worshippers. Thus they were guilty of blasphemy against the Lord God. 2. &ulta-- tion in the miseries of others with cruel animosity. "Thou hast rejoiced with all the despite of thy soul against the land of Israel" (ver. 6). They rejoiced" with the soul, with passion, therefore with the whole heart's contempt of which" they were capable. 'l'hey triumphed with revolting malignity. 3. &ultaticm, in the miseries of others with cruel animo.iity in t1,nrestrained ezpression. "Thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet," etc. (ver. 6). Their bitter rejoicing knew no bounds of moderation or even of common decency. Such was their grievous and inhuman sin. II. A DEOLARA TION OF THE PUNISHMENT OF THE AMMONITES. 1. Their land should be given to others. "Therefore, behold, I will deliver thee to the children of the east for a possession, and they shall set their encampments in thee, and make their dwellings in thee; they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk." In the fifth year after the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar made war against the Ammonites, and brought them under subjection (Josephus, 'Ant.,' x. 9. 7). "After this the la:cd was subjected to various masters." But at length it fell to the Arabians, who are spoken of by the prophet as " the children of the east." This was a common designation of the wandering tribes of the desert (cf. Judg. vi. 3). "They encamp now periodically in the land of Ammon. They have continued to do so for centuries. They, and they only, eat up the fruits of the land." Thus the children of Ammon, who had exulted iu the expatriation of Israel and Judah, were despoiled of their own country. 2. Their metropolis should become a desolat-im. "And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the children of Ammon a couching-place for flocks." When thisjudgment was fulfilled we know not. But that it has been fulfilled is placed beyond dispute by the ruins of what was once a flourishing city. That city entered upon an era of marked prosperity under Egyptian rule. It was rebuilt or restored by Ptolemy Philadelphus, and was called.Philadelphia, after his name. It existed for some centuries afterward with varying fortunes. "As far down as the fourth century (of the Christian era) it was esteemed one of the most remarkable and strongest cities of the whole of Ccele-Syria." .A.nd now amidst its ruins may be traced the remains of a magnificent theatre, an ancient castle, temples, mo.usoleum, and other buildings. The doom has been fulfilled, and Rabbah, "the populous" (as the name signifies), is now a desolation and without an inhabitant, Dr. Kitto brings forward several witnesses to the fulfil- ment of the word of the Lord by the prophet in ver. 5. "Dr. Keith, in the last edition of his 'Evidence from Prophecy,' states that Lord Claud Hamilton told him that 'while he was traversing the ruins of the city the number of goats and sheep which were driven in among them was exceedingly annoying, however remarkable as fulfilling the prophecies.' Lord Lindsay found bones and skulls of camels mouldering in the area of the theatre, and in the vaulted galleries of this immeuse structure. He says, ' The valley stinks with dead camels, one of which was rolling in the stream ; and although we saw none among the ruins, they were absolutely covered in every direction with their dung. That morning's ride would have convinced a sceptic. How says the prophecy ? "I will make Rabbah a stable for camels."' He adtl11, ' We met sheep and goats by thousands, and camels by hundreds, coming down to drink, all in beautiful condition.' Mr. George Robinson also testifies,' The space intervening between the river and the western bills is entirely covered with the remains of private buildings, now only used as stables for camels and sheep. There is not a single inhabitant remaining: thus realizing the prophecy respecting this devoted city.' These testimoni11ls have occurred since attention h11s been called to the subject of the literal fulfilment of local prophecies. We add that of Mr. Buckingham, which is all tho more valuable as being of anterior date. He halted for the night with a tribe of Arabs which he found encamped among- the ruins, in a hollow behind the top of the theatre. Next morning be writes in his journal, 'During the night I was almost entirely prevented from sleeping by the bleating of flocks, the neighing of mares, and the barking of dogs.'" Thus literally and minutely has the prediction of the prophet been accomplished. 3. Their existence as a people would be terminated. "Therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the nations; and I will cut thee off from the peoples, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee ; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord." 'l'hese expressions indicate utter and total deetn.1ctioq, In this respect the judgmcnt of the Ammonites was more severo than 62 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [011. xxv.1-17,
that pronounced npon Israel. For the latter there was hope and a future; but for the former the prophetic message closes darkly, even as their history has closed. As a tribe the Ammonites "disappear wholly at last in the Arabians." CoNCLUSION. "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: 1md he that is glRd nt calamity shall not be unpunished" (Prov. xvii. 5). "He that maketh ot'i1ers' calamitirs the object of his gladness stirs up God to be the Author of his destruction" (Grcenhill).-W. J.