יחזקאל, פרק כ״ה, פסוק י״ג

A decree of absolute destruction is sealed upon the nation of Edom. This severe punishment is destined to sweep through the entire territory, leaving nothing untouched, from the inhabitants and the animals to the major cities. God declares that He will direct His full power to strike the nation [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ], turning it into a complete wasteland.

The devastation is set to spread across various regions, beginning with Teman. Commentators offer two primary ways to understand this starting point. Some view it as a geographic reference to the south. In this approach, the ruin will begin at the southern edge of Edom and spread northward toward the Land of Israel [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Alternatively, others identify Teman as a specific region or central city within Edom, named after the firstborn son of Eliphaz, the son of Esau [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beyond Teman, the prophecy seals the fate of Dedan, another major city in the land of Edom, where the inhabitants are destined to fall by the sword [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. The structure of the prophecy highlights two distinct centers of disaster: the land of Teman will be laid waste, while the people of Dedan will fall in battle.

This separation in the nature of the punishment reflects two distinct historical periods in which Edom was struck. The first wave of destruction was carried out by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. During this era, only Teman was devastated. The inhabitants of Dedan had separated themselves from Edom and were consequently spared. However, a second wave of destruction occurred generations later at the hands of the Hasmoneans. By that time, Dedan had fallen back under Edomite rule, and as a result, its people fell by the sword alongside the rest of the nation [מלבי״ם].