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"They have shed innocent blood in their land"

Text: Joel 3:19

A SHARP CONTRAST

A sharp contrast was offered in the prophecy against Egypt and Edom. These were powerful enemies that Israel could not overcome.

“Egypt shall be a desolation,
And Edom a desolate wilderness,
Because of violence against the people of Judah,
For they have shed innocent blood in their land.”
Joel 3:19

1. “Egypt shall be a desolation”

a) Egypt had always been a powerful enemy.

i) It had a much larger army.

ii) Its economy was stronger.

iii) Its influence reached many nations.

b) “A desolation”

i) The LORD Himself would see to the destruction of Egypt.

ii) Babylon would destroy the power of Egypt.

2. “And Edom a desolate wilderness”

a) Edom was a much smaller nation in comparison with Egypt.

b) But Edom was well-situated.

c) Edom was like a marauding force that attacked Judah at its weakest moments.

d) The LORD would reduce Edom to “a desolate wilderness”.

3. “Because of violence against the people of Judah, for they have shed innocent blood in their land”

a) Contextually, this statement was more applicable to Edom.

i) There was great violence against the people of Judah.

ii) They shed innocent blood in Judah.

b) The short book of Obadiah described the sins of Edom against Judah.

i) Babylon had attacked Judah.

ii) Edom had helped the Babylonians.

iii) They took advantage of the weakened state of Judah.

iv) They cut off the escape routes of those fleeing from Judah (Obadiah 14).