Ezekiel 36:1-3

Yahweh commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel (in contrast to Mount Seir, cf. Ezekiel 6:1-14). The reason was threefold. First, Israel’s enemy had spoken against her (cursed her, cf. Genesis 12:3) by rejoicing that the everlasting heights (mountains) of the land had come into their possession (cf. Ezekiel 6:3; Ezekiel 20:29). The Hebrew word bamoth, usually translated "high places," the places where pagan altars stood in Israel, more generally, and here, refers to the mountains themselves. Second, the enemy of Israel had destroyed her for good reason, namely, her sinfulness. Third, now she was the possession of the nations of the world and the subject of their scorn (cf. Deuteronomy 28:37; Jeremiah 24:9). They talked publicly and privately about her fate. This prophecy concerns the land of Israel primarily, not the people of Israel.