Topic(s): Old Testament

Todd Clippard

Before providing an explanation, a little background is in order.

The Edomites were descendants of Esau who lived in the mountainous range on the eastern side of Israel. They were always happy to assist anyone who attacked Israel, and did whatever they could to cause problems for Israel (Numbers 20:14-21; Amos 1:11). In Ezekiel 35:3, Edom is condemned under the name of Mount Seir. In Ezekiel 36:5, they are condemned under the name of Idumea. The Edomites and the Idumeans are one and the same. Incidentally, it was from this corrupt and God-hating lineage that the Herods descended.

Ezekiel was one of the Israelites who was carried away into Babylonian captivity in the second of three "carrying aways" following Jeremiah's prophecy of the seventy year captivity (cf Jeremiah 25:9-12; Daniel 9:2). The first carrying away was in 606 BC, the second in 597 BC, the third in 586 BC (the year of Jerusalem's destruction by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar).

In Ezekiel 35-36, Ezekiel gives the children of Israel some encouraging news: Edom (Esau) will be punished for his persecution of "his brother" (Jacob or Israel, cf Amos 1:11). Also, the restoration of Israel will take place as Jeremiah prophesied. The first part of Ezekiel 36 speaks of the enemy of Israel (Edom) who claimed possession of "the ancient high places" (Jerusalem, 36:2). The Edomites thought they would take possession of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas when Nebuchadnezzar was finished with his looting (Eze 36:5). Oh how they treasured that thought! The rejected son (Esau) was finally going to regain the birthright he had sold to his brother (Jacob/Israel) for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:27-34).

However, unbeknownst to them, God had other plans. Israel was restored to her former land by the Persian ruler Cyrus, just as Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 44:28 (cf 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1). This is the crux of Ezekiel 36:1-15.