Ezekiel 35 - Introduction

Chapter 35 The Denunciation of Edom.

The question must be asked as to why the denunciation of Mount Seir (Edom) is found in the midst of these Chapter s about deliverance? The answer must lie in the fact that it is in deliberate contrast with Israel's fate and restoration. Note how ‘Mount Seir' (the mountain range of Edom) is in contrast with ‘the mountains of Israel', the mountain backbone of Israel (Ezekiel 35:3; Ezekiel 35:7; Ezekiel 35:15; with Ezekiel 35:12; Ezekiel 36:8. Also compare Ezekiel 35:8 with Ezekiel 36:6). And how ‘Behold I am against you, O Mount Seir' (Ezekiel 35:3) contrasts with, ‘O mountains of Israel, -- behold I am for you and I will turn to you' (Ezekiel 36:8).

Furthermore Ezekiel 36:1 are directly connected with chapter 35 by the fact that ‘the word of Yahweh came to me saying' (Ezekiel's way of dividing the oracles) occurs only in Ezekiel 35:1 and then in Ezekiel 36:16. The whole was seen as one oracle.

While the blessing of Yahweh will come on His people, it will be accompanied by judgment on others who have despised His people. And Edom as the bitterest enemy of Israel were selected for the contrast, partly because they shared a similar situation to Judah in their connection with the Jordan rift and its surrounding mountains, and largely because their betrayal was most recently in mind. And even more because they thought that they could take possession of Yahweh's land which He had given to His people. It demonstrated that it was always dangerous to meddle with the people of God even when they also were under chastening.

The despicable behaviour of Edom during and after the invasion, in that they turned back fleeing refugees to the swords of the Babylonians, probably to earn the commendation of Nebuchadnezzar and so that they could possess the land, and then later plundered the suffering land as a result, was still warm in the memory and merited their being especially remembered in this way. It is a stark warning that when God is blessing not all will receive the blessing. God blesses His own and punishes their enemies. Their enemies will reap what they have sown, especially when they have been so vindictive. For God is the God of all nations and is not to be thwarted by any.