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CHAPTER XXV

This chapter contains threatenings of the heavy judgments of God against the Ammonites, 1-7; Moabites, 8-11; Edomites, 12- 14; and Philistines, 15-17; on account of their hatred to his people, and their insulting them in the time of their distress. These prophecies were fulfilled by the instrumentality of Nebuchadnezzar, about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The same events were predicted by several of the other prophets, as may be seen from the citation of parallel texts in the margin.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXV

Verse 1. "The word of the Lord" - The chronological order of this chapter is after chap. xxxiii. 21, &c. See Abp. Newcome.

Verse 2. "Set thy face against the Ammonites" - We have already seen, chap. xxi. 19, &c., that when Nebuchadnezzar left Babylon he was in doubt whether he should besiege Riblath, the capital of the Ammonites, or Jerusalem, the capital of the Jews, first: and having used his divination. he was determined, by the result, to attack Jerusalem the first. He did so and the Ammonites, seeing the success of his arms, made friends with him, and exulted in the ruin of the Jews. God resents this, and predicts their downfall with that of Edom, Moab, and the Philistines. The fulfillment of this prediction is not noted in Scripture: but Josephus tells us, that about five years after the taking of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar turned his arms against the Ammonites and Moabites, and afterwards against Egypt; and having subdued those nations, he returned to Babylon. Joseph. Antiq., l. x., c. ii. Berosus states, as quoted by Josephus, contra App., that Nebuchadnezzar subdued Syria, Arabia, Phoenicia, and Egypt: and consequently, that he had brought under his dominion the Ammonites, Moabites, and Idumeans, who were included among the Philistines. See Calmet.

Verse 4. "Will deliver thee to the men of the east" - Probably the Scenite Arabs, Ishmaelites, and people of Kedar, who seized upon the provinces of the vanquished Ammonites, &c. The following description suits this people only, living on fruits, the milk of their flocks, using camels, &c.

Some think the people of the east mean the Chaldeans.

Verse 7. "I will cause thee to perish" - Except in history, the name of the Ammonites does not now exist.

Verse 8. "Moab and Seir do say" - Seir means the Idumeans. It appears that both these, with the Ammonites, had made a league with Zedekiah, Jer. xxvii. 3, which they did not keep; and it is supposed that they even joined with the Chaldeans.

Verse 9. "I will open the side" - Ptq ketheph, the shoulder, the strongest frontier place. Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim were strong frontier towns of Moab.

Verse 10. "That the Ammonites" - The Syriac has, "That Rabbah of the sons of Ammon be not remembered."

Verse 12. "Because that Edom hath dealt" - The Edomites were the most inveterate enemies of the Jews from the very earliest times, and ever did all that they could to annoy them.

Verse 13. "I will make it desolate from Teman" - Teman and Dedan were both cities of the Moabites, and apparently at each extremity of the land.

Verse 14. "I will lay my vengeance upon Edom" - God will not allow men to insult those whom he has cast down. His judgment is sufficient; to add more is an insult to God.

"By the hand of may people Israel" - This was fulfilled by the Maccabees, who not only defeated them and brought them under complete subjection, but obliged them to receive circumcision, Joseph. Antiq. l. xiii., c. 17; 1 Macc. v. 65; 2 Macc. x. 16.

Verse 15. "Because the Philistines" - They were as inimical to the Jews as the Ammonites, &c., were. Nebuchadnezzar punished them because they had assisted the Tyrians during the time he was besieging their city.

"I will cut of the Cherethims" - See the note on 2 Sam. viii. 18.