Ezekiel 21:20

Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

Appoint {H7760} a way {H1870}, that the sword {H2719} may come {H935} to Rabbath {H7237} of the Ammonites {H1121}{H5983}, and to Judah {H3063} in Jerusalem {H3389} the defenced {H1219}.

Make a road, so that the sword can come to Rabbah of the people of 'Amon and to Y'hudah in fortified Yerushalayim.

Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem.

Thou shalt appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.

Ezekiel 21:20 is part of a powerful prophetic oracle known as "The Sword of the Lord," where God reveals His impending judgment through the instrument of the Babylonian army. This particular verse highlights the impartiality and precision of God's divine justice, directing the path of destruction to specific targets.

Context of Ezekiel 21:20

Chapter 21 of Ezekiel is a dramatic prophecy delivered to the prophet during the Babylonian exile. It graphically depicts God's judgment against both the land of Israel and surrounding nations. In the verses immediately preceding Ezekiel 21:20, God instructs Ezekiel to portray the King of Babylon standing at a crossroads, using divination to decide which path to take for his invasion. The choice is between attacking Rabbath of the Ammonites or Jerusalem of Judah. Verse 20 reveals God's sovereign hand in "appointing a way" for the invading "sword" to strike both, though not necessarily simultaneously or with the same immediate severity. Historically, Nebuchadnezzar's forces did indeed besiege Jerusalem multiple times, leading to its destruction, and also dealt with the Ammonites.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: The phrase "Appoint a way" underscores that God is ultimately in control of historical events, even the movements of pagan armies. The Babylonian king's choices were ultimately guided by God's overarching plan for judgment.
  • Impartiality of God's Justice: The "sword" (representing war and divine wrath) is directed not only against Judah, God's covenant people who had strayed, but also against Rabbath of the Ammonites, a neighboring nation often hostile to Israel. This demonstrates that God's justice extends to all nations, judging sin wherever it is found. For more on judgment against Ammon, see Ezekiel 25:2-7.
  • The "Sword" as a Metaphor: Throughout Ezekiel 21, the "sword" (Hebrew: chereb) is a recurring, vivid symbol of divine wrath and military conquest. It signifies the devastating power and inevitability of God's judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The word "Appoint" (Hebrew: sim) means to set, place, or establish. It emphasizes God's active role in directing the path of the invading army. It's not a passive observation but an active decree from the Almighty.

Related Scriptures

The prophet Jeremiah also speaks extensively about the Babylonian invasion and the devastation of Jerusalem, as seen in books like Lamentations 2:21, which describes the sword consuming without pity. The concept of God using a foreign nation as an instrument of judgment is also found in Habakkuk 1:6, where He declares He will raise up the "Chaldeans" (Babylonians).

Practical Application

Ezekiel 21:20 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering justice and sovereignty. It teaches us that:

  1. God is in Control: Even amidst chaos and conflict, God's purposes are being fulfilled. No human power or plan can ultimately thwart His will.
  2. Accountability is Universal: Both God's own people and surrounding nations are held accountable for their actions. Sin has consequences, and God's justice is impartial.
  3. Warning and Repentance: The prophecies of judgment are often calls to repentance. Understanding God's readiness to judge should lead to humility and a turning from sin.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Amos 1:14

    But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

  • Jeremiah 49:2

    Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 3:11

    For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead [was] a bedstead of iron; [is] it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits [was] the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

  • Ezekiel 25:5

    And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Psalms 48:12

    Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

  • Psalms 48:13

    Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell [it] to the generation following.

  • Psalms 125:1

    ¶ A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever.

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