Ezekiel 25:14

By the hand of my people. This phrase suggests that the divine vengeance of Edom should be accomplished by the hand of the Israelites. Some have pointed to a fulfillment of the prediction in the Maccabean age, when John Hyrcanus conquered the Idumaeans (Josephus Antiquities xiii. 9. 1) and compelled them to submit to circumcision as a mark of absorption into the Jewish people. It appears more likely that this portion of the prophecy was designed to meet its fulfillment with reference to God’s plans for the restored kingdom of Israel. This new state would eventually have crushed all enemies (see chs. 38; 39).