35:1 The word of the Lord came to me:
Ezekiel was not expressing his personal opinion.
35:2 “Son of man, turn toward Mount Seir, and prophesy against it.
Mount Seir was the living area of Edom. The Edomites descended from Esau. Esau was the twin brother of Jacob (Israel). Esau rejected the messianic blessing and traded it to his brother for a bowl of soup. Esau was not interested in the Messiah being born in his family line. He was interested in the here and now. He raised his family to become a nation of unbelievers. The nation of Edam became perpetual enemies of Israel.
35:3 Say to it, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “ ‘Look, I am against you, Mount Seir; I will stretch out my hand against you and turn you into a desolate ruin.
The nation of Edom dwelt in the mountains of Seir. Jehovah is sovereign over all nations, including the Edomites. Edom was an enemy of Israel and an enemy of God. Therefore, Jehovah is going to stretch His hand against Edom and turn her into a desolation. There will be no Edom in the Millennial Kingdom.
35:4 I will lay waste your cities; and you will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord!
This prediction came to pass first by Nebuchadnezzar and later by John Hyrcanus (126 B.C.). When these Edomite cities were destroyed, then they knew that Jehovah is the Lord. Jehovah may have destroyed these cities, because it was the only way that He could get the attention of the Edomites. Some of the Edomites may have become believers before their physical deaths. There is no trace of Edomites today.
35:5 “ ‘You have shown unrelenting hostility and poured the people of Israel onto the blades of a sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment.
Edom had always showed hostility towards her twin brother. She would not allow Israel to pass through her land. She cheered when Israel was defeated. She killed refuge Jewish soldiers who were seeking safe sanctuary from her enemies.
35:6 Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I will subject you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.
Jehovah is the Living God. The Edomites worshiped lifeless demonic idols. Jehovah is sovereign over all nations, including Edom. Since Edom bloodied up Israel, then Jehovah will bloody up Edom. Edom will receive the kind-for-kind curse of the Abrahamic Covenant.
35:7 I will turn Mount Seir into a desolate ruin; I will cut off from it the one who passes through or returns.
The nation of Edom would be turned into ruins. They are in complete ruins today. Anyone who attempts to live in these cities would be killed by Jehovah Himself. If anyone wants to prove that the Bible is wrong, then they can attempt to live in one of these Edomite cities.
35:8 I will fill its mountains with its dead; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines, those killed by the sword will fall.
Jehovah would fill the Mountains of Sier with dead Edomites.
35:9 I will turn you into a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
There will be no Edomites in the Millennial Kingdom.
35:10 “ ‘You said, “These two nations, these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,”—although the Lord was there—
After the Assyrians and Babylonians defeated Israel and Judah, then the Edomites wanted to annex the land of both Israel and Judah. However, Jehovah was “there” in that land. He would not allow Edom to take the land.
35:11 therefore, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I will deal with you according to your anger, and according to your envy, by which you acted spitefully against them. I will reveal myself to them when I judge you.
Jehovah is the Living God. The Edomites worshiped lifeless demonic idols. Jehovah is sovereign over all nations, including Edom. Edom had more light that the other nations. Edom was the twin brother of Jacob (Israel). Since Edom violated the Abrahamic Covenant, then she would receive a kind-for-kind judgment. Since she had more light, then she would receive greater judgement.
35:12 Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard all the insults you spoke against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are desolate, they have been given to us for food.”
Edom had been speaking insults against Israel. She knew that Israel was desolate. She saw the destruction of Israel and Judah as an opportunity of free land and free food for herself. However, Jehovah had already promised this land to Israel and not Edom. Jehovah heard all off the insults of Edom against Israel. Jehovah was not happy with Edom.
35:13 You exalted yourselves against me with your speech and hurled many insults against me—I have heard them all!
Not only did Edom insult Israel, but she insulted Jehovah as well. Jehovah heard all of these insults and was not happy with Edom.
35:14 This is what the sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will turn you into a desolation. 15 As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so will I deal with you—you will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all of Edom—all of it! Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
Jehovah is sovereign over all nations, including Edom. Since Edom rejoiced over Israel’s destruction, then Jehovah would destroy Edom. All of the nations of the world would rejoice over her destruction. Edom had more light than any other nation in the world (except Israel). For violating the Abrahamic Covenant, she will receive a kind-for-kind judgment.