Ezekiel 35:2 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Mount Seir. — This poetical designation of the Edomites from the land which they inhabited is common in Scripture (Genesis 36:8-9; Deuteronomy 2:1; Deuteronomy 2:5; 1 Chronicles 4:42, &c.). The land included the whole mountainous region between the Dead Sea and the Elanitic Gulf, or eastern branch of the Red Sea. The earlier denunciation of the Edomites had in view their historical relations to Israel; this, on the other hand, as already said — like Isaiah 34; Isaiah 63:1-6 — while still keeping this historical relation in view, regards them also as representative of the world’s hostility to the covenant people of God. This appears from the fact that the desolation of Edom, itself but a small province, is put in contrast (Ezekiel 35:14) with the rejoicing of the whole earth, and that in Ezekiel 36:5 (and generally Ezekiel 35:3-7) Edom is coupled with “the residue of the heathen.” For the phrase “set thy face against,” see Ezekiel 13:17; and on Ezekiel 35:3, comp. Ezekiel 6:14.