Ezekiel 35 Study Notes

35:1-3 Mount Seir was the ancient name for the mountainous regions south of the Dead Sea on both sides of the Rift Valley. The Edomites inhabited the region and displaced the former residents, the Horites (Dt 2:12,22). Mount Seir was the central mountain of the Edomite nation and thus was synonymous with the country of Edom itself (Gn 32:3). In 126 BC Edom was subjugated by John Hyrcanus the Hasmonean. He compelled the Edomites to become Jews (1Macc 5:3,65). King Herod, who sought desperately to kill Jesus as a baby, was himself an Idumean, or Edomite. Edom disappeared following the sixth century AD as Arab nomads, who later became known as Nabateans, overran their territory. Mount Seir is used in this oracle as a foil for “the mountains of Israel” in Ezk 36. Most likely Edom was mentioned here to represent the judgment that God would inflict on all nations who opposed Israel. For Ezekiel’s other oracle against Edom, see 25:12-14. See also Is 34:5-17; 63:1-6; Jr 49:7-22; Am 1:11-12.

35:4 This curse (I will turn your cities into ruins) echoes the covenant curse against Israel for its continual disobedience (Lv 26:31).

35:5 The bitter relations between Israel and Edom began in the womb of Rebekah (Gn 25:22-23) and continued with Jacob’s deception of Isaac for Esau’s blessing (Gn 27). The phrase perpetual hatred occurs elsewhere in the Bible only in 25:15 in reference to the actions of the Philistines. The theological significance of the word hatred (Hb ’ebah) is clear from its use in Gn 3:15 in reference to the perpetual hostility that exists between the serpent and Eve’s descendants. Hatred here refers to the hostility between Jacob and Esau, as their personal rivalry (Gn 27:41) spilled over into a national conflict (Nm 20:14-21; 2Sm 8:13-14). When Nebuchadnezzar leveled Jerusalem, the Edomites stood by clapping their hands with joy at this disaster (Ps 137; Lm 4:21; Jl 3:19; Ob 1-14; Mal 1:2-5).

35:6 Twice it is stated in this verse that blood will pursue the Edomites. This is retribution in kind, as the punishment is commensurate with the crime (Ps 109:17; Mt 7:2; 26:52). “Disaster,” “blood,” and “Edom” sound similar in Hebrew and are thus interrelated in the passage.

35:7-9 Edom would not only be destroyed but would be a perpetual desolation.

35:10-13 This expression (I will treat you according to) indicates that punishment should be commensurate with the crime. It came to be known as the (Lat) lex talionis. The concept can be seen in principle in texts such as Gn 9:6: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed.” In Ex 21 we learn that the compensation had to fit the damage when a person accidentally injured a pregnant woman. The principle cited in the text is: “Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound” (Ex 21:23-25). Simply put, the punishment should fit the crime. This guards against excessive punishment for a wrong committed. It also guards against personal revenge, which rarely matches the crime. As for Edom, her punishment will fit her crime.

35:14-15 As Edom rejoiced over Judah’s fall (Ob 12), so the world would later rejoice over Edom’s fall. When God restores Israel’s fortunes in the future, he will judge the other nations of the world based on their treatment of Israel (Gn 12:1-3; Mt 25:31-46). Edom declined steadily under Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and finally Roman rule. In the time of Roman rule it was designated as the region of Idumea. During the time between the Testaments, an Arabic people, the Nabateans, occupied Edom. They made Petra their capital.