Visions of the Kingdom: Week 38

Ezekiel 35:1-15: Desolation of Mount Seir

• 35:5 "harbored an ancient hatred" - "vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the LORD," as in 1 Samuel 15.
• 35:6 ledam, wedam, lo dam, wedam - all sound like Edom (red). Here is a simplified transliteration to give you the idea;

  ki le-dam e-es-ka - for blood I will prepare you
  we-dam yir-da-pe-ka - and blood will pursue you
  im lo-dam sa-ne-ta - since not blood you have hated
  we-dam yir-da-pe-ka - and blood will pursue you

• 35:10 "although the LORD was there" - the common pagan belief was that deities belonged to the land, and the utter defeat of Judah meant that the local god had departed. However, God had not departed, and would hold the land for its people to return.
• 35:12 "given to us to devour" - the land was promised to Israel while the earth remains. To proclaim that God had broken His promise was to blaspheme God.
• 35:14 "while the whole earth rejoices" - at the fall of Tyre, the whole earth mourned. At the fall of Edom, the whole earth rejoices.
• 35:15 "Israel became desolate" - so I will do to you.

1. With anger and envy (35:11).
2. With an ancient hatred (35:5).
3. With a desire to take their land (35:10).
4. With rejoicing in Israel’s bloodshed (35:6).
5. By taking advantage of Israel’s troubles and increasing them (35:5).
6. By acting as if God Himself was not present in the land of Israel (35:10).
7. By speaking against and blaspheming the God of Israel (35:12).