Alicia's Bible Blog
Isaiah 34:17 "He has cast the lot for them, his hand has portioned it out to them with the line; they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation they shall dwell in it."
This chapter of Isaiah starts off with a condemnation of all the nations (Isaiah 34:2), but quickly settles on Edom as the focus of God's wrath in "recompense for the cause of Zion" (Isaiah 34:8). Isaiah prophesies that Edom will be a wasteland, filled with nettles and thistles, home to jackals and hyenas. (Isaiah 34:10-14) This is the lot God has cast for Edom, and they shall possess it from generation to generation.
We no longer hear too much of the Edomites (descendants of Esau, and often particular enemies of the Jews in the Old Testament). This is because "they were wiped out when Jerusalem was destroyed" in 70 AD ("What is the significance of Edom in the Bible?", gotquestions.org). Isaiah's prophecy of their destruction, "[God's] sword ... descends for judgment upon Edom" (Isaiah 34:5), has thus been fulfilled.
It took a while, prophecies often do take a long time to be fulfilled, but Edom essentially ceased to exist 70 years after Christ. Their enemies, the Jews, however, are still standing, holding their own, often against all the odds and great suffering, in the land God promised to them. They will possess that land forever, even if at times they are exiled from it for justice's sake, because that is another promise God has made (Deuteronomy 4:40), and His promises and prophecies are always fulfilled, even if it takes until the end of time.
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