CHAP. XXXV.
15.
A prophecy against the Edomites for their hatred of Israel, 1OREOVER the word of the LORD come unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, d and prophesy against it,
3 And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee * most desolate .
4 I will & lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
5 Because thou hast had a perpetual
a 21:1. 22:1. 34:1. 2 Pet. 1:21. b 6:2. 20:46. 23:2. 25.2. Is. 50: 7. Eph. 6:39.
25:8. Gen. 32:3. 36:8,9. Deut. 2:5. Josh. 24:4. 2 Chr. 20:10, 22,23. 25:11-14.
d 25:12-14. 32:29. Ps. 83:318. 15. 34: 63:1-6. Jer. 9:25, 26. 49:7-22. Lam. 4:21,22. Am. 1:11,12. Ob. 1,&c.
e 5:8. 21:3. 29:3,10. Jer. 21:13. Nah. 2:13. 3:5.
f 6:14. Jer. 6:12. 15:6. 51:25. Heb. desolation and desola- tion . 7.
g 9. 6:6. Joel 3:19. Mal. 1:3,4. h 9,12. 6:7. Ел. 9:14. 14:4.
i 12. 25:12. Gen. 27:41,42. Ps. 137:7. Am. 1:11. Ob. 10-16. Or, hatred of old. 25:15.
are fouled: the good food of pure, experimental, distinguishing preaching, is changed for a more distant, polite, smooth, fashionable, and flattering strain; and the streams of sound doetrine are corrupted. (P. O. Josh. 7:10-18. Notes, Is . 30:8-11. Mic . 2:6,7,11.) And whilst they thus seem to eat up the good pasture, and to drink the deep waters; "the poor in spirit," who relish nothing but the Bread and Water of life, are starved: for they cannot live upon such un wholesome provisions. While we should properly guard guard again against such persons, we must leave it to God to "judge between cattle and cattle:" and when he shall come to separate between the sheep and the goats, (if not before,) he will "destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them with judgment."
V. 23-31.
hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the Sword, in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:
6 Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord
GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
7 Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that " passeth out, and him that returneth.
8 And I will fill his mountains with his slain men : in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
9 I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
that Jews and Gentiles may be united in Christ Jesus, and form one church; that every partition-wall may be broken down, every corruption purged out, and every boundary removed; and that "the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." When thus the nations shall all become acquainted with "the Plant of renown," who is both the Feeder and Food of his people; famines and pestilences, as well as wars, will probably cease through all the earth: and it will be known in a most glorious manner, that the Lord is with his church, urch, and that they are his people, and he their God.
In the mean time let us admire and rejoice in his condescending love, who has chosen us rebellious men to be the sheep of his pasture, and is become our Shepherd and Salvation: and let us "hear his voice, voice, and follow him, and he will give us eternal life, and we shall never perish; neither shall any one ever pluck us out of his Almighty hands." ( Note , John 10:26-31.)
NOTES.
CHAP. XXXV. V. 2--5. The descendants of Esau inhabited mount Seir: ( Marg . Ref . c.) and as they inherited his enmity against Jacob, on account of the birthright and blessing; so they seem to have been considered, as in some respects the representatives of the enemies of the church in every age. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .--Notes, 25:12--15. Gen. 27:39--42. Ps . 137:7-9. Is . 34: 63:1--6. Obadiah .)
Iniquity had an end . (5) 'When their iniquity received its just doom.' Lowth .
Our good Shepherd has already ransomed his chosen flock, and is placed as "a Prince over his people." His covenant of peace has been ratified with many: nor shall either temptation or enemy separate them from bis love; but they shall dwell and rest safely, even in this howling wilderness, pass securely through the valley of death, and sleep in his arms, as it were, in the silent grave. ( Notes and P. O.
Rom . 8:28-39.) Yet the church is still infested with roaring lions, ravening wolves, and every evil beast; and is exposed to manifold persecutions; it is yet as to many things in captivity, and is comparatively of small extent and exceedingly corrupted. We have therefore very much still to hope and to pray for in this behalf. In our several situations we should aim so to live and labor in faith and love, and so to "watch unto prayer," that we may be come blessings to all around us; and that "showers of blessings" may descend on our souls, and the congregations to which we belong.
Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be "showers of blessings" in every place, where the truth of Christ is preached; that numerous converts may spring up on every side; that all who profess the gospel may be "filled with the fruits of righteousness;" that the yoke of Satan, and of every antichrist, may be broken, and the church deliv- V. 9. Marg. Ref.--Notes, Joel 3:18--21. ered from all those, who make religion subser- Mal . 1:2--5.--Cities, &c.] The cities of Juvient to their personal or political interests: dah and Israel at that time lay desolate; but
the
V. 6. 'Since thou hast loved cruelty, and taken delight in shedding blood, vengeance 'shall pursue thee, and thou shalt fall into the 'hands of those that will be as eager to shed 'thine. "Thou hast not hated blood:" 'words imply more than they express. Jer . 7:31. Lowth .--The blood of the Israelites, shed from hatred of God and his people, is especially meant. ( Marg . Ref .-- Notes , Am. 1:11,12. Об . 10--14.)
V. 7,8. Marg . and Marg . Ref .--Notes, 32:2 --6.39:17-20. Is . 34:3--7.
10 Because thou hast said, These two nations, and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; * whereas the LORD was there:
11 Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.
12 And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to † consume.
13 Thus with your mouth ye have #boasted against me, and have multiplied
p 36:5. Ps. 83:4-12. Jer. 49:1, s 1 Sam. 2:3. 2 Chr. 32:15,19. *Or, though , &c. 48:35. Ps. Is. 10:13-19. 36:20. 37:10,23, 48:1-3. 76:1. 132:13,14. Is. 29. Dan. 11:36. Mal. 3:13. 12:6. 31:9. Zeph. 3:15-17. 2 Pet. 2:18. Jude 15,16. Rev. Zech. 2:5. 13.5,6,
your words against me: "I have heard them .
14 Thus saith the Lord GoD; × When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
15 As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it; and they shall know that I am the LORD.