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 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.
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.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."