8/27/06. Ezk :1-7 The judgment against Ammon.

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1 1 2 8/27/06 Ezk The prophet Ezekiel having warned the captives in Babylon about the impending judgment of Jerusalem and given the sign by the death of his wife, now turns to the judgment of the nations, as many of the prophets contain. Is ; Jer ; Amos 1-2; Ezk Judgment against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Phisita. Ezk Judgment against Tyre and Sidon. Ezk a. The city. Ezk. 26 b. The commerce. Ezk. 27 c. The prince. Ezk Judgment against Egypt. Ezk * These seven nation represent the complete judgment of God based on the promise to Abraham of blessing and cursing those nations, in view of their attitude and conduct toward Israel, which by the way still is valid today! Gen. 12:3 25:1-7 The judgment against Ammon. 25:1-2 The revelation and the people. 1) The same authority for judgment for the Jews is now used for the Gentiles, The word of the LORD came to me, saying. vs. 1 a) It is the repeated prophetic formula. b) The other is, Thus says the Lord God. vs. 8, 12, 15 2) The type of prophecy is one of judgment. vs. 2 a) The title, Son of man again identifies Ezekiel as human frailty. vs. 2a b) The phrases set your face against and prophesy against them are indicative of coming judgment. vs. 2b-c c) The Ammonites were the descendents of Lot by his younger daughter and occupied the area of the north of modern day Jordan and perpetual enemies of Israel. vs. 2b; Gen. 19:38 * Ammon means son of my people, and is the Capital of Jordan today! 25:3-7 The message and the people. 1) The message to the Ammonites is judgment by God. vs. 3 a) The prophet Ezekiel was to call the Ammonites to hear the revelation of God, Hear the word of the Lord GOD! vs. 3a-b b) The prophet Ezekiel reveals three reasons for their judgment. vs. 3c-h 1)) They took pleasure in the desecration of the temple,

2 3 4 indicative of the word Aha. vs. 3c-f a)) The took Gad for themselves when Assyria defeated the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. Jer. 49:1 b)) She attacked Judah against Jehoiakim. 2Kings 24:2 2)) They took pleasure in the emptiness of the land, And against the land of Israel when it was desolate. vs. 3g 3)) They took pleasure in their captivity of the house of Judah. vs. 3h 2) The promised judgment by God. vs. 4 a) God would deliver them to the men of the East, Babylon and later the Nabateans. vs. 4a-c * Other passages. Amos 1:13-15; Zeph. 2:8-11 b) God would allowed them to possess and benefit from their crops. vs. 4d-e 3) Their humiliation by God would recognized. vs. 5 a) Their capital Rabbah would be made by God into stables for camels. vs. 5a b) The nation of Ammon would become a resting place for flocks. vs. 5a c) The Ammonites would confess God was in control of the nations, Then you shall know that I am the LORD. vs. 5b 4) The reaffirmation of God s distaste for their delight in Judah s calamity is expressed. vs. 6 a) The decree is from heaven, For thus says the Lord GOD. vs. 6a b) The reason is for their passionate hate for Israel, Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel. vs. 6b-c * They danced in the streets as the did in Syria and Iraq when the Twin towers clasped! 5) God would judge them personally. vs. 7 a) He would give them over to the nations and ultimately perish. vs. 7a-f * Have you ever heard of an Ammonite? b) God would destroy them and they would know that He was the LORD. vs. 7g * God will restore Ammon. Jer. 49:6 25:8-11 The judgment against Moab. 1) The prophetic formula again indicated divine origin, Thus says the Lord GOD. vs. 8a 2) The reason for the judgment was for their judgment of Judah. vs. 8-d

3 5 6 a) The Moabites were the descendents of the older daughter of Lot by incest, Moab means of his father. vs. 8d, Gen. 19:37 1)) They hired Balaam to cures Israel. Num * An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever. Deut. 23:3* 2)) The Ammonites were south of Ammon in modern day Jordan. 3)) Ruth was a Moabites and married Boaz and was the Great, Grandmother David, the mother of Jesse, the Father of David. 4)) Ruth is one of the women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Matt. 1 b) The reason for their judgment was say Judah was like all the nations. vs. 8e-g 3) God would bring judgment on Moab and all its cities, removing all its glory. vs. 9 a) The names of some cities are given. b) Other passages. Is. 15, 16; Jer. 48; Amos 2:1-3; Zeph. 2:8-11 4) God would give them over to Babylon also, the men of the East along with the Ammonites, emphasizing that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. vs. 10 * Nabatean tribes over ran Ammon and Moab also. 5) Moab would equally would know that God was the LORD. through the judgment. vs. 11, 7, 17 * God will restore them. Jer. 48:47 25:12-14 The judgment against Edom. 1) The authority is from God Who see and knows all things. vs. 12 a) The voice is from heaven, Thus says the Lord GOD. vs. 12a b) The reason for the judgment was treacherous vengeance, Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them. vs. 12b-c 1)) Edom means red and was the descendent of Esau, the brother of Jacob, who he hated for stealing his birth-right. Gen. 25:23-27; 36:8 2)) They did not allow Israel to pass through the land. Num. 20 3)) They were located south of the Moabites, on modern day Jordan, down by the Red-Sea by Gulf of Acaba.

4 7 8 * In fact the sea gets its name from the red mountains of Edom, when the sun reflects the red of the mountains on it. 4)) The Red Rose City of Petra is located there, is believed where God will house Israel during the Great-Tribulation. Is. 16; Rev. 12 5)) They sided with Nebuchadnezzar, the book of Obediah points out their turning in the one who fled from Jerusalem to Babylon but also they looted the city. Oediah1:1-21 * Other passages. Is. 34:5-7; Jer. 49:7-22; La. 4:21f; Ezk. 35; Amos; 1:11f; Mal. 1:3-5 2) God would judge and destroy Edom making mention of boundaries, from Teman; Dedan and it would be by the sword. vs. 13 a) Teman was the region from which one of the miserable comforters of Job. b) Dedan is Saudi Arabia. c) Nabatean tribes also over ran Edom, along with Ammon and Moab. d) The last surviving Edomite was Herod the Great was the son of Antipater of Idumaea. Appointed king of Judaea B.C. 40 by the Roman Senate at the suggestion of Antony and with the consent of Octavian, he at length overcame the great opposition which the country made to him and took possession of the kingdom B.C. 37; and after the battle of Actium, he was confirmed by Octavian, whose favour he ever enjoyed. He was brave and skilled in war, learned and sagacious; but also extremely suspicious and cruel. Hence he destroyed the entire royal family of Hasmonaeans, put to death many of the Jews that opposed his government, and proceeded to kill even his dearly beloved wife Mariamne of the Hasmonaean line and his two sons she had borne him. 3) The execution of the judgment would be the vengeance of God, I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of Israel, as an expression of His anger and fury; allowing them to know His vengeance, says the Lord GOD. vs. 14 * Ammon, Moab, Edom, Tyre and Sidon were given messages by Jeremiah to not rebel against Nebuchadnezzar and Jeremiah was told to make for himself a wooden yoke and were it on his neck, not to listen to their diviners. Jer :15-17 The judgment against Phisitia.

5 9 10 1) The authority again is divine and from heaven, Thus says the Lord GOD: vs. 15a 2) The reason for the judgment is given, Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred. vs. 15b a) The Philistines were from the Island of Crete or Caphtor and it is from them that the name Palestine comes from * There has never been a Palestinian Nation or land in the land of Israel, it is a myth and gross mistake by our modern day liberal news media and politicians. b) They occupied the area of the present day Gaza strip. c) They were perpetual enemies of Israel, through the reign of Saul, David and Solomon. 3) The would destroy them. vs. 16 a) The would cut off the Cherethites, another name for them, seemed to of been part of David s body-guards. 2Sam. 8:18; 15:18 b) He would also destroy the remnant of the seacoast. 4) God would execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they would know that He was the LORD, when He would lay His vengeance upon them. vs :1-6 The judgment against Tyre. 26:1-2 The reception of the prophecy. 1) The prophecy is dated again. vs. 1a-b a) The last date was 588, on the ninth year, on the tenth day of the month. Ezk. 24:1 b)this is the eleventh year, 586 B.C., the first day but we do not know the month. c) Ezekiel began his ministry on 592 B.C. he has been prophesying about five years. 2) The prophecy is authenticated, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, as all Ezekiel s former prophecies. vs. 1c-d a) There are four clear division of the Vs. 1, 7, 15, 19 b) The certainty of its fulfillment was based on the first 24 chapters of predictions that came to pass. 3) The prophecy was revealed because Tyre delighted in the destruction of Jerusalem. vs. 2 a) Once again Ezekiel is addressed as the Son of man for his human frailty, a mere man. vs. 2a

6 11 12 * This title appears 93 time it in the book. b) Once again Yahweh quoted the very words of the people. vs. 2b-f 1)) Tyre rejoice over her destruction of Jerusalem due to envy over commercial competitors. vs. 2b-c 2)) Tyre saw she could be the sole negotiator and controller of the trade routes, instead of Jerusalem. vs. 2d-f c) Tyre had a long history with Israel. 1)) Tyre was situated on the Mediterranean coast about 100 miles north-west of Jerusalem. 2)) Ahiram I, king of Tyre made pacts with David and Solomon and supplied the lumber and workers for the temple. 2Sam. 5:11; 1Kings 5:1-18; 9:10-14, 26, 27 3)) Ahab s queen was Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, who introduce he worship of Baal. 1Kings 16:31, 18 4)) Tyre sought an alliance with Zedekiah against Nebuchadnezzar. Jer. 27:3; 28:1 5)) Tyre was very wealthy by her international trade. 6)) The Phoenicians were excellent mariners who sailed all over the Mediterranean, up as far as Spain and down towards Africa. 26:3-6 The declaration of the prophecy. 1. The posture of God was hostile. vs. 3a-d a) He was speaking on His own behalf, Therefore thus says the Lord GOD vs. 3a b) He was giving a strict warning that He was against Tyre. vs. 3a-d * God had told this to the false prophets, the soothsayers and Jerusalem. Ezk. 13:8; 13:20; 21:3 2) The punishment by God was to be relentless. vs. 3e-f a) The judgment of Tyre would not be limited to one nation, not the plural. vs. 3e b) The force and intensity would be like the waves of the sea, one after another. vs. 3f 3) The promised destruction would cause the sight to be unrecognized. vs. 4 a) The defenses would be brought down, vs. 4a b) The detailed evidence of her existence would be removed scraped like the top of a rock. vs. 4b-c

7 ) The place of judgment would become a location for fishermen. vs. 5a * The city would be reduced from a mighty power and wealth to a place to dry out fishing nets. vs. 5a 5) The prophetic nature guarantees the certainty. vs. 5b-d a) The authority is by the voice from heaven. vs. 5b-c b) The city would be reduced to rubble for the nations. vs. 5d 6) The provinces of her outskirts would not escape. vs. 6a a) The colonies that went out from her are identified, Also her daughter villages which are in the fields shall be slain by the sword. vs. 6a b) The sword of Nebuchadnezzar would be the instrument. 7) The purpose of the prophesy was stated, Then they shall know that I am the LORD. vs. 6b * Is. 42:9; Is. 46: :7-14 The interpretation of the judgment of Tyre. 26:7-11 The short-term fulfillment would be by the King of Babylon. 1) The judgment would be from God but He would use a man Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with his powerful army. vs. 7 2) The judgment would be fierce by the sword, and by cutting off the supplies of the city. vs. 8 3) The judgment would be with his war machines. vs. 9 4) The judgment would come to pass, entering the city. vs ) Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Tyre in 586 B.C. a) It took Nebuchadnezzar thirteen year to conquer the city of Tyre, B.C. b) During the long siege, the city kept getting re-supplied from the sea by her Phoenician navy. c) Throughout the thirteen years the Phoenicians had transferred everything of value from the inland city to the Island city, half mile out, so that when Nebuchadnezzar took the city, he profited nothing, for all its wealth and resources had been removed. d) Therefore when Nebuchadnezzar took the city there was nothing to take, no spoils, a. e) Ezekiel prophesied of the frustrated failure of Nebuchadnezzar against

8 15 16 Tyre and gave him the land of Egypt. Ezk. 29:17-20 f) Tyre remained as Nebuchadnezzar had left it for 241 years. 26:12-14 The long-term fulfillment would be by Alexander the Great. vs ) God predicted the judgment contained two parts. vs. 12 a) The pronoun changes from singular to the plural, he instead of they. vs. 12a b) This invasion would take spoils or booty, the first would not. vs. 12a-b c) This invasion would gather the debris of the city and cast it into the sea. vs. 12c-e * The stones, timber and the soil in the midst of the water. 2) God predicted He would terminate the existence of the city of Tyre. vs a) There would be no joy or celebration ever. vs. 13 b) There would be no sign of her existence, never to be rebuilt vs. 14ab c) There would be no doubt about the fulfillment, For I the LORD have spoken, says the Lord GOD. vs. 14c-d 3) Alexander the Great laid siege to Tyre in 322 B.C. a) As Alexander began his great conquest against Persia, which modern day Iran, he feared the Phoenicians might attack Greece, so he moved south to take Tyre. b) He was unable to take the city, so he captured other costal cities and took over their fleets to attack the Island city but his combined effort failed. c) Alexander then decided to use all the material of the city Tyre on the mainland that Nebuchadnezzar had seized and built a causeway out to the Island. d) The material not being enough, he scrapped up all the soil in and around the old city, and with it completed the causeway. vs. 4, 12 e) After seven months, by a combined attack of the land forces marching in over the causeway and the fleets by water, he took Tyre. f) The cities around were so frightened by the conquest of Tyre that all opened their gated to Alexander without opposition, just as the prophecy stated in verse six. g) The city became a place for fishermen to dry their nets, exactly as the

9 17 18 prophecy, even to the present, it is a very popular place for fishermen. h) The original city of Tyre has never been rebuilt, it is not even know where exactly it stood, that is how clean Alexander the Great scraped the entire area. vs. 13, 20, 21 i) There does flow a spring of water that engineers measured and found to be yield about 10,000,000 gallons daily, which could supply a large population but no one has ever build a city there since. 4) The chance of all these particulars in the prophecy of Ezekiel coming to pass. a) Dr Stoner in his book Science Speaks on page estimated the chances of Ezekiel having spoken this prophecy from his own knowledge and having it all come to pass is 1 in 3 x 5 x 500 x 10 x5 x20. b) This is 1 in 75,000,000, million or 1 in 7.5 x 10 to the 7th power. c) If Ezekiel had looked at Tyre in his day and had made these seven prediction in human wisdom, these estimates mean that there would have been only one chance in 75,000,000 of their all coming true. 26:15-18 The response of the people to the judgment of Tyre. 26:15-18 The people would be astonished at her destruction. 1) The surrounding people would be gripped with fear. vs. 15 a) Yahweh states a question rhetorically implying an obvious answer, Yes! 1)) The small city states of the Mediterranean would be shaken at the news of the fall of Tyre. * The word shake ra ash means to quake 2)) And his is the point, Tyre should of quaked at the new of Jerusalem s fall but instead she gloated and only saw a financial advantage for her. b) The small city state would shake when they heard of the horror. * The small city states depended on Tyre for protection and commerce, they were now vulnerable and financially in jeopardy. 2) The surrounding rulers and leaders of the sea commerce would participate in a funeral memorial. vs. 16 a) The rulers and leaders would disrupt their activities to morn the city,

10 19 20 paying their respect and humbling themselves. vs. 16a-d b) The rulers and leaders would grieve for the city, shaking and being distraught, vs. 16-d-g * The word astonished shamem means to be appalled, stunned, stupefied, in shock! 3) The rulers and leaders would express their lamentation. vs. 17 a) They would express their bereavement for the city at this funeral, much like Jeremiah over Jerusalem. vs. 17a 1)) The word lamentation qiynah means a dirge or elegy, a funeral hymn, a mournful musical composition or a mournful elegy, a poem or other literary work. 2)) Ezekiel is told four times personally to take up a lamentation out of the nine it appears in the book. Ezk. 19:1; 27:2; 28:12; 32:2 b) They would articulate their bereavement by addressing their words directly to the city, vs. 17b-h 1)) In view of her might men. vs. 17bc 2)) In view of her international reputation. vs. 17d-f 3)) In view of her power and authority. vs. 17h 4) The rulers and leaders would be concerned with the temporal. vs. 18 a) They feared the very day, they might be next, Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall. vs. 18a b) They feared loosing the benefit the received from Tyre, Yes, the coastlands by the sea are troubled at your departure. vs. 18b-c 26:19-21 The response of God to the destruction of Tyre. 1) In view of judgment by the Eternal One. vs. 19 a) This was divine judgment, For thus says the Lord GOD: When I make you a desolate city, like cities that are not inhabited. vs. 19a-c b) This was reaping to consequences, When I bring the deep upon you, and great waters cover you. vs. 19d-e * This is poetical language of the literal judgment! 2) In view of eternal separation from God. vs. 20a-e * This again in poetical language describes Sheol, the place of departed spirit, the abode of the wicked, though the word Sheol is not used but Pit bowr, which means a cistern or dungeon.

11 3) In view of the eternal word of God that is trustworthy. a) As an earthly witness to the accuracy of His word, So that you may never be inhabited. vs. 20f b) As history would verify it. 4) In view of the eternal glory of God. vs. 20g a) As people recognized it was Divine judgment, And I shall establish glory in the land of the living. vs. 20g b) The word glory ts@biy means beauty, honor, the idea being others would fear and revere God. 5) In view of eternal authority. vs. 21 a) Yahweh commanded the destruction of Tyre, I will make you a terror, and you shall be no more. vs. 21a-b b) Yahweh commanded Tyre would never exist again for the third time. vs. 21c-e * The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Ps. 14: