3 and tell it, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and an astonishment.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Most desolate - Literally, "A desolation and a wilderness."
And say unto it, thus saith the Lord God,.... The prophet was not upon the spot, and could not direct his speech immediately to the Edomites; but he might send this prophecy to their ambassadors at Babylon; or in a letter to them in their own land, in the name of the Lord:
behold, O Mount Seir, I am against thee: not the face of the prophet only, but the face of God himself was against them; and a terrible thing it is for any to have God to be against them, whether a nation, or a particular person. The Targum is,
"behold, I send my fury upon thee:''
and I will stretch out mine hand against thee; which was able to reach them wherever they were: and which, being stretched out, cannot be turned back; and, where it lights, falls heavy indeed; namely, his mighty hand of power and wrath. The Targum is,
"and I will lift up the stroke of my power upon thee;''
that is, lift up his hand and strike powerfully; the consequence of which must be as follows:
and I will make thee most desolate; their land, cities, towns, and villages, all should be utterly laid waste; see Revelation 17:16, so it follows:
most desolate--literally, "desolation and desolateness" (Jeremiah 49:17, &c.). It is only in their national character of foes to God's people, that the Edomites are to be utterly destroyed. A remnant of Edom, as of the other heathen, is to be "called by the name of God" (Amos 9:12).
*More commentary available at chapter level.