God will uphold His word, and those who ignore His presence will ultimately face accountability.
The prophet Ezekiel delivers God’s rebuke toward Mount Seir (the region associated with the Edomites) and addresses their prideful ambitions. He cites the Edomites’ boasting when he declares, “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,’ although the Lord was there” (v.10). This statement highlights their intent to claim the lands once held by the two kingdoms of Israel—most scholars identify these two nations as the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The geographical region of Mount Seir stood southeast of the Dead Sea, encompassing rugged mountainous terrain that Edom claimed as its own. Edom’s history dates back to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (ca. 2000 BC), placing their lineage in parallel with Israel’s earliest patriarchs.
By saying “These two nations and these two lands will be mine” (v.10), Edom demonstrates a disregard for God’s sovereign claim on the land and His presence among His people. The phrase “although the Lord was there” (v.10) underscores the reality that God’s presence was in the land of Israel and Judah, even though the kingdoms had been judged and taken into exile beforehand. Edom’s careless presumption suggests that they believed God’s people were vulnerable and that the Lord’s promises were void. Yet from a biblical perspective, God consistently defends His covenant people, even when they are in a period of discipline (see references to God’s faithfulness in Romans 11:25-29).
Ezekiel’s proclamation points to the seriousness of forgetting God’s superiority and rightful ownership of everything on earth. This same principle resonates in the New Testament, where Jesus is recognized as the One who holds ultimate authority over all nations (Matthew 28:18). Edom’s mistaken arrogance invites judgment, serving as a solemn reminder that the Lord’s purposes prevail even when circumstances seem to say otherwise.
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Ezekiel 35:10 meaning
The prophet Ezekiel delivers God’s rebuke toward Mount Seir (the region associated with the Edomites) and addresses their prideful ambitions. He cites the Edomites’ boasting when he declares, “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,’ although the Lord was there” (v.10). This statement highlights their intent to claim the lands once held by the two kingdoms of Israel—most scholars identify these two nations as the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The geographical region of Mount Seir stood southeast of the Dead Sea, encompassing rugged mountainous terrain that Edom claimed as its own. Edom’s history dates back to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (ca. 2000 BC), placing their lineage in parallel with Israel’s earliest patriarchs.
By saying “These two nations and these two lands will be mine” (v.10), Edom demonstrates a disregard for God’s sovereign claim on the land and His presence among His people. The phrase “although the Lord was there” (v.10) underscores the reality that God’s presence was in the land of Israel and Judah, even though the kingdoms had been judged and taken into exile beforehand. Edom’s careless presumption suggests that they believed God’s people were vulnerable and that the Lord’s promises were void. Yet from a biblical perspective, God consistently defends His covenant people, even when they are in a period of discipline (see references to God’s faithfulness in Romans 11:25-29).
Ezekiel’s proclamation points to the seriousness of forgetting God’s superiority and rightful ownership of everything on earth. This same principle resonates in the New Testament, where Jesus is recognized as the One who holds ultimate authority over all nations (Matthew 28:18). Edom’s mistaken arrogance invites judgment, serving as a solemn reminder that the Lord’s purposes prevail even when circumstances seem to say otherwise.