Ezekiel 35:2

2 Thou, son of man, set thy face against the hill of Seir; and thou shalt prophesy to it, (Thou, son of man, set thy face toward the hill country of Seir; and thou shalt prophesy against it,)

Ezekiel 35:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 35:2

Son of man set thy face against Mount Seir
Which had its name from Seir the Horite, who first possessed it; and was succeeded in it by Esau and his posterity, the Edomites; see ( Genesis 36:8 Genesis 36:9 Genesis 36:20 ) ( 14:6 ) ( Deuteronomy 2:12 ) , so that the country of Edom or Idumea is here intended, and the inhabitants of it; who are put for the enemies of the church and people of God in general, as these were the enemies of Israel and Judah; and particularly for Rome, which, as it was spiritually called Egypt and Sodom, so it may be called Edom, as it often is by the Jews: now the prophet is bid to turn his face towards this mountain or country, and look sternly at it, and severely threaten it. The Targum is,

``take up a prophecy against it;''

which is expressed in the next clause: and prophesy against it;
foretell things contrary to it, which relate to its destruction, as follows:

Ezekiel 35:2 In-Context

1 And the word of the Lord was made to me, and he said,

2 Thou, son of man, set thy face against the hill of Seir; and thou shalt prophesy to it, (Thou, son of man, set thy face toward the hill country of Seir; and thou shalt prophesy against it,)

3 and shalt say to it, The Lord God saith these things, Thou hill of Seir, lo! I to thee; I shall stretch forth mine hand on thee, and I shall give thee desolate and forsaken. (and shalt say to it, The Lord God saith these things, Thou hill country of Seir, lo! I am against thee; I shall stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I shall make thee into a desolate wilderness.)

4 I shall destroy thy cities, and thou shalt be forsaken; and thou shalt know, that I am the Lord.

5 For thou were an enemy everlasting, and closedest together the sons of Israel into the hands of sword, in the time of their torment, in the time of the last wickedness; (For thou were an everlasting enemy, and hast altogether enclosed the Israelites in the hands of the sword, in the time of their torment, at the time of the last wickedness;)