Ezek 35:1-15 is the prophetic judgment of Mount Seir.  Mount Seir, Gen 36:8-9, is where Edom dwelled.  The Lord gave Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.  Esau hated his brother, Jacob.  Edom was confederate with Ammon and Moab in an attack against Jehoshaphat in 2 Chr 20:10.  In 2 Chr 20:22-23 these enemies killed each other.  Before the Second Advent, they will be confederate with other nations against Israel in Ps 83:2-8.

Mount Seir is not a single mountain but a mountainous region between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.  In Gen 32:3, it’s also called the land of Seir.   Today it’s in modern day Jordan.  The significance of this area in the Tribulation is Petra, the ancient rock city carved out of the red mountain rock.

v.3-4 The Lord said I am against thee and will make thee desolate, and lay thy cities waste.

v.5 This is because of their perpetual hatred against Israel. Oba 10 speaks of their violence against thy brother Jacob.  They will shed the blood of Israel in the time of their calamity when their iniquity has an end, Dan 9:24.  The time of their calamity is the Tribulation, Oba 1, 13.  Oba 11-14, shows you what they will do to Israel in the Tribulation.  Israel will be running to Petra and they will stand in the crossway to cut off those that escape and then deliver them up to the antichrist.

v.6 I prepare thee unto blood sith (since) thou hast not hated blood.  Blood shall pursue thee.  Our saying is, “What goes around comes around”.

v.7 Seir will be desolate.  God will cut off him passeth out (leaving the land) and him that returneth.  He’ll get them coming and going.

v.8 He will fill his mountains with slain men.  In the hills, valleys, and rivers they will be slain with the sword.  Oba 9 every one will be cut off by slaughter.

v.9 The judgment will result in perpetual desolations.  Their cities will not return, Jer 49:7, 13-15.

v.10 Because they said, These two nations (Israel and Judah) and two countries (their land) shall be mine, we’ll possess it.

v.11 I will do according to thine anger (in attempting to destroy Jews) and thine envy (in desiring their land).  I will make myself known among them when I have judged thee.  Oba 15-16, as thou hast done it shall be done unto thee.  Ezek 25:12-14, the Lord’s vengeance executed upon Seir will be by Israel.  That’s how they’ll know God did it.

v.12 And they’ll know that I am the Lord.  I have heard blasphemies against mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.  Not so.

v.13 With your mouth you’ve boasted against ME, and multiplied your words against ME, and I heard them.  Oba 3-4 it was their pride saying, who shall bring me down to the ground?  God will bring them down though they exalt themselves, and make their nest among the stars.  Jer 49:16-17.

v.14 When the whole earth rejoiceth (2nd Advent) I will make thee desolate.

v.15 As thou rejoiced at the inheritance of Israel because it was desolate, so will I do to thee.  See Oba 17-21. Zion will be deliverance and holiness, and Joseph will be a flame.  Esau will be for stubble, etc.  They will be desolate and all Idumea.  According to Jer 49:17-18 their desolation will be as in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.  And of course, They shall know that I am the Lord.

To study the prior Sunday School lesson, see Woe to the Shepherds of Israel.

To study the next Sunday School lesson, see Dispersion and Restoration of Israel.