Reading the Bible in Historical Sequence Part 9Isampula

In Egypt, the Jews worship ‘the Queen of Heaven’. Ezekiel speaks from Babylon against their false shepherds and presents the Lord as the true Shepherd restoring His flock in a new kingdom. He tells of punishment for Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia for celebrating Jerusalem’s fall. A psalmist mourns its loss.

Note 1 (Ezekiel 25:12–14, Psalm 137:7): God condemns Edom, sometimes called Mt. Seir, which was populated by Esau’s descendants. They are part of the present day Palestinians. Edom has always been very anti-Israel – rejoicing over Judah’s misfortunes. They have always had designs on ‘these two nations’ (Judah and Israel Ezekiel 35:10). Edom had been condemned previously by Obadiah c.848 BC. Around 500 BC Nabatean Arabs dislodged the Edomites from their territory and made them withdraw to Idumea, southwest of the Dead Sea.

Note 2 (Psalm 137): The ‘rivers of Babylon’ were canals built by the exiles. They were forced to entertain and then they hung their harps on willows at their labor camp. Young children were brutally killed by the Babylonians (vv.8–9).