Bible Strands
Ezekiel 25:9
therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Ezekiel delivers this oracle against Moab immediately after God declares that Moab and Seir mocked Judah’s downfall. The prophecy is spoken by the Lord God to the prophet for transmission to the surrounding nations.
The words — The Hebrew phrase כְּתֶף מוֹאָב (keṯep moʾāḇ) translates literally as "the shoulder of Moab," denoting a vulnerable flank or exposed side. The verb פֹתֵחַ (pōṯēaḥ) means "I am about to open," indicating imminent military exposure.
The thread — The frontier cities named here—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—appear in Joshua 13:17, Numbers 32:37, and Jeremiah 48:23 as established Moabite territory. These references trace the geographical and prophetic continuity of Moab’s judgment.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine judgment targets specific, named locations and political arrogance rather than abstract concepts. It requires the reader to acknowledge that prophetic declarations operate through concrete historical geography and sovereign execution.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth–jeshimoth, Baal–meon, and Kiriathaim,
Cross-references
- Joshua 13:17 to Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,
- Jeremiah 48:23 upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,
- Numbers 32:37 The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
- Joshua 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley,
- Numbers 32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
- Numbers 33:49 And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim.
- Joshua 12:3 as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.
- 1 Chronicles 5:8 and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in Aroer and as far as Nebo and Baal-meon.
- Jeremiah 48:1 Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.