“Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,”
Face. Address, or speak without fearing any man. (Worthington) — Seir: Idumea. He speaks of its devastation, both by Nabuchodonosor on the side of Moab, and by the Machabees in what remained, Jeremias xxvii. 7., and 1 Machabees iv. 60., and xiv. 33. (Calmet)
“Because thou hast had a perpetual 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: perpetual: or, hatred of old shed: Heb. poured out the children force: Heb. hands”
Enemy. God revenges the injuries done to his Church, as if they were done to himself, Acts ix. 4. (Worthington) — The enmity of Jacob and of Esau seemed to commence in the womb, and was increased by the purchase of the birth-right, till Jacob’s prudence disarmed his brother. Their descendants sought every opportunity to injure one another. The Idumeans shewed their ill-will particularly, when the Jews were most distressed. This was a piece of the greatest cruelty.
“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.”
Blood. The Machabees sprung from the same stock. Pursue the Idumeans, and force them to receive circumcision, 1 Machabees iv. 15.
“I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return : and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
Inhabited for a considerable time, as [in] chap. xxvi. 20.
“Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there: whereas: or, though the LORD was there”
Two. I will add the country of the Jews to my own, or will possess the land belonging to the kingdoms of Juda and of Israel. Their hopes were blasted. They never occupied any thing belonging to the Israelites, and what they had taken from Juda, as far as Hebron, was recovered. — There, witness of these designs, and guardian of his temple, &c.
“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.”
Wrath. The Jews shall treat you as you have threatened to do unto them. — By them, my people. Septuagint, “to thee.”
“Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them. boasted: Heb. magnified”
Derogated. Septuagint, “bawled;” or Hebrew, “multiplied your words against me,” as if I could not protect my inheritance. (Haydock) — You would pretend to judge me, and to fathom my designs.
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.”
Rejoice. After the captivity, the Machabees shall conquer Edom.
“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.”
As, &c., is not in the Roman Septuagint. St. Jerome says it was marked with an asterisk, being taken from Theodotion. (Calmet) — Grabe supplies to thou shalt. His copy has the rest:…”thou shalt know that I am their Lord.” (Haydock)