3. most desolate—literally, "desolation and desolateness" ( :-, &c.). It is only in their national character of foes to God's people, that the Edomites are to be utterly destroyed. A remnant of Edom, as of the other heathen, is to be "called by the name of God" (Amos 9:12). read more
5. perpetual hatred— (Psalms 137:7; Amos 1:11; Obadiah 1:10-16). Edom perpetuated the hereditary hatred derived from Esau against Jacob. shed the blood of, c.—The literal translation is better. "Thou hast poured out the children of Israel" namely, like water. So Psalms 22:14; Psalms 63:10, Margin; Psalms 63:10- :. Compare 2 Samuel 14:14. by the force of the sword—literally, "by" or "upon the hands of the sword"; the sword being personified as a devourer whose "hands" were the instruments of... read more
6. I will prepare thee unto blood—I will expose thee to slaughter. sith—old English for "seeing that" or "since." thou hast not hated blood—The Hebrew order is, "thou hast hated not—blood"; that is, thou couldst not bear to live without bloodshed [GROTIUS]. There is a play on similar sounds in the Hebrew; Edom resembling dam, the Hebrew for "blood"; as "Edom" means "red," the transition to "blood" is easy. Edom, akin to blood in name, so also in nature and acts; "blood therefore shall pursue... read more
7. cut off . . . him that passeth—that is, every passer to and fro; "the highways shall be unoccupied" (Ezekiel 29:11; Judges 5:6). read more
9. shall not return—to their former state (Ezekiel 16:55); shall not be restored. The Hebrew text (Chetib) reads, "shall not be inhabited" (compare Ezekiel 26:20; Malachi 1:3; Malachi 1:4). read more
The Lord directed Ezekiel to prophesy about Mount Seir (Edom, Genesis 32:3; Genesis 36:8), to "set your face against" it. The first use of the expression "set your face against" in this book occurs in a prophecy against the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 6:2). Why did God refer to Edom as "Mount Seir" when in the oracle against Edom in Ezekiel 25:12-14 He simply called it "Edom?" Apparently He did so to highlight the contrasts between the mountains of Edom and the mountains of Israel, which He... read more
3. Preparation of the Promised Land 35:1-36:15"Each of the next four speeches elaborates an aspect of the peace covenant. Ezekiel 35:1 to Ezekiel 36:15 describes how the foreign plundering nations would be removed and judged in preparation for Israel’s return to her own land. The message in Ezekiel 36:16 to Ezekiel 37:14 provides a beautiful and descriptive account of God’s restoration of Israel to her land. Ezekiel 37:15-28 stresses the full reunion of the nation and the fulfillment of her... read more
Yahweh announced that He was opposed to Mount Seir (cf. Ezekiel 36:9), would stretch out His hand in judgment against it (cf. Ezekiel 6:14), and would turn it into a desolate waste. He would destroy its cities (cf. Ezekiel 36:10), and the Edomites would learn that He is God. read more
He would do this because the Edomites had been enemies of the Israelites throughout their history (cf. Ezekiel 25:12; Genesis 12:3). Furthermore, they had not helped their brethren Israelites in the time of their calamity, the time when God was punishing Israel, but had turned them over to their enemy, the Babylonians (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:10; Psalms 137:7; Lamentations 4:21-22). read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 35:2
2. Mount Seir—that is, Idumea (Genesis 36:9). Singled out as badly pre-eminent in its bitterness against God's people, to represent all their enemies everywhere and in all ages. So in Isaiah 34:5; Isaiah 63:1-4, Edom, the region of the greatest enmity towards God's people, is the ideal scene of the final judgments of all God's foes. "Seir" means "shaggy," alluding to its rugged hills and forests. read more