יחזקאל, פרק ל״ה, פסוק י״ב

The arrogance and mockery directed at the Land of Israel by the nation of Edom do not go unnoticed by divine providence. God makes it clear that their expressions of deep contempt and disrespect toward the ruined land are heard perfectly [מצודת ציון]. Edom's cynical ambition to exploit this destruction will be met with a firm response, as God emphasizes that hurling such scorn at the mountains of Israel is not merely an attack on a physical place; it is a direct offense and insult against God Himself [מלבי״ם].

Looking at the desolate mountains, the people of Edom recognize that the land has been emptied of its inhabitants due to the sins of the Israelites. They view this emptiness with a malicious hope, anticipating that the nation of Israel will never return to settle there [מלבי״ם]. Seeing the vacancy, Edom confidently declares that the territory has been handed over to them. This sense of entitlement and the belief that they could easily inherit the land of Judah stems from simple geography. Unlike other neighboring nations such as Ammon and Moab, which were located further north and disconnected from Judah's borders, Edom shared a direct boundary with the land [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Edom's declaration that the region was given to them to consume is understood in two distinct ways. On a practical level, Edom hoped to take over the territory not just for living space, but to actively enjoy and eat from its rich agricultural yield and fruit [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On a darker, metaphorical level, this desire to consume was directed at the people rather than the land itself. In this view, Edom's true intention was to completely devour and destroy the Israelites, ensuring their total annihilation until not a single person remained [מצודת דוד].