against the land of Judah when it went into captivity ;

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 Nebuchadnezzars Camp, which was in that time a School of Armes, that they may tell others: or else, so plainly declare it, that in time they may know this. 'Tis not the ambiguous, or delusive Oracle of your Idols, but the plain, and true, and unfailing word of the only true God, the God of Israel, as Zeph. 2.8.

When thou shouldest have pitied, and been sorry, thou didst rejoyce, and proudly didst insult, magnified thy self, and reproachedst my people, wert glad that so great Calamities were come upon them.

Both the Temple, and the Worship of God, 'tis like in their pride, they boasted their Idols power to Preserve their Temples, and blasphemed God as unable to preserve his Sacred Rites, and Worship.

When the Heathen entred into, and when they burnt it.

They insulted on the Ten Tribes, the Kingdom of Israel when afflicted.

Wasted by Pul and Tiglath Pileser, and captivated by Salmanezer.

The Two Tribes, the Kingdom of Iudah.

First, with Iehojakim, then with Iekoniah, and which was worse, then both these, when it was captivated with Zedekiah, and the City burnt; a most mournful sight, and at which none, but inhumane barbarous men could do less, then weep, but these rejoyce, and cry, Aha.

Marginal references: chap. [illegible: 1 span]

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 God whom thou hast despised, whose People thou hast reproacht, whose Worship thou hast vilified, I will avenge my self, and deliver thee up.

The M[illegible: 1 letter]des and Persians say some, the Babylonians say others, but this suits not well with Geographie; Arabians say others, associates of Nebuchadnezzar, who 'tis likely, recompenced their labour and service with giving them this Countrey when it was conquered, as 'twas five years after the desolation of Ierusalem.

They shall settle on it, as a very convenient Country for their Sheep and Camels, and possess it, as their Inheritance.

The word Palaces seems little to agree with Arabians, who dwelt in Tents, but this manner of dwelling many of them would be ready to change, where they might to so great advantage, as in that Countrey, which was fruitful, as this was; beside the word signifieth, what is fenced, as Isa. 2.15. and is paraphrased by Camp, and Arabians had their Munitions and fortified Camps, and these they shall set here, while they stay. And I add this also that the next words explain these.

They shall set up their Tents, as the word properly; their Tents and Habitations they would fortifie in some manner, or other, that in their Camp they might be safe, if they did not build Cities in the Countrey.

The Fruit of that Land was once thine, of the Trees thou plantedst.

Which in so fruitful Land, and rich Pastures they had in abundance from the multitude of their Kine, and 'twas a drink that well suited with those hot Regions.

Marginal references: Heb. children.

5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for Camels , and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

The Royal City, and Seat of the Kings of Ammon, called since Philadelphia, from Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, King of Egypt, who built it.

Turn it from a Royal Palace to be a recep[illegible: 1 letter]acle of Camels, and their drivers.

Wherewith not the Chaldaeans, and Bactrians, but the Arabians also were well stored; all the men of the East, as appears in Iob, using them for conveying Merchandize, and for Travels.

The people for the Land they dwelt in.

Then shall you know, I was as able to have defended my own People, House, and Worship, as I was able to destroy your Gods, your Cities, and your People

6 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands , and stamped with the feet , and rejoyced in heart with all thy despight against the land of Israel .

Exprest thy joy in that insolent manner.

And added this sign of more, then ordinary Joy at this.

It was that which affected thy heart with gladness, thy soul, and mind were in this thy rejoycing.

Hatred and contempt, thou wast heartily glad, such vile people, as thou countedst them, were made, what thou thoughtest they best deserved, Slaves, Beggars, and Captives.

For the people.

Either the Ten Tribes, or rather the Two Tribes with the small remnant of the others, that kept to the House of David.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 letter]and.; Heb. foot.; Heb. soul.

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 countrey: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

Thou stretchedst out thy hand in Joy, I will stretch out mine in Wrath, thou, against my people, I, against thee.

For a prey, or for meat, so the word will bear. The greedy covetous Souldier shall make thy wealth his prey; the hungry Enemy shall eat thee up.

Babylonians, and their Confederates.

Explained by that follows, Ammon, thou shalt no more be accounted among the Nations, but cease from being a people.

So shalt thou be destroyed.

Vide ver. 5. let. l.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 letter]eat.

8 Thus saith the Lord GOD; because that Moab , and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen.

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 Iudah.

The seed of Esau, who are, Edom, Idumaeans, or Seir, from the Mountain, where they first planted themselves; near of Kin in blood, but bitter Enemies to the Jews, though both here joyned, yet Moab is first doomed here, ver. 9, 10, 11. and Seir next, ver. 12▪ 13, 14.

The peculiar people of God, who had his Law, Temple, Worship of his own appointment among them.

Are no more a select people than others; their Religion no better, nor their God, but as the Gods of their Neighbours. And they no more benefited by their worshipping of him, thus Atheist like, they dethrone God, and debase him to an equality with their own Idols, more particularly Moab's sin is set out. Ier. 48. t[illegible: 2 letters].

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 15. and Amo. 2.1.

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 Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon , and Kiriathaim .

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 easie, and his Souldiers shall break through the defences, that were vainly boasted impregnable.

That part of his Country, which was best fortified for the safeguard of the whole.

From the Cities of strength, called here his, because he gloryed, and trusted in them such as Har and Aroer seated on Arnon, very strong Garrisons.

Or from his Frontiers, (for 'tis the same construction Hebr.) or from his outmost bounds, I will lay all open to the Chaldaeans, they shall over-run it, as if 'twere an open Countrey, as easily, as if no Fortresses to impede them.

So the great, strong, and beautiful, or regularly built, and fortified Cities are ever accounted the Glory of the Countrey, and these are reckoned beside Ar and Aroer.

Called also Meon, and Baiith, and Beth-Baal-Meon, Mansion-House of Baal, word for word; it was scituate on the North Coast of Moab, as the other on the West.

A City, which probably consisted of two Cities, or principal parts, a very strong Frontier Town, but not able to keep out those that God would lead in.

Bethjesimoth, an ancient City, and formerly Reuben's lot, Ioh. 13.20. its name tells you, it was a fortress toward the desert, which watched, lest any should, through those wastes, make an inroad on the Countrey.

Marginal references: Heb. shoulder.

10 Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession that the Ammonites may not be remembred among the nations.

See ver. 4. let. a.

Rather against, and so the Hebr. 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 Chaldaeans first, who will give Moab to the Arabians.

Ver. 4. let. b.

I suppose here is either an ellipsis, thus, that as the Ammonites should so perish, as not to be remembred, so should Moab also, or else Ammon is appellative here, and speaks the numerousness of Moab, which yet should so cease as to be forgotten.

Marginal references: Or. against the children of Ammon.; chap. 21.32.

11 And I will execute judgment upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Tho' the Chaldaeans do it, 'tis by God's direction, and he is principal therein.

The judgment passed by my Prophet.

Those brutish Nations shall know this is my hand.

12 Thus saith the LORD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance , and hath greatly offended , and revenged himself upon them;

The Idumaeans Children of Esau.

The Kingdom of David after the division of the Tribes, when but two remained constant to the House of David.

For the old quarrel, because Iacob got the blessing from Esau, or rather in revenging a later quarrel, which they had against Iudah for the Slaughter, spoil, and captivity they suffered by David's conquering Sword.

Both in the thing it self; for vengeance belongs to God, and in the manner and measures of executing it, as appears, both from Psal. 137.7. and the prophesie of Obadia[illegible: 1 letter] 10. to 15. we see, and consider.

Marginal references: Jer. 49.7, 8. chap. 35.2. Amos 1.11.

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.

See ver. 7. let. [illegible: 1 letter]. and cap. 16. ver. 27. let. n, o.

By the Sword of the Chaldaeans, and by other wasting evils, which accompany Wars as Famine, Pestilence, and other Diseases.

Either their Cattel should be driven away by the plundring Souldier, or devoured by the mighty numerous Army of Nebuchadnezzar, or wasted with murrain, or all should concur to unstock their pastures.

A desolation, i. e. most desolate.

From the South, so the Chald. Paraph. but 'tis rather the Name of the Region, called by the name of Esau's Grandson Teman, who also gave name to the Metropolis of Idu[illegible: 1 letter]aea, and probably 'twas in the Southern Coast of Edoms Countrey.

The Dedanites, who were of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25.3. and these were Neighbours to Edom, on Arabia side, or else intermixt with the Edomites in Habitation and Commerce, so that it might be a City reckoned; either to Edom, or Arabia from Teman to Dedan, the Chaldaean Sword should waste all.

Marginal references: Or, they shall fall by the sword unto Dedan.

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

Which as 'tis great, so just, sure, and opportune, their foot slideth in due time, Deut. 32.35.

No History mentions the fulfilling of this, as it sounds in the letter of it, unless 1 Mac. 5.3. and 2 Mac. 10.16, 17. some therefore interpret; by the hand, by the same hand, that I used in punishing my people Israel; others refer it to a spiritual meaning, as Isa. 11.14. and Ier. 49.2. and Obad. ver. 21.

The Instruments God used, whether Maccabees in after times, or the Chaldaeans in that present age.

My just displeasure, as it set them on work, shall give them their strength, and measures; they shall do as much as I intended agai[illegible: 3 letters] Edom.

Redoubled to affect the more, and confirm the pr[illegible: 1 letter]diction.

Both Edom, my people▪ and those I employ shall see this was my quarrel, which I threatned to revenge, and now have done it, and Edom shall know, I am not like their Gods, though they said so, ver. 8.

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.

Next Neighbours to the Iews, between whom, many quarrels, wars, and mutual spoil, slaughter, and injuries happened, as ever among Borderers, who make all their own they can catch.

Took the opportunity to revenge themselves, when the Jews were weak and low.

With hatred to them, and contempt of them.

This tells us what their hatred appeared in, 'twas a hatred to the Name, and being of Israel they would cut them off; as Psal. 83.7.

With a perpetuated endless enmity pursuing them.

Marginal references: Jer. 25.20. and 47.2. Amo. 1.6.; Or, with perpetual hatred.

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

See chap. 7. ver. 5. let. s. and chap. 16. ver. 27. let. n, o.

Either a name for all the Philistines, 1 Sam. 30.14. or else the principal Souldiers, expert Bowmen, the strength of Philistia.

Which had escapt the sword of Samuel, David, Hezekiah, and of Psammetichus King of Egypt.

Mediterran about Az[illegible: 1 letter]tus.

Marginal references: Or, Haven of the Sea.

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.

Great for measure, and many for number, vengeances, as Heb.

In fierceness of anger, and without pity.

They, as other stupid Nations, will not see, till they feel, and then they shall confess 'tis the hand of an angry, but just, and mighty God.

This verse is a confirmation of all spoken against the Philistines, and is in all the particulars explained in what went before.

Marginal references: Heb. vengeances.