Single lesson
Ezekiel 35: A Prophecy against Mount Seir
Ezekiel 35:1–15
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Ezekiel 35: A Prophecy against Mount Seir, using two details from the reading. 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.
Welcome: Ezekiel 35: A Prophecy against Mount Seir
5 minIntroduce “A Prophecy against Mount Seir” and locate Ezekiel 35:1–15. 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. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Ezekiel 35:1, Ezekiel 35:8, Ezekiel 35:15
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe 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.
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.
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.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “A Prophecy against Mount Seir”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Ezekiel 35:1, Ezekiel 35:2, Ezekiel 35:3, Ezekiel 35:4, Ezekiel 35:10, Ezekiel 35:11, Ezekiel 35:12, Ezekiel 35:13, Ezekiel 35:14, Ezekiel 35:15
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What reasons does Yahweh give for judging Mount Seir?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. 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. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Ezekiel 35:5, Ezekiel 35:10, Ezekiel 35:12, Ezekiel 35:13, Ezekiel 35:15, Ezekiel 35:4, Ezekiel 35:9, Ezekiel 35:11
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Ezekiel 35: A Prophecy against Mount Seir: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “A Prophecy against Mount Seir” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Ezekiel 35:1, Ezekiel 35:8, Ezekiel 35:15
Closing: return to A Prophecy against Mount Seir
3 minRevisit Ezekiel 35:1–15. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about A Prophecy against Mount Seir and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Ezekiel 35:1, Ezekiel 35:8, Ezekiel 35:15
Questions to explore
What 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.
Ezekiel 35:5, Ezekiel 35:10, Ezekiel 35:12, Ezekiel 35:13, Ezekiel 35:15
Who 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”.
Ezekiel 35:4, Ezekiel 35:9, Ezekiel 35:11, Ezekiel 35:15
How 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.
Ezekiel 35:10, Ezekiel 35:12, Ezekiel 35:13
Make, think or respond
Ezekiel 35: A Prophecy against Mount Seir: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Ezekiel 35:1–15. Use “A Prophecy against Mount Seir” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Ezekiel 35: A Prophecy against Mount Seir connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “A Prophecy against Mount Seir” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Ezekiel 35:1–15. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Ezekiel 35:1–15. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ezekiel 35
1 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
3 and 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.
4 I 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,
6 therefore, 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.
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 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,
11 therefore, 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.
12 You 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.’
13 You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me. I have heard it.”
14 The Lord Yahweh says: “When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.
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 Yahweh.’ ”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.