Ezekiel 35 Study Notes

35:7-9 Edom would not only be destroyed but would be a perpetual desolation.

35:10-13 This expression (I will treat you according to) indicates that punishment should be commensurate with the crime. It came to be known as the (Lat) lex talionis. The concept can be seen in principle in texts such as Gn 9:6: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed.” In Ex 21 we learn that the compensation had to fit the damage when a person accidentally injured a pregnant woman. The principle cited in the text is: “Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound” (Ex 21:23-25). Simply put, the punishment should fit the crime. This guards against excessive punishment for a wrong committed. It also guards against personal revenge, which rarely matches the crime. As for Edom, her punishment will fit her crime.

35:14-15 As Edom rejoiced over Judah’s fall (Ob 12), so the world would later rejoice over Edom’s fall. When God restores Israel’s fortunes in the future, he will judge the other nations of the world based on their treatment of Israel (Gn 12:1-3; Mt 25:31-46). Edom declined steadily under Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and finally Roman rule. In the time of Roman rule it was designated as the region of Idumea. During the time between the Testaments, an Arabic people, the Nabateans, occupied Edom. They made Petra their capital.