Ezekiel 35:2-4
“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. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The instruction to "set your face against" Mount Seir isn't just about looking, but about adopting a stern, resolute posture of opposition. This isn't simply predicting doom; it's prophetically embodying the divine judgment against those who embody perpetual enmity towards God's people, making Edom a symbol for all adversaries.
After pronouncing judgment on various nations that had wronged Israel, Ezekiel is now directed to focus specifically on Mount Seir, the land of the Edomites. This isn't just a judgment on Edom for their past hatred and mistreatment of God's people, but a symbolic pronouncement against all earthly powers that oppose God's purposes and His chosen people. The prophecy foretells a complete desolation of their land, making it a stark warning to any who stand against God.
Ezekiel is told to 'set your face against' Mount Seir. It’s not just a geographical direction, but a posture of intense, unwavering focus.
A Stern and Focused Gaze
The phrase "set your face against" is used multiple times in Ezekiel, always signaling a direct confrontation with sin and judgment. It's like God is commanding Ezekiel to lock eyes with the enemy, to stare down the rebellion.
This wasn't a casual glance or a distant observation. Ezekiel was to position himself, both physically and spiritually, in direct opposition to Mount Seir, which represents the people of Edom.
It highlights God’s active, intentional gaze upon those who oppose Him and His people. There’s no hiding from this divine scrutiny.
Mount Seir isn't just a landscape; it’s a symbolic representation of a deep-seated animosity towards God's chosen people.
The Symbolism of Seir (Edom)
Mount Seir was the ancestral home of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. From the very beginning, the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) harbored intense bitterness and opposition towards the descendants of Jacob (Israel).
This passage uses 'Mount Seir' as shorthand for the Edomite people and their deep-rooted enmity against Israel. It represents not just a single nation, but the spirit of opposition that has historically plagued God's people.
This makes the prophecy against Edom a template for understanding God's judgment against all those who actively fight against His covenant people throughout history.
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.
This prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom) comes during the Babylonian exile, specifically after Jerusalem's destruction. Edom's joy and participation in looting during Jerusalem's downfall fueled God's judgment against them, highlighting how ancient rivalries intersected with God's plans for His people.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacks Jerusalem and deports some of the Jewish nobility, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Jerusalem's temple remains intact for a time.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of Temple
Nebuchadnezzar finally destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the kingdom of Judah and exiling most of its remaining population to Babylon.
c. 582 BC
Third Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conducts a final deportation from Judah, further reducing the Jewish population and solidifying Babylonian control.
This passage uses vivid imagery to describe God's wrath against His enemies, specifically mentioning 'Edom' (the people of Mount Seir), drawing a strong parallel to God's judgment on Mount Seir in Ezekiel.
Jeremiah 49:7This chapter prophesies against Edom, echoing Ezekiel's focus on their pride and the impending judgment, suggesting a consistent message of divine retribution against them.
Genesis 27:41This foundational passage highlights the ancient animosity between Jacob and Esau (whose descendants inhabited Seir), providing the historical context for the ongoing conflict and divine judgment seen in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 25:12This earlier prophecy within Ezekiel also targets Edom for their vengeance against Judah, showing that the judgment declared in chapter 35 is part of a consistent divine condemnation of Edom's behavior.
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 instruction to "set your face against" Mount Seir isn't just about looking, but about adopting a stern, resolute posture of opposition. This isn't simply predicting doom; it's prophetically embodying the divine judgment against those who embody perpetual enmity towards God's people, making Edom a symbol for all adversaries.
After pronouncing judgment on various nations that had wronged Israel, Ezekiel is now directed to focus specifically on Mount Seir, the land of the Edomites. This isn't just a judgment on Edom for their past hatred and mistreatment of God's people, but a symbolic pronouncement against all earthly powers that oppose God's purposes and His chosen people. The prophecy foretells a complete desolation of their land, making it a stark warning to any who stand against God.
After pronouncing judgment on various nations that had wronged Israel, Ezekiel is now directed to focus specifically on Mount Seir, the land of the Edomites. This isn't just a judgment on Edom for their past hatred and mistreatment of God's people, but a symbolic pronouncement against all earthly powers that oppose God's purposes and His chosen people. The prophecy foretells a complete desolation of their land, making it a stark warning to any who stand against God.
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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.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God, revealing His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature. God acts so that the nations may recognize His unique identity and sovereignty as the only true God.
c. 580 BC
Prophecy Against Edom
Ezekiel delivers his prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom), denouncing their actions during Jerusalem's fall and foretelling their utter devastation.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ending the Babylonian Empire and paving the way for the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
"“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 instruction to "set your face against" Mount Seir isn't just about looking, but about adopting a stern, resolute posture of opposition. This isn't simply predicting doom; it's prophetically embod…
