What is the meaning of Isaiah 34:17? He has allotted their portion “ He has allotted their portion ” (Isaiah 34:17) shows the LORD acting as the sovereign land-giver. • The language echoes Deuteronomy 32:8, where “the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,” reminding us that every boundary—whether for people (Joshua 14:1–2) or, as here, for the desert creatures replacing Edom’s population—is set by Him. • In the immediate context, Isaiah 34 forecasts the downfall of Edom. By the time we reach verse 17, the prophet pictures God carving up that once-proud territory for owls, jackals, and other unclean animals (vv. 11–15). • The takeaway is plain: no nation can cling to land or power once God reassigns it (Psalm 75:6-7). His hand has distributed it by measure “ His hand has distributed it by measure ” assures us that the allotment is neither random nor careless. • Job 38:5 asks, “Who fixed its measurements—surely you know!” The same divine precision that laid earth’s foundations now doles out Edom’s ruins by exact “measure.” • Isaiah 40:12 pictures God “measuring the waters in the hollow of His hand,” underscoring meticulous control. Judgments are not emotional outbursts but carefully calibrated to fit the crime (Proverbs 16:11). • Because God’s “hand” does the measuring, the decision is irreversible; no human treaty or alliance can redraw the map He has finalized (Acts 17:26). They will possess it forever “ They will possess it forever ” shifts focus to duration. • The “they” refers to the scavenging creatures listed in verses 11-15. God is granting them permanent title to Edom’s land, just as He once gave Israel the Promised Land (Psalm 37:29). • “Forever” means the devastation will not be quickly repaired; Edom’s prideful cities will remain a haunt of beasts (Malachi 1:3-4). • The same word “forever” is used of God’s covenant blessings (Isaiah 60:21). If His promises of mercy are eternal, so are His decrees of judgment—both flow from the same faithful character. They will dwell in it from generation to generation The closing phrase nails down the idea of continuous occupancy. • Psalm 102:27-28 celebrates the LORD who remains “the same,” and “the children of Your servants will dwell securely.” Here, however, the principle is applied in reverse: unclean animals will inherit Edom “from generation to generation,” confirming total and lasting desolation. • Exodus 3:15 uses the same expression of God’s memorial name “throughout all generations,” stressing that His word endures longer than any kingdom or dynasty. • The line also implies a warning: if God can perpetuate judgment through successive generations, there is no safe harbor in merely “waiting out” His anger (Lamentations 5:19). Only repentance can alter the future. summary Isaiah 34:17 caps a chapter of stark judgment by highlighting four realities: God alone decides territorial destinies, He does so with deliberate precision, His verdicts stand forever, and they are upheld across generations. Edom’s land passes permanently to desert creatures, proving that when the LORD speaks, history bends to His word—whether to bless or to bring down. |
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