Ezekiel 35

1 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
2 "Human, look toward Edom and prophesy against it.
3 Say to it: 'This is what the Lord God says: I am against you, Edom. I will stretch out my hand against you and make you an empty desert.
4 I will destroy your cities, and you will become empty. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
5 "'You have always been an enemy of Israel. You let them be defeated in war when they were in trouble at the time of their final punishment.
6 So the Lord God says, as surely as I live, I will let you be murdered. Murder will chase you. Since you did not hate murdering people, murder will chase you.
7 I will make Edom an empty ruin and destroy everyone who goes in or comes out of it.
8 I will fill its mountains with those who are killed. Those killed in war will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines.
9 I will make you a ruin forever; no one will live in your cities. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
10 "'You said, "These two nations, Israel and Judah, and these two lands will be ours. We will take them for our own." But the Lord was there.
11 So this is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, I will treat you just as you treated them. You were angry and jealous because you hated them. So I will punish you and show the Israelites who I am.
12 Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard all your insults against the mountains of Israel. You said, "They have been ruined. They have been given to us to eat."
13 You have not stopped your proud talk against me. I have heard you.
14 This is what the Lord God says: All the earth will be happy when I make you an empty ruin.
15 You were happy when the land of Israel was ruined, but I will do the same thing to you. Mount Seir and all Edom, you will become an empty ruin. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'"

Ezekiel 35 Commentary

Chapter 35

A prophecy against Edom.

Verses 1-9 All who have God against them, have the word of God against them. Those that have a constant hatred to God and his people, as the carnal mind has, can only expect to be made desolate for ever.

Verses 10-15 When we see the vanity of the world in the disappointments, losses, and crosses, which others meet with, instead of showing ourselves greedy of worldly things, we should sit more loose to them. In the multitude of words, not one is unknown to God; not the most idle word; and the most daring is not above his rebuke. In the destruction of the enemies of the church, God designs his own glory; and we may be sure that he will not come short of his design. And when the fulness of the Jews and Gentiles shall come into the church, all antichristian opposers shall be destroyed.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 35

This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of Edom, which is threatened, Eze 35:1-4, the cause of it, their hatred and slaughter of the Israelites, Eze 35:5-9, their claim of the lands of Israel and Judah for possession, Eze 35:10,11, their blasphemies against the people of God, and the Lord himself, Eze 35:12,13, the aggravation of their ruin, which was irretrievable; that when it was well with others, it should go ill with them; by way of just retaliation, Eze 35:14,15.

Ezekiel 35 Commentaries

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.