Ezequiel 35
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 35:1-9
35:2 "set your face against" See note at Ezek. 1:3. ▣ "Mount Seir" This refers to the nation of Edom (Ezek. 25:12-14; 32:29; 36:5). No other nation is listed in this context. I am surprised that another judgment against Edom is included. She is already addressed in Ezek. 25:12-14. Edom must have a symbolic connotation. She mocks and attacks YHWH's people, Ezek. 35:5,11, cf. Ps. 137:7; Isa. 63:1-6; Obad. 1:8-19 is prideful (cf. Ezek. 35:10-11), here has arrogant thoughts against YHWH and His people, Ezek. 35:12,13 (Edom had "everlasting enmity," Ezek. 35:5) Moderns must admit that we do not know the reasons and procedures for the editing and compilation of OT books. It is possible that Edom stands for all anti-God human societies (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 957). The concept of "mountain" may be the key to this text. The high plateau of Edom, of which they were so proud, will not save them. As judgment came to the mountains of Israel (i.e. chapter 6), so too, now to the mountains of Edom (cf. Ezek. 35:8,15). As judgment comes to arrogant Edom, blessing will return to the repentant covenant people (i.e. the mountains of Israel, cf. Ezek. 35:12). Special Topic: Edom and Israel. 35:3 "Lord God" This is literally "Adon YHWH." Special Topic: Lord (adon and kurios) Special Topic: Names for Deity, D. ▣ "I will stretch out My hand against you" This is an anthropomorphic idiom of YHWH's ability to act effectively (cf. Ezek. 25:7,13; Jer. 51:25). Special Topic: Hand Special Topic: God Described As Human (anthropomorphism) ▣ "a desolation and a waste" These two parallel terms (cf. Ezek. 35:7) sound alike (i.e. BDB 1031 and BDB 1031) and have the same consonants as "Shammah," a grandson of Edom (BDB 1031, cf. Gen. 36:13,17; 1 Chr. 1:37). Possible meanings are desolation, שׁממה, cf. Ezek. 35:4,7,9,14,15 waste, משׁמה, cf. Ezek. 35:7; 6:14; 33:28,29 a grandson of Edom, שׁמה 35:5 "everlasting enmity" This is a good exaple where the Hebrew term 'olam (everlasting) cannot have an eternal meaning. Judah's judgment was necessary, deserved, complete, but not eternal. Special Topic: Forever ('olam and aiōnios) ▣ "sons of Israel" This is usiing "Israel" in its collective sense. The context is primarily addressing Judah. ▣ "at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end" Notice that these two phrases are parallel. The first obviously refers to the invasion of Judah by Neo-Babylon. The second must refer to the same time, which shows "the end" (BDB 893). Interpreters must be careful of not assigning one meaning to a word or phrase and then using it in every place the word appears. Context determines meaning, not one's systematic eschatology! 35:6 "as I live" This is an oath based on the name of YHWH, the ever-living, only-living, I Am (cf. Exod. 3:14). This is a recurrent idiom in Ezekiel (cf. Ezek. 5:11; 14:16,18,20; 16:48; 17:16,19; 18:3; 20:3,31; 33:11; 34:8; 35:6,11). Special Topic: Names for Deity, D. ▣ "blood" The term (BDB 196) can refer to one's "life force" and if it is spilt, to one's death. It is used four times in this verse. I will give you over to bloodshed bloodshed will pursue you you have not hated bloodshed (i.e. murder) therefore, bloodshed will pursue you (repeated) We reap what we sow (cf. Ezek. 35:11,15). Just a textual note, the LXX changes #3 to "you are guilty of blood," which is followed by RSV, NEB, REB, NJB, but this demands a change of several consonants. The MT makes sense. The UBS Text project, p. 120, suggests that #3 uses "blood" as a reference to Edom's kinsmen, Judah. It, like the NASB, adds the negative "not," which is missing in the MT. It was not Edom's violence (cf. Jer. 49:7-22) but her disregard for kinship that caused YHWH's wrath. 35:7 Mount Seir is an idiom for all the inhabitants of Edom (i.e. v. 15). 35:9 Edom's destruction will be permanent (cf. Mal. 1:2-4, esp. Ezek. 35:4; Jer. 49:13). Edom's permanent destruction was because of her "everlasting enmity" (Ezek. 35:5; and Obadiah)!
Ezequiel 35:10-15
35:10 Edom rejected its required brotherly love for Judah (and Israel, i.e. "two nations") and desired her lands for herself (cf. Ezek. 35:5, 10). The problem is that Judah's land belonged to YHWH (i.e. "the Lord was there"). It was only Judah's by a conditional covenant. YHWH left Judah in chapter 10, but in Ezek. 48:35 the book of Ezekiel ends with "The YHWH is there" (cf. Ps. 132:13,14). Special Topic: Edom and Israel Special Topic: Covenant 35:12 "revilings" NKJV, NJB, REB, LXX, Peshitta "blasphemies" "abusive speech" "with contempt" "taunts" "insults" The NOUN (BDB 611, KB 658) is found only here and Neh. 9:18. The revilings are against "the mountains of Israel," but clearly, in context, it is against Israel's God (cf. Ezek. 35:5,10-11,13). This is why Edom is often seen as a type of all anti-God nations! 35:14 "as all the earth rejoices" This is hyperbolic imagery. The earth, as YHWH's creation, rejoices when His will is done. The earth is affected by humanity's sin (cf. Genesis 3; Rom. 8:19-22). Special Topic: Land, Country, Earth (OT)