Ezekiel 35

Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Face. Address, or speak without fearing any man. Worthington.—Seir: Idumea. He speaks of its devastation, both by Nabuchodonosor on the side of Moab, and by the Machabees in what remained. Jeremiah 27:7 and 1 Maccabees 4:60 and 14:33. Calmet.

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3

and tell it, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you. I will make you a desolation and an astonishment.

4

I will lay your cities waste, and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

5

“‘“Because you have had a perpetual hostility, and have given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Enemy. God revenges the injuries done to his Church, as if they were done to himself. Acts 9:4. Worthington.—The enmity of Jacob and of Esau seemed to commence in the womb, and was increased by the purchase of the birth-right, till Jacob’s prudence disarmed his brother. Their descendants sought every opportunity to injure one another. The Idumeans shewed their ill-will particularly, when the Jews were most distressed. This was a piece of the greatest cruelty.

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6

therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will prepare you for blood, and blood will pursue you. Since you have not hated blood, therefore blood will pursue you.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. Blood. The Machabees sprung from the same stock. Pursue the Idumeans, and force them to receive circumcision. 1 Maccabees 4:15.

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7

Thus I will make Mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation. I will cut off from it him who passes through and him who returns.

8

I will fill its mountains with its slain. The slain with the sword will fall in your hills and in your valleys and in all your watercourses.

9

I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 9. Inhabited for a considerable time, as Calmet. 26:20.

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10

“‘“Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries will be mine, and we will possess it,’ although the LORD was there,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 10. Two. I will add the country of the Jews to my own, or will possess the land belonging to the kingdoms of Juda and of Israel. Their hopes were blasted. They never occupied any thing belonging to the Israelites, and what they had taken from Juda, as far as Hebron, was recovered.—There, witness of these designs, and guardian of his temple, and so forth

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11

therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will do according to your anger, and according to your envy which you have shown out of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Wrath. The Jews shall treat you as you have threatened to do unto them.—By them, my people. Septuagint “to thee.”

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12

You will know that I, the LORD, have heard all your insults which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They have been laid desolate. They have been given to us to devour.’

13

You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me. I have heard it.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 13. Derogated. Septuagint “bawled;” or Hebrew “multiplied your words against me,” as if I could not protect my inheritance. Bible.—You would pretend to judge me, and to fathom my designs.

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14

The Lord GOD says: “When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 14. Rejoice. After the captivity, the Machabees shall conquer Edom.

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15

As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 15. As, and so forth is not in the Rom. Septuagint S. Jerom says it was marked with an asterisk, being taken from Theodotion. Calmet.—Grabe supplies to thou shalt. His copy has the rest: … “thou shalt know that I am their Lord.” Bible.

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