Bible Commentaries

Ezekiel 35:1-6. Moreover, the word of the Lord, &c. — “The prophet goes on to show, that the same reason which would operate in favour of the Jews, would not operate in favour of the heathen; especially not in favour of the Jews’ relations, the Edomites: for they showed no mercy, and therefore deserved to receive none; and, because they had perpetual hatred, they were to be made a perpetual desolation.” — Obs. on Books. Set thy face against mount Seir — Mount Seir is the same with Idumea: see Deuteronomy 2:5. I will lay thy cities waste, &c. — To the same effect Jeremiah prophesied against them, Jeremiah 49:7, &c., where see the notes. Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, &c. — See note on Ezekiel 25:12. In the time that their iniquity had an end — That is, either at the time when God exercised against them the last chastisement of their iniquity; or at the time of their extreme affliction, when the anger of God was most inflamed against them. It is the greatest of all cruelties to insult the afflicted, and to add new sorrows to the unhappy: see Calmet. Therefore I will prepare thee unto blood — I will expose thee to great slaughter. Since thou hast not hated blood, &c. — Since thou hast loved cruelty, and taken delight in shedding blood, vengeance and slaughter shall pursue thee, and thou shalt fall into the hands of those that will be as eager to shed thine.

Ezekiel 35:7-12. Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate — Hebrew, לשׁממה ושׁממה, a desolation and a desolation, or, a desolation and an astonishment, as Bishop Newton renders it, following the reading of several MSS. And cut off from it him that passeth out, &c. — No travellers shall go forward or backward in it with safety: see the margin. And thy cities shall not return — Thy cities shall not be restored to thee again. This was exactly fulfilled; for the Nabatheans having driven the Edomites out of their ancient habitations, in the time of the Babylonish captivity, they settled themselves in the southern part of Judea, where they were afterward conquered by Hyrcanus, and obliged to embrace the Jewish religion, and so became at length incorporated with that nation. — Dr. Prideaux. Because thou hast said, These two nations, &c., shall be mine — The two nations and countries here spoken of mean the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The Edomites had settled themselves in part of Judea, and hoped to have got possession both of the land of Judah and the land of Israel in time. The Ammonites had the same design, as appears from Jeremiah 49:1. Whereas, or although, the Lord was there — Was still with his ancient people, and had not yet entirely abandoned them, or withdrawn his protection from their country, and given it up to be laid waste. These Edomites, it seems, did not believe that God had placed his name in Judea, had chosen it for the place of his peculiar residence, and would never quite relinquish his property in it. Therefore I will even do according to thine anger — As thou out of anger and envy didst hurt them, so will I hurt thee. I will make myself known among them — I will make my people see that I have not quite cast them off, by the punishments I will bring upon thee on account of the evil thou hast done to them. And thou shalt know that I am the Lord — Thou shalt then be convinced that I am the sovereign Lord of all things.

Ezekiel 35:13-15. With your mouth ye have boasted against me — As if I were not able to make good my promises toward my people, or to assert my right in Judea. When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate — When I shall restore other countries, conquered by the king of Babylon, to their former prosperity, thou shalt still lie waste and desolate. The Edomites never recovered their country after the Nabatheans had expelled them out of it. Thou shalt be desolate, all Idumea — The expression is like that of Isaiah, whole Palestina, Isaiah 14:29; that is, all the several tribes and divisions of it. We learn from Psalms 137:7, that the Edomites exulted greatly at the fall of Jerusalem, and gave all the encouragement they could to its destroyers. The punishments inflicted on them may teach us that God is displeased with and punishes those who have no pity on the miserable, and who take pleasure in doing evil to others.