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A Prophecy against Mount Seir
Ezekiel 35:1–15 is a prophecy against Mount Seir. Yahweh speaks against long-standing hostility, grasping claims over Israel’s land, and insulting words spoken against Israel and against himself.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh tells Ezekiel to set his face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it. The message explains why judgement is coming, saying that Mount Seir will know that Yahweh is Yahweh, that Yahweh will make himself known among them when he judges, and that they will know that he is Yahweh.
Ezekiel 35:1–15Main takeaway
This prophecy teaches that Yahweh hears Mount Seir’s insulting and proud speech, and that he judges its hostility, hatred, envy, and rejoicing over Israel’s desolation.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A direct word against Mount SeirThe passage opens with Yahweh’s word coming to Ezekiel and a command to prophesy against Mount Seir.
Explanation
The passage opens with Yahweh’s word coming to Ezekiel and a command to prophesy against Mount Seir. Yahweh declares, “I am against you”, then announces desolation, astonishment, and ruined cities. The stated result is specific: Mount Seir will know that Yahweh is Yahweh.
02Judgement for perpetual hostilityYahweh explains the charge. Mount Seir had “perpetual hostility” and gave the children of Israel over to the sword in their calamity.
Explanation
Yahweh explains the charge. Mount Seir had “perpetual hostility” and gave the children of Israel over to the sword in their calamity. The response is severe judgement language: blood will pursue Mount Seir, and the land will become an astonishment and desolation, with the same refrain that it will know Yahweh.
03Claiming the land with anger and envyThe prophecy then turns to Mount Seir’s claim, “These two nations and these two countries will be mine.”
Explanation
The prophecy then turns to Mount Seir’s claim, “These two nations and these two countries will be mine.” The statement is challenged by the words “although Yahweh was there”. Yahweh says he will act according to Mount Seir’s anger, envy, and hatred, and will make himself known among them when he judges.
04Insults heard and answeredThe closing verses stress speech and attitude. Yahweh says he has heard the insults spoken against the mountains of Israel and the multiplied words spoken against him.
Explanation
The closing verses stress speech and attitude. Yahweh says he has heard the insults spoken against the mountains of Israel and the multiplied words spoken against him. Mount Seir rejoiced over Israel’s desolation, so desolation will come upon Mount Seir and all Edom. Then they will know that Yahweh is Yahweh.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does Yahweh give for judging Mount Seir?
Gather the passage’s own reasons: perpetual hostility, giving Israel over to the sword, claiming the lands, speaking insults, and rejoicing over Israel’s desolation.
02Who is said to know Yahweh through this judgement?
Notice the exact wording in each part: twice “you will know”, then Yahweh says he will make himself known among them, and finally “they will know”.
03How does the passage connect speech with accountability before Yahweh?
Trace what Mount Seir said about possession, the insults against Israel’s mountains, and Yahweh’s statement that he has heard those words.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 35:1–15
1Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
3and tell it, ‘The Lord Yahweh 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.
4I will lay your cities waste, and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
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,
6therefore, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will prepare you for blood, and blood will pursue you. Since you have not hated blood, therefore blood will pursue you.
7Thus I will make Mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation. I will cut off from it him who passes through and him who returns.
8I 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.
9I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
10“ ‘ “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries will be mine, and we will possess it,’ although Yahweh was there,
11therefore, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “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.
12You will know that I, Yahweh, 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.’
13You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me. I have heard it.”
14The Lord Yahweh says: “When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.
15As 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 Yahweh.’ ”