THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and declare, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Sovereign Lord: because your adversaries have exclaimed, "Ah! the eternal heights have been given to us as an inheritance," you shall prophesy and say, Thus says the Sovereign Lord: because you have been made desolate and trampled upon by those surrounding you, given over to the possessions of other peoples, and have become a topic of scorn among the nations, listen closely to the word of the Sovereign Lord, O mountains, hills, streams, valleys, devastated ruins, and the forsaken cities that have been ravaged by neighboring nations.
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Therefore, this is the declaration of the Sovereign Lord: I have spoken out of My zealous wrath against those nations, including Edom, who have taken My land as their own inheritance with delight, intending to desolate it through their disdain. Hence, you shall proclaim to the land of Israel, and speak to the mountains, hills, valleys, and ranges: Thus says the Sovereign Lord, I have spoken in My zeal and wrath because you have endured reproach from the nations. Therefore, declares the Sovereign Lord, I have raised My hand that those around you may carry their own shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, extend your branches and yield your fruit for My people Israel, for their return is near. I will turn to you, and you shall be cultivated and sown. I will greatly increase the people of Israel and fill the cities with inhabitants while rebuilding the desolate places. I will fill you with people and livestock, and they shall multiply as in days of old, granting you more blessings than ever before, and you will know that I am the Lord. I will bring My people Israel to you; they will possess you as their inheritance, and you shall no longer be without them. Thus says the Sovereign Lord: though they accused you of devouring men and oppressing your people, you shall no longer consume human lives or take lives, declares the Lord God. I will prevent you from hearing mockery from the tribes, and you will no longer endure disgrace among the nations or suffer loss of your people. Here, the prophet's attention is directed toward Mount Seir; now, the son of man addresses the mountains of Israel, commanding them to listen to the word of God.