Ezekiel 35:2-3
“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "set your face against" isn't just about looking; it's a command to fix your gaze with unwavering resolve and prophetic intensity. This posture of determined opposition shows that God's judgment isn't a casual observation, but a deliberate and formidable confrontation.
Ezekiel has just delivered prophecies against other nations that opposed Israel, and now God directs him to focus on Mount Seir, the land of the Edomites. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, harbored a deep, ancient bitterness towards their brother Jacob's descendants, and their hostility is seen here as representative of all those who oppose God's people. This specific prophecy reiterates and intensifies judgment against Edom, setting the stage for a vivid description of their utter desolation and the subsequent restoration of Israel.
Ezekiel is told to 'set your face against' Mount Seir. This isn't just a casual glance; it's a deliberate, intense posture. What does this posture signify for prophetic ministry and for us today?
The phrase 'set your face against' is a powerful idiom in the Old Testament. It describes a look of intense determination, hostility, and unwavering focus. For Ezekiel, it means looking directly at Mount Seir (representing the Edomites and their antagonism) with a stern, threatening gaze, preparing to deliver God's judgment.
This isn't about personal anger, but about prophetic resolve. It's the face of someone carrying a divine message of consequence, unyielding in the face of opposition. It calls for a spiritual steadfastness, a refusal to be swayed or intimidated when delivering truth, especially when facing those who oppose God's people and His ways.
Why Mount Seir? This land, inhabited by the descendants of Esau, held a long-standing animosity toward Israel. Discover why this particular enemy becomes a focal point for divine judgment.
Mount Seir is the homeland of the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. Their history with Israel was marked by deep-seated hostility and opposition, even from the earliest days (Genesis 27:41-42).
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In this passage, Mount Seir isn't just a geographical location; it symbolizes a persistent, deeply rooted opposition to God's people and His purposes. The commentators note that Edom often represents not just a specific nation, but the archetype of all those who, throughout history, have harbored bitterness and actively worked against God's covenant people. It stands for the world's enduring antagonism toward God's kingdom.
The prophecy is 'against' Mount Seir. What is the nature of the judgment being announced, and why is this specific enmity so deserving of God's severe response?
Ezekiel is tasked with prophesying 'against' Mount Seir, meaning he is to announce impending judgment. This prophecy, like others against Edom, targets a deep-seated, almost inherent hatred directed at God's people.
The commentaries suggest this prophecy is particularly focused on Edom's hostility, which extended beyond mere political rivalry. It was a spiritual opposition that celebrated Israel's downfall (Ezekiel 25:12) and even took advantage of it. This persistent, cruel antagonism, stemming from a place of spiritual darkness, marked Edom as a prime target for divine retribution. God's judgment is not arbitrary; it is a just response to those who actively oppose His plans and persecute His people with malice.
Understand the original words
ben-adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title frequently used for the prophet Ezekiel, highlighting his humanity in contrast to the divine majesty of the one who speaks to him. It emphasizes the prophet's role as a representative of mankind before God.
sim panim · Hebrew Verb phrase
In a prophetic context, this signifies a posture of firm resolve, confrontation, and impending judgment directed toward a specific entity or person. It indicates that the prophet is to focus his entire attention on delivering a message of divine opposition.
har se'ir · Hebrew Proper Noun
The mountainous region inhabited by the Edomites (descendants of Esau). In the prophets, it serves as a representative of the enemies of God's people who harbored deep-seated hostility toward Israel.
Adonai Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The Sovereign Lord or Master; a title emphasizing God's absolute authority, lordship, and supreme right to command both his servants and the nations.
yad · Hebrew Noun
An anthropomorphic expression denoting God's active power and intervention in history to execute judgment or salvation. Stretching out the hand signifies the initiation of divine action against an object of judgment.
shemamah · Hebrew Noun
A state of total ruin, emptiness, and abandonment resulting from divine judgment. It describes a place stripped of life, security, and productivity due to sin.
This prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom) comes during the height of the Babylonian Exile, specifically after the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against Edom not just for their past actions, but as a representative of all nations hostile to God's people, highlighting their deep-seated enmity that spans history.
c. 840 BC
Reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah
During this period, Edom was under the dominion of Judah, with a governor appointed by the king. This indicates a period of subservience following earlier conflicts.
732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Aram
The Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III expanded its influence, impacting the region and potentially weakening Edom's independence.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar begins deporting Judeans to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian Exile. Edom's hostility during this crisis is a key factor in Ezekiel's prophecy.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
More Judeans are exiled to Babylon, intensifying the nation's suffering. Edom's gloating and active opposition during these events fuel God's judgment.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. Edom actively sided with the Babylonians during the siege and rejoiced over Jerusalem's fall.
c. 582 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Campaign Against Edom
Following Jerusalem's fall, Nebuchadnezzar campaigned against Edom, likely resulting in a significant destruction and partial subjugation of the Edomite territory.
c. 400 BC
Edomite Expansion into Southern Judah
After the Babylonian exile, Edomites migrated northward into parts of the southern territory of Judah, a move that persisted for centuries and was a source of ongoing tension.
This passage shares a similar prophetic voice, personifying Edom (from Mount Seir) as a powerful entity judged by God, echoing the strong judgment declared in Ezekiel.
Jeremiah 49:7This passage directly prophesies against Edom, highlighting their pride and the certainty of their destruction, which parallels Ezekiel's pronouncement.
Ezekiel 25:12This earlier oracle against Edom sets the stage, showing a consistent pattern of God's judgment on them for their actions against His people, which Ezekiel 35 continues and expands upon.
Genesis 27:41This foundational text describes Esau's (Edom's) bitter hatred towards Jacob, providing the historical and familial animosity that fuels the ongoing conflict and prophetic judgments against Edom.
pulpitEzekiel 35:2: "Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,"
Verse 2. - Set thy face against Mount Seir. The mountainous are in between the Dead Sea and the Elanitic Gulf, which formed the original settlement of Esau and his descendants (Genesis 36:9), is here put for the land of Edom, as the land in turn stands for its people (Ezekiel 25:8). Although already the prophet has pronounced a threatening doom against Edom (Ezekiel 25:12-14), he once more directs against, it…
jfbEzekiel 35:2: "Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,"
- Mount Seir—that is, Idumea (Ge 36:9). Singled out as badly pre-eminent in its bitterness against God's people, to represent all their enemies everywhere and in all ages. So in Isa 34:5; 63:1-4, Edom, the region of the greatest enmity towards God's people, is the ideal scene of the final judgments of all God's foes. "Seir" means "shaggy," alluding to its rugged hills and forests.
The phrase "set your face against" isn't just about looking; it's a command to fix your gaze with unwavering resolve and prophetic intensity. This posture of determined opposition shows that God's judgment isn't a casual observation, but a deliberate and formidable confrontation.
Ezekiel has just delivered prophecies against other nations that opposed Israel, and now God directs him to focus on Mount Seir, the land of the Edomites. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, harbored a deep, ancient bitterness towards their brother Jacob's descendants, and their hostility is seen here as representative of all those who oppose God's people. This specific prophecy reiterates and intensifies judgment against Edom, setting the stage for a vivid description of their utter desolation and the subsequent restoration of Israel.
Ezekiel has just delivered prophecies against other nations that opposed Israel, and now God directs him to focus on Mount Seir, the land of the Edomites. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, harbored a deep, ancient bitterness towards their brother Jacob's descendants, and their hostility is seen here as representative of all those who oppose God's people. This specific prophecy reiterates and intensifies judgment against Edom, setting the stage for a vivid description of their utter desolation and the subsequent restoration of Israel.
"“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 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." — The phrase "set your face against" isn't just about looking; it's a command to fix your gaze with unwavering resolve and prophetic intensity. This posture of determined opposition shows that God's ju…
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