Ezekiel 36:2

KJV

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Because the enemy {H341} hath said {H559} against you, Aha {H1889}, even the ancient {H5769} high places {H1116} are ours in possession {H4181}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Adonai ELOHIM says: "The enemy is boasting over you, 'Ha! Even the ancient high places are ours now!' " '

Berean Standard Bible

This is what the Lord GOD says: Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,’

American Standard Version

Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha! and, The ancient high places are ours in possession;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 36:2 initiates a pivotal prophetic discourse, capturing the Lord GOD's indignant response to the malicious taunts of Israel's surrounding enemies. These adversaries, witnessing Judah's desolation and exile, gleefully proclaimed ownership over the "ancient high places"—the very heart of Israel's promised land and its enduring landmarks. This verse powerfully sets the stage for God's declaration of His unwavering sovereignty, His commitment to vindicate His holy name, and His dramatic, forthcoming restoration of His people and their rightful inheritance, unequivocally demonstrating that no human triumph over His covenant nation goes unnoticed or unaddressed by the Almighty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows [Ezekiel 35](/ezekiel/35 "Ezekiel 35 - Judgment on Mount Seir"), which details God's fierce judgment against Mount Seir (Edom) for its perpetual hostility toward Israel and its gleeful participation in Judah's downfall. [Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt") directly picks up on the theme of enemy taunts and territorial claims, particularly those mentioned in [Ezekiel 35:10](/ezekiel/35-10 "Ezekiel 35:10 - Edom's Claim on Israel"). The emphatic "Thus saith the Lord GOD" serves as a divine oracle, marking a significant transition from the judgment of Edom to God's direct address concerning Israel's land and future. This verse initiates a crucial section (chapters 36-37) that dramatically shifts the prophetic focus from judgment to the promise of restoration, concentrating on the land, the people, and the Spirit, culminating in the powerful vision of the dry bones and the reunification of Israel in [Ezekiel 37](/ezekiel/37 "Ezekiel 37 - The Valley of Dry Bones").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the traumatic period of the Babylonian exile, roughly from 597 to 571 BC. During this time, Jerusalem had been destroyed, the Temple lay in ruins, and the people of Judah were dispersed in Babylon. This catastrophic event was widely perceived by surrounding nations, such as Edom, Ammon, Moab, and Philistia, as a definitive sign of Israel's God being defeated and their land being ripe for the taking. These nations often harbored long-standing animosity towards Israel, viewing Judah's collapse as an opportune moment for territorial expansion and a chance to mock the covenant God of Israel. The phrase "ancient high places" refers not primarily to elevated cultic sites (though some may have been that), but more broadly to the significant, enduring geographical features and historical landmarks of the land of Israel, symbolizing its entirety as a divine inheritance. Their claim of "possession" was a direct and blasphemous affront to God's covenant promise to Abraham and his descendants concerning the land, as established in passages like [Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18-21 - God's Covenant with Abraham") and reiterated throughout the Pentateuch.
* **Key Themes:** [Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt") introduces several pivotal themes that permeate the chapter and the broader book. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Awareness and Indignation**, revealing that God is neither oblivious nor indifferent to the scorn and predatory intentions of Israel's adversaries; His opening "Thus saith the Lord GOD" emphasizes His supreme authority and His intent to respond decisively. Secondly, it highlights the **Sanctity of the Land** as God's sovereign gift and a crucial component of His covenant with Israel. The enemy's claim on the "ancient high places" is an act of spiritual warfare, challenging God's ownership and faithfulness, as seen in the broader narrative of the land's significance throughout the Pentateuch and Prophets (e.g., [Deuteronomy 1:8](/deuteronomy/1-8 "Deuteronomy 1:8 - The Promised Land")). Thirdly, the verse vividly portrays **Enemy Arrogance and Blasphemy** through the interjection "Aha," which conveys malicious pleasure and triumph, implying a direct challenge to God's power and His covenant fidelity. Finally, it foreshadows **God's Defense of His People and His Name**, setting the stage for the powerful promises of restoration where God declares His intention to restore Israel not for their righteousness, but for the vindication of His holy name among the nations, a theme powerfully articulated in [Ezekiel 36:22-23](/ezekiel/36-22-23 "Ezekiel 36:22-23 - God's Vindication of His Name").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Aha (Hebrew, _heʼâch'_):** This onomatopoeic interjection (H1889) vividly expresses malicious delight, scorn, or triumph. In this context, it conveys the enemy's gloating and derision over Israel's misfortune, highlighting their cruel pleasure in the desolation of the land and the humiliation of God's people. It is a vocalization of contempt and perceived victory, a direct affront to God's covenant faithfulness.
* **high places (Hebrew, _bâmâh'_):** From an unused root meaning "to be high" (H1116), this term refers to an elevation, height, or high place. While often associated with idolatrous worship sites in other contexts, here, especially when coupled with "ancient," it primarily refers to the prominent, enduring geographical landmarks and significant territories of Israel. It signifies the very heart and most recognizable features of the land that God had given to His people, now claimed by their enemies as their own.
* **possession (Hebrew, _môwrâshâh'_):** This feminine noun (H4181) means a possession, heritage, or inheritance. Its use by the enemy signifies their claim of ownership and legal right over Israel's land, directly challenging God's prior grant of this land as an eternal inheritance to His covenant people. It underscores the enemy's intent to permanently appropriate what belongs to Israel and, by extension, to God Himself.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the Lord GOD;":** This is a classic prophetic formula, emphasizing that the following words are not human opinion but a direct, authoritative declaration from the sovereign God. "Lord GOD" (Hebrew: *’Ădônây Yᵉhôvih*, H136, H3069) combines God's title of absolute mastery with His sacred covenant name, underscoring His ultimate authority, faithfulness, and personal involvement.
* **"Because the enemy hath said against you,":** This clause identifies the specific impetus for God's divine declaration: the precise words and actions of Israel's adversaries. It highlights God's meticulous attentiveness to the scorn and malice directed against His people, indicating that their taunts have reached His ears and provoked His righteous response.
* **"Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:":** This is the precise, defiant taunt of the enemy. "Aha" expresses their unrestrained, malicious glee and triumphalism. "Ancient high places" refers to the enduring, prominent features and territories of Israel's land, symbolizing the entire inheritance God had promised. Their declaration "are ours in possession" signifies their triumphal claim of permanent ownership, believing they have irrevocably seized what God had promised to Israel, thereby mocking God's covenant and His people.

#### Literary Devices
[Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt") employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with dramatic force. The opening phrase, **Divine Oracle Formula** ("Thus saith the Lord GOD"), immediately establishes the divine authority and gravity of the message, signaling that the following words are God's direct and unchallengeable pronouncement. The interjection "Aha" serves as a powerful instance of **Onomatopoeia**, mimicking the sound of malicious glee and contempt, making the enemy's scorn palpable and vivid to the audience. Furthermore, there is a subtle use of **Synecdoche** where "ancient high places" represents the entire land of Israel, a part standing for the whole, emphasizing the enemy's comprehensive claim over God's inheritance. The verse also sets up a dramatic **Antithesis** between the enemy's boast of possession and God's impending declaration of restoration, creating a profound tension that will be resolved by God's sovereign and powerful action throughout the rest of the chapter.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt") is foundational to understanding God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, even in the face of national disaster and enemy taunts. It reveals that God's honor and reputation are inextricably linked to the destiny of His people and their land. The enemy's claim on the "ancient high places" is not merely a geopolitical maneuver but a direct challenge to God's sovereignty and His ability to keep His word. God's immediate and forceful response demonstrates His active involvement in human history, His awareness of all injustices, and His ultimate power to reverse what appears to be an irreversible defeat. This verse underscores that God will act, not primarily because of Israel's righteousness (which was profoundly lacking), but for the sake of His own holy name, which had been profaned among the nations through Israel's exile and apparent abandonment.

* [Psalm 74:10](/psalm/74-10 "Psalm 74:10 - How long will the enemy mock?")
* [Joel 2:17](/joel/2-17 "Joel 2:17 - Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'")
* [Isaiah 42:8](/isaiah/42-8 "Isaiah 42:8 - God's Glory Not Shared")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt") offers profound reassurance and a compelling call to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when circumstances appear bleak and adversaries seem triumphant. In our own lives, we may face "enemies"—whether spiritual opposition, personal struggles, or societal forces—that mock our faith, challenge our inheritance in Christ, or gloat over our perceived weaknesses and failures. This verse powerfully reminds us that God is neither distant nor unaware of these taunts. He hears every word, sees every malicious intent, and is perfectly capable of responding with divine power and perfect timing. Just as God defended His land and His name against those who sought to claim what was not theirs, He will defend His people and His promises today. We are called to stand firm, knowing that our ultimate inheritance is secure in Him, and that His honor is tied to our ultimate vindication. This should inspire courage and patience, trusting that God's timing is perfect and His victory is assured, not because of our strength or merit, but because of His sovereign character and unwavering faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "taunts" or challenges to your faith or spiritual inheritance are you currently facing, and how does God's response in [Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt") encourage you?**
* **How does the idea of God acting "for His holy name's sake" (as foreshadowed here) shift your perspective on personal or corporate struggles and the pursuit of justice?**
* **In what ways might we, like the ancient enemies, inadvertently claim "possession" over things that ultimately belong to God, and how can we realign our hearts with His ultimate sovereignty and ownership?**

### FAQ
**Who are "the enemy" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: "The enemy" primarily refers to the surrounding nations that bordered Israel, such as Edom, Ammon, Moab, and Philistia. These nations often had long-standing animosity towards Israel and seized upon Judah's downfall and exile as an opportunity to expand their own territories and mock God's covenant people. Their malicious actions and God's subsequent judgments against them are described in more detail in chapters like [Ezekiel 25](/ezekiel/25 "Ezekiel 25 - Prophecy Against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia") and [Ezekiel 35](/ezekiel/35 "Ezekiel 35 - Judgment on Mount Seir"), where God pronounces judgment against them for their malicious pleasure in Israel's calamity.

**What are "the ancient high places" that the enemy claimed?**

Answer: While "high places" (Hebrew: *bâmâh*) can sometimes refer to pagan worship sites, in this specific context, especially with the modifier "ancient," it more broadly signifies the significant and enduring geographical landmarks and territories of the land of Israel. It represents the very heart of the inheritance God had promised to His people, from the time of Abraham. The enemy's claim of "possession" over these sites was a symbolic and literal attempt to appropriate Israel's divine inheritance and erase their presence from the land, directly challenging God's covenant faithfulness and ownership.

**Why is God so indignant about the enemy's taunt?**

Answer: God's indignation stems from several profound factors. Firstly, the taunt was a direct challenge to His sovereignty and power; the enemy believed that Israel's God had been defeated, allowing them to seize His people's land with impunity. Secondly, it was an act of profound disrespect and cruelty towards His suffering people, gloating over their misfortune and exile. Thirdly, and most importantly, the enemy's actions and words profaned God's holy name among the nations. God had chosen Israel and given them the land, and their exile led the surrounding nations to question His power and faithfulness. God's powerful response in [Ezekiel 36:2-7](/ezekiel/36-2-7 "Ezekiel 36:2-7 - God's Response to the Enemy") and subsequent verses is therefore a vindication of His own name and a definitive demonstration of His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Ezekiel 36:2](/ezekiel/36-2 "Ezekiel 36:2 - The Enemy's Taunt"), with its depiction of the enemy's malicious claim over Israel's inheritance, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who is the true Israel and the rightful inheritor of all things. Just as the ancient enemies sought to dispossess God's people of their land, so too did the powers of darkness and sin seek to usurp humanity's spiritual inheritance and mock God's redemptive plan. The "Aha" of the enemy echoes the taunts hurled at Christ on the cross, where it seemed the forces of evil had triumphed, claiming possession over the "high place" of Golgotha and the very Son of God (e.g., [Matthew 27:39-44](/matthew/27-39-44 "Matthew 27:39-44 - Mocking Jesus on the Cross")). However, just as the Lord GOD declared His sovereign response to Israel's enemies, so too did God raise Jesus from the dead, demonstrating His ultimate victory over sin, death, and all spiritual adversaries. Through Christ, the true "ancient high place" of God's dwelling (His body, the Church) is established, and believers are granted an imperishable inheritance, secured not by human strength or earthly territory, but by the finished work of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Jesus, as the ultimate Son of David and the promised Messiah, is the rightful heir to the land and the promises, and through Him, we receive a spiritual inheritance that no enemy can ever claim (e.g., [Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Our Inheritance in Christ") and [1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3-5 "1 Peter 1:3-5 - A Living Hope and Inheritance")). His resurrection is God's definitive "Thus saith" against every taunt and every claim of the enemy, securing for us an eternal and unshakeable possession in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 32:13

He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

Ezekiel 35:10

¶ Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:

Ezekiel 25:3

And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;

Jeremiah 49:1

¶ Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why [then] doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?

Psalms 78:69

And he built his sanctuary like high [palaces], like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Habakkuk 3:19

The LORD God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' [feet], and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Isaiah 58:14

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].