Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me ,.... After the prophecy concerning the shepherds of Israel, and the goats of the flock, and of their oppressions of the sheep and lambs, the weak of the flock; and concerning the Messiah, and the blessings of grace promised the church in the latter day; came another concerning the destruction of her enemies, under the name of Seir or Edom: saying : as follows: read more
Son of man set thy face against Mount Seir ,.... Which had its name from Seir the Horite, who first possessed it; and was succeeded in it by Esau and his posterity, the Edomites; see Genesis 36:8 , Deuteronomy 2:12 , so that the country of Edom or Idumea is here intended, and the inhabitants of it; who are put for the enemies of the church and people of God in general, as these were the enemies of Israel and Judah; and particularly for Rome, which, as it was spiritually called Egypt and... read more
And say unto it, thus saith the Lord God ,.... The prophet was not upon the spot, and could not direct his speech immediately to the Edomites; but he might send this prophecy to their ambassadors at Babylon; or in a letter to them in their own land, in the name of the Lord: behold, O Mount Seir, I am against thee : not the face of the prophet only, but the face of God himself was against them; and a terrible thing it is for any to have God to be against them, whether a nation, or a... read more
I will lay thy cities waste ,.... Such as Dedan, Teman, Bozrah, and other cities of Idumea mentioned in Scripture; and figuratively may design all within the jurisdiction of Rome, the several cities of the antichristian states, called "the cities of the nations"; which will fall at the pouring out of the vials, Revelation 16:19 , and thou shalt be desolate ; thoroughly and entirely, and remain so: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord ; that has done all this; that the hand of God... read more
Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred ,.... There was an old grudge and enmity subsisting in the posterity of Esau against the posterity of Jacob, because the latter supplanted the former, and got the birthright and blessing from him; and which was discovered in all ages, and at all opportunities, and on all occasions which offered; and such has been the hatred of the church of Rome against the true professors and followers of Christ, as their bloody persecution of them in all ages have... read more
Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God ,.... The form of an oath; the Lord swears by himself, because he could swear by no greater; and which he never does but in matters of importance, and for the confirmation of them, as the following is: I will prepare thee unto blood ; prepare them for war, which will issue in slaughter and blood, such as the battle at Armageddon, Revelation 16:14 , or, "I will make thee blood" F23 לדם אעשך "in sanguinem redigam te", Munster; "in... read more
Thus will I make Mount Seir most desolate ,.... By shedding the blood of the inhabitants of it; and as Rome will be, when it will be utterly burnt with fire, as that city will, and the flesh of the whore also, and made desolate; and when all the vials shall be poured out on the antichristian states under her jurisdiction, Revelation 16:1 , and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth : every traveller that passeth to and fro; it shall no more be frequented by... read more
And I will fill his mountains with his slain men ,.... Not only Mount Seir, but all the rest of the mountains, in Idumea; where they shall flee for refuge, and the enemy shall pursue them, and slay them; and where their carcasses will fall in such numbers, as to cover the mountains with them; compare with this Revelation 19:18 , in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword : expressive of the greatness and universality of the... read more
I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return ,.... To their former dignity and glory; should not be built and inhabited again, but lie waste for ever: this agrees with what is prophesied of Edom, Malachi 1:4 and will be true of Rome or Babylon when destroyed; it will never rise more, but be like a millstone in the midst of the sea, Revelation 18:21 , and ye shall know that I am the Lord ; See Gill on Ezekiel 35:4 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 35:1-9
Mount Seir was mentioned as partner with Moab in one of the threatenings we had before (Ezek. 25:8); but here it is convicted and condemned by itself, and has woes of its own. The prophet must boldly set his face against Edom, and prophesy particularly against it; for the God of Israel has said, O Mount Seir! I am against thee. Note, Those that have God against them have the word of God against them, and the face of his ministers, nor dare they prophesy any good to them, but evil. The prophet... read more