Isaiah 34:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

His rulers shall be absent, yet his kings, leaders, and nobles will face ruin. In the preceding passage, the prophet referred to the Jewish leaders as strong, likening them to sheep and oxen, recognizing their inheritance of great glory due to their priestly status or their wealth and high standing. Now, the prophet designates them as princes, providing a more explicit reference. Consequently, he indicates that those who once reigned over them—kings, princes, and nobles—will no longer exist. They will not indulge in dominion over others, nor will they lift their eyes in arrogance after having basked in such lavish honors; rather, they will be stripped of their authority.

The unicorns, representing the Idumeans, will perish alongside them. The earth will be saturated with their blood, and its waters will transform into tar, as the ground itself becomes like pitch. Birds will take possession of this land, with owls and ravens making their homes there. Malevolent spirits will come down, and the terrors of the night will find their place of rest (Is. 34:7, 9, 11, 14). The calamities described by the prophet will indeed manifest in Idumea following the foretold devastation; rather than human inhabitants, the remnants will be occupied by various creatures like birds, hedgehogs, and vultures within the ruins of Idumea.