Biblical Prophecies of Israel's Global Hatred and Persecution
Biblical prophecies describe a recurring theme of hatred and persecution directed toward Israel, often as a consequence of their disobedience or as part of a larger divine plan. The prophet Hosea, for instance, ministered during a "dark and melancholy period of Israel's history," when their sins led to national disasters [3]. Hosea 9:7 states, "The days of punishment have come, The days of retribution have come; Let Israel know this! The prophet is a fool, The inspired man is demented, Because of the grossness of your iniquity, And because your hostility is so great" [1]. This passage connects Israel's "great hatred" or "great provocation" with the coming days of divine visitation and vengeance [5].
The book of Ezekiel also contains prophecies of denunciation against the Jews, warning of Jerusalem's destruction [2]. These prophecies include symbolic acts illustrating the extremities to which Jerusalem would be reduced [2]. The prophet Ezekiel foretold that God would use Israel's former "lovers"—the Chaldeans and Assyrians—as instruments of judgment, exemplifying a law of retribution where those who abandon God for worldly alliances face disgrace [8]. This judgment was not exhausted by the Chaldean conquest but included future destructions, such as by the Romans and ultimately by Antichrist [4]. The "germinating evil" in Israel's character was seen as leading to a "peculiar manifestation of God's" judgment [4].
The concept of "eternal hatred" is specifically mentioned in relation to Edom's animosity towards Israel, stemming from the ancient rivalry between Esau and Jacob [10]. Edom took advantage of Israel's vulnerability during the Babylonian destruction, seeking to wipe out Jacob's descendants and seize their land [10]. This act of hatred was prophesied to result in similar retribution upon Edom [10].
Despite these prophecies of judgment and persecution, there are also promises of restoration. Ezekiel 36, for example, prophesies the desolations of the land of Israel, the return of its people, and its renewed fruitfulness, alongside spiritual blessings in the latter days [9]. Similarly, Zechariah 12-14 describes a future conflict against Jerusalem and Judah that will ultimately lead to Israel's refinement, sifting, and perfection through conflict with the nations [7]. Rabbinic tradition, as seen in Rashi's commentary on Isaiah 17:12, suggests that the scourges by which Israel is punished will eventually suffer retribution themselves, indicating a divine justice that extends to the nations that persecute Israel [6].
Sources
- Hosea “Hosea 9:7 (NASB) — The days of punishment have come, The days of retribution have come; Let Israel know this! The prophet is a fool, The inspired man is demented, Because of the grossness of your iniquity, And because your hostility is so great.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ezekiel, Book of — Consists mainly of three groups of prophecies. After an account of his call to the prophetical office (1-3:21), Ezekiel (1) utters words of denunciation against the Jews (3:22-24), warning them of the certain destruction of Jerusalem, in opposition to the words of the false prophets (4:1-3). The symbolical acts, by which the extremities to which Jerusalem would be reduced are described in ch. 4, 5, show his intimate acquaintance with the Levitical legislation. (See Ex. 22:30; Deut. 14:21; Lev. 5:2; 7:18, 24; 17:15; 19:7; 22:8, etc.) (2.) Prophecies”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hosea, Prophecies of — This book stands first in order among the "Minor Prophets." "The probable cause of the location of Hosea may be the thoroughly national character of his oracles, their length, their earnest tone, and vivid representations." This was the longest of the prophetic books written before the Captivity. Hosea prophesied in a dark and melancholy period of Israel's history, the period of Israel's decline and fall. Their sins had brought upon them great national disasters. "Their homicides and fornication, their perjury and theft, their idolatry and impi”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 5:9: See on Eze 5:7. that which I have not done--worse than any former judgments (Lam 4:6; Dan 9:12). The prophecy includes the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and the final one by Antichrist (Zac 13:8-9; Zac 14:2), as well as that by Nebuchadnezzar. Their doom of evil was not exhausted by the Chaldean conquest. There was to be a germinating evil in their destiny, because there would be, as the Lord foresaw, a germinating evil in their character. As God connected Himself peculiarly with Israel, so there was to be a peculiar manifestation of God's ”
- Hosea (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hosea 9:7: visitation--vengeance: punishment (Isa 10:3). Israel shall know it--to her cost experimentally (Isa 9:9). the prophet is a fool--The false prophet who foretold prosperity to the nation shall be convicted of folly by the event. the spiritual man--the man pretending to inspiration (Lam 2:14; Eze 13:3; Mic 3:11; Zep 3:4). for the multitude of thine iniquity, &c.--Connect these words with, "the days of visitation . . . are come"; "the prophet . . . is mad," being parenthetical. the great hatred--or, "the great provocation" [HENDERSON]; or, "(thy) g”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Isaiah 17:12: Woe to a multitude of many peoples This is a principle followed throughout all generations; the scourge by which Israel is punished, shall eventually suffer. Therefore, the prophets who prophesy Israel’s retribution through the nations, juxtapose after it the retribution of the nation by which Israel was punished.”
- Zechariah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Zechariah 12 (introduction): Israel's Conflict and Victory, Conversion and Sanctification - Zechariah 12:1-13:6 This section forms the first half of the second prophecy of Zechariah concerning the future of Israel and of the nations of the world, viz., the prophecy contained in ch. 12-14, which, as a side-piece to ch. 9-11, treats of the judgment by which Israel, the nation of God, will be refined, sifted, and led on to perfection through conflict with the nations of the world. This first section announces how the conflict against Jerusalem and Judah will issue in destructi”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 16:37: thy lovers--the Chaldeans and the Assyrians. The law of retribution is the more signally exemplified by God employing, as His instruments of judgment on Israel, those very nations whose alliance and idols Israel had so eagerly sought, besides giving her up to those who had been always her enemies. "God will make him, who leaves God for the world, disgraced even in the eyes of the world, and indeed the more so the nearer he formerly stood to Himself" [HENGSTENBERG], (Isa 47:3; Jer 13:26; Hos 2:12; Nah 3:5). all . . . thou hast hated--the Edomites an”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 36 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 36 This chapter is a prophecy concerning the desolations of the land of Israel, and the causes of them; of the return of the people to it, and the fruitfulness of it; and of spiritual blessings bestowed upon them in the latter day. And first, for the comfort of the people of Israel, it is observed that their enemies that insulted them will suffer the vengeance of God's wrath, particularly the Edomites, Eze 36:1, that the land of Israel should again become fruitful, its cities rebuilt, men and beasts be multiplied upon it, and be”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 35:5: 35:5-10 The eternal [or ancient] hatred of Edom for Israel went all the way back to their respective ancestors, Esau and Jacob (see Gen 25:19-34; 27:1-46; Num 20:14-21; 24:18; 2 Sam 8:13-14; 1 Kgs 11:14). Because of that enmity, the Edomites took advantage of the Babylonian destruction to butcher the Israelites when they were helpless. They wanted to wipe out the descendants of Jacob and seize the lands of Israel and Judah. The bloodbath they delighted to inflict on Israel would return on their own heads, as their people would be slaughtered by the sword. Their e”