42 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
42 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Ezekiel 25:8–17"
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date = "2023-05-09"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel25.8-17)
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Moab was descended from Lot, the nephew of Abraham. As nations, Moab and Israel
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were often in conflict, though Ruth famously immigrated from Moab to Israel in
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the time of the judges. In this oracle, Moab shares Ammon's fate, though the
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cause appears to be not so much malice as unbelief. The Moabites declared Judah
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to be like all the other nations, that is, not being the Lord's chosen people.
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They thought Judah's troubles were a sign that their God was not powerful
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enough to save them, just like other nations' gods were not powerful enough to
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save them from conquering armies. They had surely heard stories of Assyria's
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miraculous defeat at Jerusalem in Hezekiah's day, but since that was about two
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generations ago, they probably sounded embellished by this point. Whatever the
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case, the Lord defends His fame and honor among the nations and brings an end
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to the ones who have blasphemed against Him.
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Edom was descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob who was named Israel. Again
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there was animosity between these two nations for much of their history, but in
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this case Edom is condemned for taking vengeance while Israel was vulnerable.
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While the judgement is the same as what befell Ammon and Moab, it is
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interesting that the Lord specifies Israel as the one to carry out the
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sentence. Israel and Judah have been totally defeated at this point; they have
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all been scattered abroad and there is no one to tend to the land, much less
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form an army. Therefore there is hope already, even amidst these judgements,
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that Israel will be restored and the Lord's promises will be made complete.
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The Philistines were a thorn in Israel's side during the time of the judges and
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through David's reign. Their lineage can probably be traced back to the island
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of Crete, and scholarship currently identifies them as the "Sea Peoples" whose
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migration into the region disrupted all of the centers of civilization during
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the Bronze Age. The Lord's charge against them is their "never-ending enmity"
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(_v. 15_) against His people. Many other prophets spoke oracles against them as
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well.
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* * *
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Your name is holy and You defend it against all slander.
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