Ezekiel 35:1-36:15

The theme of this dual oracle is restoration of the land. Israel’s territorial
inheritance is a central feature of both the Abrahamic and Mosaic
covenants. God will vindicate his own name by suitably punishing land-
grabbers (such as Edom) and fully restoring the Promised Land to its true
heirs.

Context
The positioning of the oracle against Edom in ch. 35 is not easy to explain. The more
natural place for it in terms of the book’s overall design is in the collection of oracles
against foreign nations extending from chs 25 to 32. In fact, there is an oracle against
Edom there, albeit briefer than the present one (see 25:12-14). So we have two Edom
oracles. Thus the question arises, ‘Why are these two Edom oracles located where they
are in the book?’

Both oracles deal with crimes associated with the fall of Jerusalem—Edom took advantage
of Judah’s weakness to plunder and to seize land (cf. Obad 6-14). The oracle in Ezek 25
comes soon after the announcement that the siege has begun in ch. 24. The oracle in
Ezek 35 comes soon after the news of the city’s fall in ch. 33. So in terms of their content
there is a clear logic in their positioning.

As Block suggests, there is also a logical relationship with ch. 34. Just as the old leadership
had brought about the loss of blessing in the land, so the new leadership would guarantee
a return to blessing in the land. A further reason for the location of the oracle of ch. 35 is
its links with ch. 36. As several commentators note, 35:1–36:15 is a literary unit,
introduced by the message reception formula of 35:1 (‘The word of the LORD came to
me’)—which does not occur again until 36:16 where it introduces the next major unit. Two
subunits are introduced by the address to Ezekiel as ‘son of man’ in 35:2 and 36:1. In the
first he is told to address ‘Mt Seir’ (35:2), and in the second ‘the mountains of Israel’
(36:1).

Further links between ch.35 and 36:1-15 include the contrast between ‘all Edom in its
entirety’ (cursed; 35:15) and ‘all the house of Israel in its entirety’ (blessed; 36:10), and
between ‘Mt Seir’ (35:1, 7) and ‘the mountains of Israel’ (36:1, 4, 8). Edom’s rejoicing
(36:5) alludes back to ch. 35. ‘Behold I am against you’ (35:3) is matched by ‘Behold I am
for you (36:9). The judgement of ch. 35 is a foil for Israel’s salvation in 36:1-15.

There is thus a logical connection between chs 35 and 36. Edom, who has wrongly seized
the land, must be ejected before Israel can re-occupy it. The major theme of both chs 35
and 36 is the restoration of Israel to the land. Judgement on Edom is a necessary sub-
theme.

Therefore, while initially appearing to be somewhat misplaced, the actual location of this
second Edom oracle in ch. 35 is due to its function as a backdrop to chapter 36. It
highlights the question of whether the land belonged to Edom or Israel. The two parts (35
and 36:1-15) represent two sides of a single concern: the return of Israel to its land.

Structure
Chapter 35
Chapter 35 is a single oracle (the key term is ‘desolation’, which occurs 10 times), made
up of four parts or ‘mini-oracles’. It is a judgement oracle against Edom, referred to
throughout as Mount Seir, except for the last verse (v. 15) where the expression ‘all of
Edom’ occurs. Note that in v. 8 the plural ‘your [Edom’s] mountains’ is used, and that in
v. 12 there is a reference to ‘the mountains of Israel’—anticipating the oracle to the
mountains of Israel which follows in ch. 36. Judgement is pronounced on the mountains of
Edom because of crimes committed against the mountains of Israel.
After the introduction (vv.1-2), the chapter is divided into four parts (or mini-oracles)
marked by messenger formulas (‘Thus says the LORD’) and recognition formulas (‘They
will know that I am the LORD’): 3-4, 5-9, 10-12a, 12b-15. 154 They are all judgement
oracles developed into proof sayings by the addition of the recognition formula. Hence:

Introduction (vv.1-2)
First mini-oracle (vv.3-4)
Second mini-oracle (vv.5-9)
Third mini-oracle (vv.10-12a)
Fourth mini-oracle (vv.12b-15)

Chapter 36
The structure of 36:1-15 is more complicated. While there are at least two major sub-units
(viz. vv.2-7 and vv.8-15), the presence of other structural indicators suggest a
more complex arrangement. Hence Allen suggests that after the introduction in v.1,
the double use of the messenger formula in vv. 2 and 13 divides the rest of the chapter
into two sections (2-12 and 1315). Verses 2-12 is further subdivided (by the contrast
at v.8) into 2-7 and 8-12. But the recognition formula at v.11 leaves v.12 isolated.
Verses 8-11 are a positive proof saying. Allen suggests that v.12 is a redactional
amplification. Verses 13-15 are a two-part oracle of salvation that begins with the
messenger formula and moves from a reasoned (‘because’) description of present
adversity to a corresponding (‘therefore’) reversal. Verses 2-7 are an oracle of judgement
against the nations surrounding Judah, especially Edom. But in context, this too is
effectively an oracle of salvation for the mountains of Israel.

The structure of 36:2-7 is especially complex. After the accusation in v.2

(introduced by ‘because’), ‘therefore’ inaugurates the pronouncement of judgement no
less than 5 times before it finally emerges in v.7 (the climax). Most think that a basic
oracle has been supplemented by additions which have complicated its structure,
especially in v.3 and v.5. Allen plausibly suggests that ‘the catalogue of disjointed
oracular formulas and accusations in the text serve to reflect the reverberations of doubt
and despair in the hearts of the exiles’ (p.173).

Ezek. 35:1 The word of the LORD came to me:

2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount
Seir, and prophesy against it,

3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD:

Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will
stretch out my hand against you, and I will
make you a desolation and a waste. 4 I will lay
your cities waste, and you shall become a
desolation, and you shall know that I am the
LORD.

5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity and

gave over the people of Israel to the power of
the sword at the time of their calamity, at the
time of their final punishment, 6 therefore, as I
live, declares the Lord GOD, I will prepare you
for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because
you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood
shall pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a
waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it
all who come and go. 8 And I will fill its
mountains with the slain. On your hills and in
your valleys and in all your ravines those slain
with the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you a
perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not
be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the
LORD.

Ezek. 35:10 “Because you said, ‘These two

nations and these two countries shall be mine,
and we will take possession of them’—although
the LORD was there— 11 therefore, as I live,
declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you
according to the anger and envy that you
showed because of your hatred against them.
And I will make myself known among them,
when I judge you. 12 And you shall know that I
am the LORD.

“I have heard all the revilings that you uttered

against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They
are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.’
13 And you magnified yourselves against me
with your mouth, and multiplied your words
against me; I heard it. 14 Thus says the Lord
GOD: While 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 deal with you; you shall
be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it.
Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezek. 36:1 “And you, son of man, prophesy to

the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of
Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 Thus says
the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you,
‘Aha!’ and, ‘The ancient heights have become
our possession,’ 3 therefore prophesy, and say,
Thus says the Lord GOD: Precisely because they
made you desolate and crushed you from all
sides, so that you became the possession of the
rest of the nations, and you became the talk
and evil gossip of the people, 4 therefore, O
mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord
GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains
and the hills, the ravines and the valleys, the
desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which
have become a prey and derision to the rest of
the nations all around, 5 therefore thus says the
Lord GOD: Surely I have spoken in my hot
jealousy against the rest of the nations and
against all Edom, who gave my land to
themselves as a possession with wholehearted
joy and utter contempt, that they might make
its pasturelands a prey. 6 Therefore prophesy
concerning the land of Israel, and say to the
mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys,
Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I have spoken
in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered
the reproach of the nations. 7 Therefore thus
says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that
are all around you shall themselves suffer
reproach.

Ezek. 36:8 “But you, O mountains of Israel,

shall shoot forth your branches and yield your
fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come
home. 9 For behold, I am for you, and I will turn
to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10
And I will multiply people on you, the whole
house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be
inhabited and the waste places rebuilt. 11 And I
will multiply on you man and beast, and they
shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause
you to be inhabited as in your former times, and
will do more good to you than ever before. Then
you will know that I am the LORD. 12 I will let
people walk on you, even my people Israel. And
they shall possess you, and you shall be their
inheritance, and you shall no longer bereave
them of children. 13 Thus says the Lord GOD:
Because they say to you, ‘You devour people,
and you bereave your nation of children,’ 14
therefore you shall no longer devour people and
no longer bereave your nation of children,
declares the Lord GOD. 15 And I will not let you
hear anymore the reproach of the nations, and
you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the
peoples and no longer cause your nation to
stumble, declares the Lord GOD.”

Theological Contribution
• The promises of Yahweh are sure (Block). This oracle is the positive counterpart to
ch. 6. The judgement on the land and people presented there was not Yahweh’s
final word. This oracle addresses the heart of the theological and national crisis
that faced the exiles: Had Yahweh abrogated his promises to Abraham—as earlier
oracles of Ezekiel may well have implied? Through this oracle the exiles are offered
future hope—Yahweh’s ancient promises would indeed be realized.

• The reconstitution of Israel as one people in the land (36:10; 36:12 cf. 11:19—one
heart). This will be elaborated on in ch. 37:15-23.

• The inevitable judgement of those who align themselves against God (and the
people of God). As Allen observes, ‘Edom and Israel are polarized as negative and
positive counterparts. Edom’s involvement in Israel’s fate meant that Edom’s
experience would echo that fate, while Israel’s fate would give way to coming
fortune’ (p.174). The enemies of God’s people (and therefore, Yahweh also) will be
held to account: after all, God’s Name is at stake—a point reinforced by the oracle
that follows.