Ezekiel 36:4-5

Ezekiel 36:4-5

[4] Therefore, ye mountains  of Israel,  hear  the word  of the Lord  Thus saith  the Lord  to the mountains,  and to the hills,  to the rivers,  and to the valleys,  wastes,  and to the cities  that are forsaken,  which became a prey  and derision  to the residue  of the heathen  that are round about;  [5] Therefore thus saith  the Lord  Surely in the fire  of my jealousy  have I spoken  against the residue  of the heathen,  and against all Idumea,  which have appointed  my land  into their possession  with the joy  of all their heart,  with despiteful  minds,  to cast it out  for a prey. 

What does Ezekiel 36:4-5 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Therefore the sovereign Lord had something to say to the whole land that had fallen prey to Israel"s neighbor nations. Because Edom and the other nations had taken over the Lord"s land joyfully and had scorned the Israelites, He would pronounce judgment on them in his hot jealousy. The Promised Land was the Lord"s land in the same sense that the Sabbath was His day and the tithe was His possession. These parts were not just segments of their wholes over which God claimed ownership, but they represented and illustrated His ownership of all lands, all days, and all possessions. Israel"s enemies had dealt with her in their anger and envy ( Ezekiel 35:11), but now Yahweh would deal with them in His fierce jealousy over Israel"s welfare.