Ezekiel 25:1-7--Prophecy Against Ammon

Ezekiel 25:1-7
English Standard Version

Prophecy Against Ammon
25 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 6 For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

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The Ammonites would try to swoop in and seize control of the Land and the Temple while the people were in Exile.  They had no claim to the Land or the Temple.  It was never their ancestral homeland.  They were in the Trans-Jordan area that was later called Gilead, and they were some of the first peoples defeated as part of the Conquest (while Moses was still leading the people through the Wilderness).  The LORD now is going to finish what He started with Moses and the children of Israel during their early days.

The LORD is going to send the Ammonites into exile.  It will now be their land and produce that are pillaged and plundered, and it will be their capital city and their temples that are torn down and ruined.  Why?  Because they rejoiced at the downfall and destruction of Jerusalem and thought that the inheritance of the LORD's people was something they could steal from them while the LORD's people were in Exile.  The LORD is in control of lands and produce and resources, and He has decided that it is time for the kingdom of Ammon to come to an end (these are the descendants of one of Lot's sons born out of incest, but since they were close relatives of the Jews, the LORD used other nations to effectuate their final destruction).  Notice the promise is not for them to be scattered or to be dispossessed from their land and be wanderers all the rest of their days.  No, the LORD promises total annihilations for them.  Then they (and all the other nations) will learn or remember something about the LORD and will fear Him and will treat His people and His Land of Israel with respect and honor, even if they don't deserve it.