Set thy face against mount Seir— That is, Edom. This prophesy is manifestly of the same year with the foregoing; for it is posterior to the siege of Jerusalem, and it precedes the desolation of Edom, which happened about the fifth year after the taking of Jerusalem. I am of opinion, says Calmet, that the prophet marks out here two disgraces of Edom, the one by Nebuchadrezzar, the other by the Jews after their return from captivity. The latter is described here more particularly than the former. The prophet says, that as the Idumeans had hated their own blood, they should be persecuted by their own blood; that is, by the Israelites, their brethren. See Ezekiel 35:6. He says afterwards, Ezekiel 35:14 that their country should be made desolate at the time when all the land should rejoice: which can be appropriated to no other time than that which followed the restoration of the Jews from captivity. As to the first desolation caused by Nebuchadrezzar, it is well and fully expressed in the third and other verses.

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