Ver. 1. The word of the Lord.] Contra gentes; against those nations chiefly that molested the Jews after their overthrow by the Babylonians. Sins they had enough besides, but for none did they suffer more deeply than for their malignity towards God’s poor afflicted. The Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines are here more briefly threatened; the Tyrians and Egyptians more at large, because it seemed impossible that they should be brought down.
Ver. 2. Set thy face against the Ammonites.] Look upon them firmo, torvo, et minaci vultu, as if thou wouldst look through them; and having so lightened, thunder accordingly. Against the Ammonites.] Who have had their part already of threatenings, (Ezekiel 21:28) but not their full due.
Ver. 3. Because thou saidst, Aha.] Insolently insulting over mine Israel when under hatches; as when a tree is down, every man will be pulling at the branches, and Leoni mortuo vd mus insultat. But it is ill meddling against God’s Church, be it but by a frown or a trump, as here. An aha or an euge shall not escape unpunished. (Psalms 35:21)
Ver. 4. I will deliver thee to the men of the east.] To the Arabians, Keturah’s posterity, who were shepherds and camel masters. They shall eat thy fruit and drink thy milk.] Sept., πιοτητα, Thy fatness. Est enim adeps lac coagulatum. The Ammonites, as now the Flemmings, were γαλακτοφαγοι, butter boxes, as we say, and lived much upon dairy products; so do we. Let us use our plenty to God’s glory, lest we lose all.
Ver. 5. And I will make Rabbah.] The metropolis of the Ammonites. It signifieth that great city; and was afterwards rebuilt by Ptolemy Philadelph, and called Philadelphia. “ Valet ima summis Mutare, et insignem attenuat Deus Obseura premens,” &c. - Hor., lib. i. Od. 34.
Ver. 6. Because thou hast clapped thine hands.] Manibus plaudis, pedibus complodis, &c. God is very sensible of the least indignity and injury, affront or offence, done to his poor people, by words, looks, gestures, &c. Cavete. Beware.
Ver. 7. Behold, therefore I will stretch out my hand upon thee.] God loveth to retaliate. I will cause thee to perish out of the country.] So little a distance is there again, saith Seneca, between a great city and no city. “ Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus: Et certam praesens vix habet hora fidem.”
Ver. 8. Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen.] As ill-protected and provided for as they; as much scourged by the Babylonian. See to the contrary in Deuteronomy 33:29, “Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thine excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places!” Some read it, ‘Behold the house of Jehovah,’ and note an emphasis in that word, as savouring of contempt and blasphemy, as in 2 Kings 18:33,34.
Ver. 9. Behold, I will open the side of Moab.] Heb., The shoulder—that is, the border that is fortified—to let in the enemy; like as the side being opened, an entrance is given into the body through the ribs for the destruction thereof, because the strongest defence is taken away. Dr Mayr.
Ver. 10. That the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.] A fearful hand of God upon them, as it was also upon some other peoples, who are so utterly extinct that the learned can now hardly divine where their seats were.
Ver. 11. And I will execute judgments upon Moab.] Or, In Moab, where was no care to execute justice and judgment; sed frigebant leges: ius situm erat in manibus, &c. Might overcame right.
Ver. 12. By taking vengeance.] Heb., By revenging revengement; out of a vindictive spirit rejoicing at Judah’s harms, and saying, They were well enough served. See the prophecy of Ob 10-16 and Psalms 137:7 Their father Esau was of a spiteful spirit, (Genesis 27:41) and they took after him, proceeding upon the old score. Hence they are put for God’s and the Church’s enemies by a specialty. (Isaiah 63:1-6 Joel 3:9-17 Amos 9:1-10) A learned man hath given us this note: Esau signifieth a doer or a worker; Edom, a ruddy, bloody, or earthy man. These Edomites were a type of justiciaries, who will needs be saved by their works and merits. These are the deadliest enemies of God’s people, war upon them continually, seek and suck their blood, and shall at length suffer condign punishment. And hath greatly offended and revenged himself upon them.] Wishing, as Caligula did by the people of Rome, that they had all but one neck, that he might cut them off at one blow. Plane sunt serpentes, saith Luther concerning hypocrites, quo nullum est animal vindictae cupidius, they are very serpents, than which there is no living creature more revengeful. ειθ ´ ενα αυχενα ειχετε.
Ver. 13. I will stretch out mine hand upon Edom.] God hath vengeance ready for revengers. Immune verbam est ultio, saith Seneca; they shall not escape unpunished. See Proverbs 24:17,18. The Duke of Bourbon being displeased at Cardinal Wolsey, intended to have sacked Rome, and taken the Pope; but at the first assault of the town, the Duke was the first man that was slain.
Ver. 14. I will lay my vengeance upon Edom.] Edam ultionem in Edom. See Ezekiel 25:13. By the hand of my people Israel.] In the time of the Macchabees likely this was done. Or, By the hand wherewith I shall smite my people; that is, by the Babylonians: so Piscator. According to my fury.] And not as the commanders will. Titus would have saved the temple at Jerusalem from being burned, but the soldiers would not. Josephus.
Ver. 15. Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge.] See on Ezekiel 25:12,13. Heathens thought revenge lawful, and tallying of injuries to be but justice. But Christianity teacheth us that non minus mali est referre iniuriam, quam inferre, For the old hatred.] The Philistines were of the old inhabitants the Canaanites, and kept up a deadly feud. Lactant.
Ver. 16. I will cut off the Cherethims.] These were a part of the Philistines. (Zephaniah 2:5) There is an elegance in the original: q.d., Exscindam exscissores, I will cut off the cutters. And destroy the remnant of the sea coast.] Palestina lay upon the midland sea. (Zephaniah 3:5)
Ver. 17. And I will execute great vengeance upon them.] Heb., Vengeances. I will pay them for the new and the old together.