I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels: Rabbah was the capital city of Ammon (see 21.20), and God will allow the nomads to use it as a place for their camels to graze. Translators may make it clear that Rabbah was a city by saying “Rabbah city” or “the city of Rabbah” (Good News Translation). If readers are not familiar with camels, translators may use a descriptive phrase, such as “domestic animals” or “animals for carrying loads.” The Hebrew term for pasture refers to a place where animals can live and graze peacefully.

And the cities of the Ammonites a fold for flocks: Instead of the cities of the Ammonites (similarly Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Moffatt, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), the Hebrew text has simply “the Ammonites,” which refers to the land of the Ammonites. It is better to follow the Hebrew text here by saying “the whole country of Ammon” (Good News Translation), “the land of Ammon” (New Century Version), or just “Ammon” (New International Version, New International Reader’s Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). A fold is a place where flocks, that is, sheep and goats, can rest in safety. The picture of the nomads’ camels, sheep and goats grazing peacefully and securely in the cities and countryside of Ammon illustrates how completely the Ammonites will be annihilated. This clause may be rendered “and the land of Ammon will become a resting place for sheep and goats” (similarly New Century Version).

Then you will know that I am the LORD: God’s actions of judgment against the Ammonites will make them recognize and acknowledge his authority.

A model for verses 3-5 is:

• 3 You were delighted when my Temple was made unclean [or, when enemies made my Temple unfit for me], when the land of Israel was left in ruins, and when the people of Judah went into exile [or, when enemies took the people of Judah captive]. 4 Because you were happy, [therefore] I am letting the tribes [or, people] from the east conquer you and take possession of your land. They will set up their camps among you and make their homes there. They will eat the crops from your fields and drink the milk from your animals. 5 I will make your city Rabbah a place to keep their camels. Yes, all of your land will become places for their animals to rest. Then you will recognize that I am Yahweh.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .