As in a vision, the prophet sees the cup of God’s wrath (25:15–29). It contains God’s fury, which is associated with sword and destruction (25:16, 27; Isa. 51:17–23; cf. Lam. 4:21; Rev. 18:6). As wine intoxicates and confuses, so will nations gag on this “wine.” God’s people in Judah are the first to drink. The scene of destruction and the resulting aspersions cast on Judah are presumably repeated for the other nations mentioned.

The roster of nations—nations from every point on the compass—begins with Egypt in the south and ends with Babylon to the east. These two were the supe…