Ezekiel 35: Judgment on Edom
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:
Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.
And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the Lord was there:
Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.
And thou shalt know that I am the Lord, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.
Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.
Thus saith the Lord God; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 35 focuses on a prophecy of judgment against Mount Seir, representing the land of Edom. While seemingly out of place amidst prophecies of Israel's restoration, this chapter is crucial. Edom symbolizes all the enemies of Israel, demonstrating that God's restoration of His people includes judging those who opposed them. This is Ezekiel’s second prophecy of judgment on Edom (see Ezekiel 25:12-14), with this passage offering greater detail. God's judgment on Edom underscores His commitment to His chosen people and His justice towards those who mistreat them. This judgment serves as a reminder that God sees and responds to the actions of nations, particularly how they treat His people.
A Declaration of Judgment (Ezekiel 35:1-4)
God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy against Mount Seir, the geographical area inhabited by the Edomites. Despite the close kinship between the Edomites and Israelites, descendants of Esau and Jacob respectively, Mount Seir faces God's judgment. This illustrates that familial ties do not exempt anyone from divine justice. When this judgment falls, God declares that Edom would know that I am the LORD (Ezekiel 35:3-4; see also Ezekiel 35:9, 15). This phrase signifies that through the experience of judgment, Edom would come to recognize God's power and sovereignty.
Perpetual Hatred and Violence (Ezekiel 35:5-9)
The primary reason for Edom's judgment is their deep-seated and persistent hatred towards the Israelites. The Edomites actively participated in the Israelites' downfall, handing them over to the sword during their time of distress (Ezekiel 35:5), acting as allies to the Babylonians in the destruction of Jerusalem. Their actions reveal a malicious intent and a willingness to exploit Israel's vulnerability. Because of Edom's actions, God will destine them for bloodshed, filling Mount Seir with those slain by the sword (Ezekiel 35:6-8). This retributive justice reflects the principle that those who sow violence will reap violence. God keeps a record of the sins of nations, and has a time to visit them for all.
Covetousness and Blasphemy (Ezekiel 35:10-15)
Edom's sin is further aggravated by their covetous desire to seize the lands of Israel and Judah after their fall, even though these lands were promised to the Jews (Ezekiel 35:10). This avarice reveals a deep-seated greed and a disregard for God's promises. They hated God’s people, blasphemed him, rejoiced when he judged the mountains of Israel, and boasted against God (Ezekiel 35:11-13). Their arrogance and contempt for God's people demonstrate a profound lack of reverence. Since Edom rejoiced when Israel was made a desolation, God would make Edom a desolation (Ezekiel 35:14-15). This mirroring of consequences highlights the principle of reaping what one sows. Those that speak contemptuously of God’s church and people do in effect speak contemptuously of God himself. Those that rejoice in the calamities of others, especially of God’s people, shall not go unpunished.
In essence, Ezekiel 35 serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice, His unwavering commitment to His people, and the consequences of hatred, greed, and blasphemy. It is also a caution against rejoicing in the misfortunes of others, especially those who are part of God's family. The prophecy against Edom illustrates that God holds nations accountable for their actions and that those who oppose His people ultimately oppose Him.
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:
Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.
And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the Lord was there:
Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.
And thou shalt know that I am the Lord, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.
Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.
Thus saith the Lord God; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 35 focuses on a prophecy of judgment against Mount Seir, representing the land of Edom. While seemingly out of place amidst prophecies of Israel's restoration, this chapter is crucial. Edom symbolizes all the enemies of Israel, demonstrating that God's restoration of His people includes judging those who opposed them. This is Ezekiel’s second prophecy of judgment on Edom (see Ezekiel 25:12-14), with this passage offering greater detail. God's judgment on Edom underscores His commitment to His chosen people and His justice towards those who mistreat them. This judgment serves as a reminder that God sees and responds to the actions of nations, particularly how they treat His people.
A Declaration of Judgment (Ezekiel 35:1-4)
God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy against Mount Seir, the geographical area inhabited by the Edomites. Despite the close kinship between the Edomites and Israelites, descendants of Esau and Jacob respectively, Mount Seir faces God's judgment. This illustrates that familial ties do not exempt anyone from divine justice. When this judgment falls, God declares that Edom would know that I am the LORD (Ezekiel 35:3-4; see also Ezekiel 35:9, 15). This phrase signifies that through the experience of judgment, Edom would come to recognize God's power and sovereignty.
Perpetual Hatred and Violence (Ezekiel 35:5-9)
The primary reason for Edom's judgment is their deep-seated and persistent hatred towards the Israelites. The Edomites actively participated in the Israelites' downfall, handing them over to the sword during their time of distress (Ezekiel 35:5), acting as allies to the Babylonians in the destruction of Jerusalem. Their actions reveal a malicious intent and a willingness to exploit Israel's vulnerability. Because of Edom's actions, God will destine them for bloodshed, filling Mount Seir with those slain by the sword (Ezekiel 35:6-8). This retributive justice reflects the principle that those who sow violence will reap violence. God keeps a record of the sins of nations, and has a time to visit them for all.
Covetousness and Blasphemy (Ezekiel 35:10-15)
Edom's sin is further aggravated by their covetous desire to seize the lands of Israel and Judah after their fall, even though these lands were promised to the Jews (Ezekiel 35:10). This avarice reveals a deep-seated greed and a disregard for God's promises. They hated God’s people, blasphemed him, rejoiced when he judged the mountains of Israel, and boasted against God (Ezekiel 35:11-13). Their arrogance and contempt for God's people demonstrate a profound lack of reverence. Since Edom rejoiced when Israel was made a desolation, God would make Edom a desolation (Ezekiel 35:14-15). This mirroring of consequences highlights the principle of reaping what one sows. Those that speak contemptuously of God’s church and people do in effect speak contemptuously of God himself. Those that rejoice in the calamities of others, especially of God’s people, shall not go unpunished.
In essence, Ezekiel 35 serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice, His unwavering commitment to His people, and the consequences of hatred, greed, and blasphemy. It is also a caution against rejoicing in the misfortunes of others, especially those who are part of God's family. The prophecy against Edom illustrates that God holds nations accountable for their actions and that those who oppose His people ultimately oppose Him.