Prophecy of Two Mountains 🌋⛰️

Chapter 35 is another prophecy about the destruction of Edom; Mount Seir. 🌋

We already know how the Edomites were celebrating when the Babylonians conquered Judah. And we know how they captured the refugees – killing some, keeping or selling others as slaves, and handing some over the Babylonians for a reward.

This text reveals another reason for Edom’s judgment:

“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—”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭35‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The two nations would be Judah and Israel. Edom plans to move in and claim the vacated property. But this is no ordinary property- “the LORD was there.” It is sacred space. The fleshly Edomites aren’t worthy to live in it. And Yahweh is going to make sure they don’t.

A few refugees from destroyed Edom will slip into southern Judah and will intermarry with a few scattered Judeans and other tribes, but they will not “take possession of them.” Some of those mixed-race Edomite descendants will rise to power in the centuries between the testaments. They will be called Idumeans. That’s where all the Herrods of the NT will come from.

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Chapter 36 is to the Mountains of Israel. ⛰️

Yahweh speaks to the landscape. It has been scorned, fought over, blamed, and drenched in blood and bones. Edom and others want to come in and take it. But the Lord isn’t going to allow it. He will judge all those who have mistreated the land and not given His holy ground the respect it deserves.

And Yahweh makes a promise to the mountains…

“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. For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This prophecy will give the scattered Jews hope during captivity. And when they see it come to pass…

Let me guess… then they will know Yahweh.

Yup. The Lord could’ve done it without telling Ezekiel, but the fact that it is declared beforehand proves Yahweh is the Most High and He is in control. And it also shows how much He cares.

The mountains will produce fruit and people will build houses on them and live there happily. And it’s said in such a way as to sound as if this would please the mountains.

I’m not suggesting any kind of Pantheistic woo-woo here. This text is clearly a use of anthropomorphism.

I just find it interesting that God addresses these promises to rocks and dirt; to the landscape. The Lord cares about His creation – the planet, the trees, the soil, the water. Caring for the earth is not the sole dominion of earth-worshipping environmentalists. It shouldn’t be. God made Mankind to be the stewards of planet earth and as far as I can tell, that role was never revoked.

How about we all plant something 🌱 and make the LORD happy.