Ezekiel 35, Mount Seir and Edom

Jerusalem has fallen. Before Ezekiel speaks about a future kingdom and its people, he returns to the subject of an enemy nation, Edom, descendants of Jacob's brother, Esau.

Ezekiel 35: 1-9, Against Seir

The word of the LORD came to me:

"Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir; prophesy against it and say: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste. I will turn your towns into ruins and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

"`Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and cut off from it all who come and go. I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines.   

I will make you desolate forever; your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.   

Seir represents Edom. There is still punishment for Edom. This chapter includes a prophecy about one mountain, Mount Seir, while the next chapter concerns the mountains of Israel. One may view Edom as representing the enemies of Israel and YHWH.

This chapter is intended to be good news for Israel. Its message is that Israel's enemies will eventually be judged and defeated.

Ezekiel 35:10-13, The contemptible things you said

"`Because you have said, "These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them," even though I the LORD was there, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD,  I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. 

Then you will know that I the LORD have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, "They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour." You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.   

The people of Eden have said evil things about the people of Israel. This is not forgotten.

The prophet Obadiah will later issue a specific prophecy, the book of  Obadiah, focused on Edom.

Ezekiel 35:14-15, Desolate

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'" 

This chapter is a sudden intermission, focusing on Edom.