Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 25:2

"Son of man, set thy face toward the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them:" — Ezekiel 25:2 (ASV)

Set your face against the Ammonites. —It has already been mentioned that the pronouncements against the four neighboring nations of Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia are all contained in one prophecy. This prophecy was evidently spoken after the fall of Jerusalem and, consequently, after the date of Ezekiel 26:1. The Ammonites, descended from Lot’s incest with his younger daughter, had been persistent enemies of Israel for centuries.

They had joined the Moabites in their oppression of Israel under Eglon (Judges 3:13), and in a later attack, they were subdued by Jephthah (Judges 11:32–33). They fought with extreme cruelty and insolence against Saul (1 Samuel 11:2–11). They also insulted and waged war against David (2 Samuel 10:1–6) and were utterly crushed by him (2 Samuel 12:31).

Their idolatries were favored by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7). Uniting with Moab and Edom, they attacked Judah under Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:1–25) but utterly failed and were tributary to his descendant, Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:8). Again, they fought with Jotham and were reduced by him to heavy tribute (2 Chronicles 27:5). Not long before this time, they had occupied the vacant cities of Gad (Jeremiah 49:1).

At this time, they had joined Nebuchadnezzar’s army against Judah (2 Kings 24:2). From Ezekiel 25:3, it appears that their hostility arose not only from national jealousy but also from a special hatred against the Jewish religion . They are the frequent subject of prophetic denunciation (Isaiah 11:14; Jeremiah 49:1–6; Amos 1:13–15; Zephaniah 2:8–11).