Judgment on Mount Seir

Topic: Hostility
Passage: Ezekiel 35:1–15

September 16, 2022

Commentary

In a direct statement of judgment on Edom, God said, I am against you, Mount Seir (vv. 1-4). Seir, Edom’s geographical name, was the mountain range east of the Wadi Arabah south of the Dead Sea. This was the mountainous homeland where the Edomites lived. God would make that people as desolate as their land. Ezekiel’s second section followed in explaining why Edom would be judged (vv. 5-9). Edom’s sin was her enmity against Israel. She had harbored an ancient hostility and hoped to profit from Israel’s loss.

Because Edom had assisted in Israel’s slaughter, God would assist in her slaughter. Four times God referred to bloodshed (v. 6). Edom would suffer the same fate she had tried to inflict on Israel. Many people would be slain and her towns would become desolate, no longer inhabited. Edom also sinned in her desire to possess the land God had promised to Judah and Israel (vv. 10-15). Edom had said those two nations would become her possession. God severely chastised Israel and Judah for their sin, but He never abrogated His promises made to Abraham and his descendants. Edom was trying to usurp Israel’s title deed to the land which had been guaranteed by God.

God’s judgment corresponded to Edom’s guilt: I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them (v. 11). In her boast against God (v. 13) Edom rejoiced when … Israel became desolate. Therefore God would make Edom desolate. Her treatment of Israel determined her own fate. Edom became an object lesson for all nations.

Application

Hostility against God’s Children by Edom resulted in God’s judgment. I always want to make sure I am on the side of Israel as they are God’s chosen people.

Ezekiel 35:1– 15 (NET)

1 The Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn toward Mount Seir, and prophesy against it. 3 Say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Look, I am against you, Mount Seir; I will stretch out my hand against you and turn you into a desolate ruin.

4 I will lay waste your cities, and you will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord!

5 “‘You have shown unrelenting hostility and poured the people of Israel onto the blades of a sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment. 6 Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will subject you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will turn Mount Seir into a desolate ruin; I will cut off from it the one who passes through or returns. 8 I will fill its mountains with its dead; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines, those killed by the sword will fall. 9 I will turn you into a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

10 “‘You said, “These two nations, these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,” (although the Lord was there); 11 therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will deal with you according to your anger and your envy, by which you acted spitefully against them. I will reveal myself to them when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard all the insults you spoke against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are desolate; they have been given to us for food.” 13 You exalted yourselves against me with your speech and hurled many insults against me —I have heard them all! 14 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will turn you into a desolation. 15 As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so will I deal with you—you will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom—all of it! Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”