“‘But I have hated Esau.
I have made
His hill country
A desolation.
I have made
His heritage
A desert for jackals.’
If Edom says.
‘We are shattered,
But we will rebuild the ruins.’
Yahweh of hosts says.
‘They may build,
But I will tear down,
Until they are called
The wicked country.
Yahweh is angry forever
With those people.’
Your own eyes shall see this.
You shall say.
‘Great is Yahweh,
Beyond the border of Israel!’”
Edom was considered the land where Esau had settled. Thus, Yahweh hated Edom. He had made their hill country a desolation. Their heritage was like a desert of wild jackals. Even if they wanted to rebuild their ruins, Yahweh would tear it down, because they were a wicked country. Yahweh was angry with them forever. Their own eyes had seen that Yahweh was great, even beyond the borders of Israel.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 