Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 21:20

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

20. On Rabbah cf. Eze 25:5.

in Jerusalem ] unto Jerus. For “the defenced” LXX. reads: “in the midst of it,” i.e. of Judah.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

This royal city of the Ammonites, it seems, the king of Babylon had a quarrel with, as well as with Jerusalem, and he was resolved, when he came out of Babylon, to set upon one of them. There were two or three cities of this name Rabba, or Rabbath; one in the tribe of Judah, one in Issachar, one in Moab; but this in the text is distinguished by Rabbath of the Ammonites.

The Ammonites were the children of Lots daughter by incestuous mixture.

To Judah i.e. the Jews, the land for the people of the land. In Jerusalem; particularly against Jerusalem, whose fortifications do now as little discourage as they shall ere long hinder Nebuchadnezzar from taking the city and destroying it

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

20. Rabbath of theAmmonitesdistinct from Rabbah in Judah (2Sa12:26). Rabbath is put first, as it was from her that Jerusalem,that doomed city, had borrowed many of her idols.

to Judah in Jerusaleminsteadof simply putting “Jerusalem,” to imply the sword was tocome not merely to Judah, but to its people within Jerusalem,defended though it was; its defenses on which the Jews relied so muchwould not keep the foe out.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Appoint a way,…. Mark out a way, describe a road, draw one out upon the ground, or point out one upon a table, or tile:

that the sword may come; in which the sword will come; or those that kill with the sword, as the Targum, even the Chaldean army under Nebuchadnezzar:

to Rabbath of the Ammonites; which was the metropolis of the Ammonites, and is now called Philadelphia, as Jerom writes; it is so called, to distinguish it from others of the same name; see 2Sa 12:26:

and to Judah in Jerusalem, the defenced city; which was so both by nature and art; it had mountains round about it, and had been fortified by several kings from the time of David, as Solomon, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. Judah is said to be in it; though it would seem more properly that Jerusalem was in Judah, because that people from all parts of Judah, upon hearing of the king of Babylon’s intention and near approach to invade their land, fled to Jerusalem, being a fortified place, for security. Now the prophet is bid to describe a way hither; not that one and the same way led to Rabbath and Jerusalem; but he was to describe a way from the place where Nebuchadnezzar stopped, which led to Rabbath, and another which led to Jerusalem.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

20. Rabbath (R.V., “Rabbah”) was the capital of the Ammonites (Amo 1:14), later called Philadelphia. (See also Eze 25:5.) The king can hardly decide whether to first carry his arms against this city or Jerusalem, but the magic arrow settles the question.

In Jerusalem the defensed LXX., and Jerusalem in her midst.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments