The past couple of blog entries have focused on Isaiah 11:11-16, one of the most important passages in Bible prophecy. Thursday’s entry focused on the desert highway that the redeemed, remnant of Israel located in Egypt and Assyria shall travel on as they head back to Israel while Friday’s entry focused on finding the specific time when the remnant of Israel shall be gathered from around the world. Today’s blog post will begin a multipart series on perhaps the most important verse of Isaiah 11:11-16: Isaiah 11:14.
Isaiah 11:14 is perhaps the most important verse of Isaiah 11:11-16 since it provides an overview of what Israel (they) will do to the Edomites, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines in the future.
- Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
I’ve had extreme difficulty understanding Isaiah 11:14 for the past few years because I’ve been unsure when the events described in verse 14 will happen and unsure whether Israel will deal with the Philistines at the same time they will deal with the Edomites, Moabites, and the Ammonites. It’s important to understand these issues because many passages in the Bible deal with the annihilation of the nations listed in Isaiah 11:14. For instance, Zephaniah 2:5-9 promises that the land of the Philistines, Moab, and Ammon will be destroyed by God and that the remnant of Israel will take over their respective territories in the future.
- Zep 2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
- Zep 2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
- Zep 2:7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
- Zep 2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
- Zep 2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
I believe I’ve made enough progress in understanding these issues that I can comfortably share my thoughts with you on them. However, I cannot provide a complete analysis on the fate of Edom, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia in just one blog entry because there would be too much to read in one sitting. As a consequence, I’ll cover Edom, Moab, and Ammon in this blog post and save my analysis on the fate of the Philistines in a future blog post (probably the next one).
Israel vs. Edom, Moab, Ammon
The first prophecy regarding what Israel will do to Edom, Moab, and Ammon in the future is found in the Book of Numbers. Numbers 24:17-19 is a Messianic prophecy which predicts that the Messiah (Christ) will lead Israel’s effort to destroy Moab and take possession of Edom.
- Num 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
- Num 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
- Num 24:19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
There is no doubt that Edom, Moab, and Ammon are going to be dealt with harshly in the future. However, a key question is “when will Israel deal with Edom, Moab, and Ammon?”
The search for an answer begins with Ezekiel 35. Ezekiel 35:9, 14-15 pinpoints the ultimate destruction of Edom at the time when the “whole earth rejoiceth”.
- Eze 35:9 I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
- Eze 35:14 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
- Eze 35:15 As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
I searched throughout the Bible for a passage that hints at the specific time when the world will rejoice. If we can find the time when the “whole earth rejoiceth” we will know when Edom, Moab, and Ammon will be destroyed… I found only one passage that mentions the world rejoicing: Isaiah 14:5-8.
- Isa 14:5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.
- Isa 14:6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
- Isa 14:7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
- Isa 14:8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.
Verse 14:5-8 suggests that the whole earth will “break forth into singing” or rejoice after the “Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers”. In other words, the world will rejoice after evil’s defeat at the Battle of Armageddon. The Edomites, the Ammonites, and the Moabites won't rejoice because they will be overwhelmed by the remnant of Israel.
Another way to demonstrate that Israel will deal with Moab, Ammon, and Edom after the Battle of Armageddon is to look at Ezekiel 39:10. Ezekiel 39:10 reveals that Israel is going to “spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them” while they are cleaning up the land from the Battle of Armageddon.
- Eze 39:8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
- Eze 39:9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
- Eze 39:10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
Isaiah 11:14 mentions that Israel shall spoil those located east of them: Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
- Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Where to Find Details of Israel’s Offensive
I believe Israel’s attack on Moab, Edom, and Ammon is described in detail by Jeremiah in chapters 48 and 49. Here is a brief overview of the evidence that supports my belief.
Moab
Verse 48:45-46 provides evidence that Israel is the aggressor against Moab in Jeremiah 48. Verse 48:45-46’s description of the attack on Moab is almost exactly the same description found in Numbers 21:28-29's commemoration of the Israelites’ attack on Moab hundreds of years before Jeremiah 48 was written.
- Jer 48:45 They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
- Jer 48:46 Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
- Num 21:28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
- Num 21:29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.
The resemblance is unlikely a mistake…
Ammon
Verse 49:1-2 provides evidence that Israel is the aggressor against Ammon in Jeremiah 49. The passage states that Israel will inherit Ammon immediately after it is destroyed, which is consistent with other verses (like Zephaniah 2:9) that prophesize that Israel will take possession of Ammon.
- Jer 49:1 Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?
- Jer 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.
- Zep 2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
Edom
Finally, verse 49:8-10 provides evidence that Israel is the aggressor against Edom in Jeremiah 49. Verse 49:8-10’s description of the destruction that the aggressor inflicts on Edom parallels the future destruction of Edom described in Obadiah 1:5-6.
- Jer 49:8 Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.
- Jer 49:9 If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
- Jer 49:10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.
- Oba 1:5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?
- Oba 1:6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!
The aggressor against Edom in Obadiah is Israel.
- Oba 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.
Like with my first two blog posts on Isaiah 11, what I’ve presented is just preliminary stuff. My thinking on Isaiah 11:14 can change if someone finds a way to disprove the scenario I’ve laid out or if I find a way to disprove it. Feel free to disprove it if you can.
- Other verses or chapters that likely deal with the destruction of Edom, Moab, and/or Ammon include: Amos 1:11-2:3, Isaiah 63:1-6, Habakkuk chapter 3, Joel 3:19, Obadiah, Malachi chapter 1, Isaiah 34:6-17, Jeremiah 25, Lamentations 4:22, Isaiah 16, and Ezekiel 25.
