Ezekiel 35

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 35

1¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,

3And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I [am] against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.

4I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.

5Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed [the blood of] the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time [that their] iniquity [had] an end:

6Therefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.

7Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.

8And I will fill his mountains with his slain [men]: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.

9I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

10¶ Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:

11Therefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.

12And thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD, [and that] I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.

13Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard [them].

14Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.

15As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, [even] all of it: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel, commanding him to prophesy against Mount Seir. God declared His opposition to Seir, vowing to make it utterly desolate due to its perpetual hatred and shedding of Israelite blood during their time of calamity. Furthermore, Seir's desire to possess Israel's land and its blasphemies against God would result in its complete and perpetual ruin, so that they might know the LORD.

Medium Summary

Ezekiel was commanded to set his face against Mount Seir and prophesy God's judgment upon it. The LORD declared His intention to make Seir most desolate, laying its cities waste and filling its mountains with the slain. This severe judgment was a consequence of Seir's perpetual hatred towards the children of Israel, its shedding of their blood during their time of affliction, and its rejoicing in their desolation. Moreover, Seir had presumptuously claimed Israel's land for itself, despite the LORD's presence there, and had blasphemed against the mountains of Israel. Therefore, God vowed to act according to Seir's anger and envy, ensuring its perpetual desolation, so that all Idumea would know that He is the LORD. As Seir rejoiced in Israel's desolation, so too would it become desolate.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the divine command to the prophet Ezekiel, instructing him to direct his prophecy against Mount Seir. The LORD explicitly states His opposition to Seir, declaring His intention to stretch out His hand against it and render it utterly desolate. Its cities would be laid waste, and its inhabitants cut off, with its mountains, hills, valleys, and rivers filled with those slain by the sword. This severe judgment stemmed from Seir's deep-seated and "perpetual hatred" towards the children of Israel. During Israel's time of calamity, when their iniquity had reached its end, Seir had actively shed their blood by the sword and rejoiced in their suffering. The LORD further condemned Seir for its covetous declaration, stating its intent to possess Israel's two nations and countries, despite the LORD's presence there. Seir's blasphemies against the mountains of Israel, boasting that they were laid desolate and given to them to consume, also provoked divine wrath. The LORD heard these boasts and multiplied words against Him. Therefore, God vowed to act according to Seir's own anger and envy, making Himself known through judgment. As Seir had rejoiced at the desolation of the house of Israel, so too would Mount Seir and all Idumea be made desolate. The repeated declaration, "ye shall know that I am the LORD," underscores the ultimate purpose of these judgments: to reveal God's sovereignty and justice to all nations.

Core Concepts

  • Divine JudgmentThe LORD's authoritative pronouncement of severe punishment against Mount Seir for its transgressions. The judgment includes desolation, destruction of cities, and the slaying of its inhabitants.
  • Mount Seir/EdomThe specific target of God's prophecy, representing the nation of Edom, historically known for its animosity towards Israel. It is depicted as a land destined for utter ruin.
  • Perpetual HatredA key charge against Mount Seir, highlighting its long-standing and unceasing animosity towards the children of Israel, which manifested in violence and rejoicing at their misfortune.
  • Rejoicing in CalamitySeir's sin of taking pleasure in the desolation and suffering of the house of Israel, which God promises to reciprocate by making Seir itself desolate.
  • Coveting Israel's LandThe ambition of Mount Seir to possess the inheritance of Israel, claiming it for themselves despite God's presence and covenant with His people.
  • Blasphemy Against IsraelSeir's verbal boasts and multiplied words against the mountains of Israel, which God interpreted as blasphemy against Himself, as He was present among them.
  • Knowledge of the LORDA recurring theme, emphasizing that through these judgments, Mount Seir and all nations will come to understand and acknowledge the sovereignty, justice, and power of the LORD.