Introduction
Contrast between the destiny of Edom and Israel. Ezekiel 35-36
Summary of Ezekiel 35
Edom is condemned for her lust for land. The land of Palestine is promised restoration. The people are promised restoration. During the siege Ezekiel brought judgment against Judah’s oppressors, particularly for the glee with which they would welcome the fall of Jerusalem. Using Edom to represent all the nations. Ezekiel again promises that destruction awaits them. He then consoles Israel with more assurances of the national restoration.
‘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 harboured an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, 6 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.’ Ezekiel 35:1-9
Edom Condemned
The whole chapter has one thought. The Edomites are to be judged for taking, or at least desiring to take possession of God’s land. They were trespassing and would be removed.
God will influence the events of history in order to bring Edom to a close. Being the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, the Edomites were continually the antagonists of Israel. From the time the Israelites came out of Egyptian captivity, to the time of their demise in the destruction of Jerusalem, the Edomites shed the blood of the Israelites, Numbers 20:18.
When Israel was coming to a close with the destruction of Jerusalem, the Edomites murdered many Israelites who escaped from the destruction of Jerusalem and fled toward Edom, read Obadiah. The Edomites rejoiced over the doom of Israel, Obadiah 12. Because they showed no mercy for God’s people, God would show no mercy toward them, James 2:13. Edom as a nation would be terminated from history.
They lived by the sword, and by the sword they would die. They were a cruel race of people. Herod the Great was an Edomite. Centuries after this prophecy of Ezekiel, Herod the Great, and those who descended from Herod, were designated by the Romans to reign over the Jews in Palestine immediately before the birth of Jesus. It was an effort by the Romans to humiliate the Jews who were living in Palestine at the time of the birth of Jesus.
‘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. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ Ezekiel 35:10-15
The desire of Edom
For God to promise the children of Israel their land again. He had to remove the trespassers, Edom. Read the book of Obadiah for the problems between Israel and Edom and what God did about it.
Before the birth of Jacob and Esau, God told Rebekah that there were two nations in her womb, Genesis 25:23. These two nations were the Edomites and Israelites. Israel followed after God, but the Edomites followed after false gods, Obadiah 2.
They followed after the character of their father who was a profane person, Hebrews 12:16. God would render to them that which they had done to others, Romans 12:19. The Edomite nation would be made desolate, but the Jews would be restored to their land.