Obadiah Commentary

Obadiah Introduction

This is the shortest book in the Old Testament, consisting of only twenty-one verses. The name Obadiah means “servant of the Lord”, and was a common name among the Jewish people. At least twelve Old Testament men were named Obadiah, including an officer in David’s army (1 Chron. 12:9), Ahab’s servant (1 Kings 18:3), and a Levite in the days of Josiah (2 Chron. 34:12).

The book describes an attack on Jerusalem (11), in which the Edomites assisted the enemies of God’s people. This can be narrowed down to two possibilities: an attack in the days of Jehoram when the Philistines and Arabians attacked the city (848-844 B.C.); see 2 Chronicles 21:8-10, 16-17. Or, an attack on Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The Text 1:1 The word vision is also used in Isaiah 1:1, Micah 1:1, and Nahum 1:1 to introduce those prophetic books as well. The word might suggest that the prophet saw, as well as heard, what God communicated to him. But to avoid any misconception as to the true character of his message (that is, he is not merely having a dream), he adds, “Thus says the Lord God”. He is God’s spokesman (Jeremiah 1:5-9), and this is a vision sent from God. 1:1 The nation of Edom embraced a tract of very mountainous country about 110 miles long and 30 miles wide. The nation had derived its name from Esau (Genesis 25:25,30), the twin brother of Jacob. Unfortunately, the Edomites became enemies of the Israelites and even refused them simple passage through their land when Israel first came from Egyptian captivity (Numbers 20:14-21).

King Saul later fought against them (1 Samuel 14:47); and David, during his reign, brought them into subjection (2 Samuel 8:13-14). Outbreaks of conflict between the two nations continued until the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. when the Edomites encouraged its downfall (Psalm 137:7). The impending judgment of God because of their cruelty toward, and lack of compassion for their brother Jacob is set forth in many Old Testament passages in addition to Obadiah (Ezekiel 25:12-14; Amos 1:11-12; Isaiah 34:5ff; Jeremiah 49:7ff; Lam. 4:2122).

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Point to Note Jacob and Esau were brothers and were raised by the same parents. Jacob and Esau even reconciled and settled their differences, but Esau’s descendants became the perpetual enemies of God’s people. Are we raising our children with the intention of making sure that they don’t become enemies of God’s people?

1:1 The term we probably includes the prophet and all who hear or read his prophecy. He assures them again that his message comes from the Lord.

1:1 From this verse we learn that an envoy had been sent among the nations to gather them for battle against the Edomites. Many feel that this envoy was a spiritual being (1 Kings 22:19-23; Jeremiah 25:15ff; Daniel 10:13,21), which suggested to the nations such a plan. Such nations still had their own choice and freewill, and their own agendas were often completely different from God’s purposes, but like the Jewish leaders who crucified Christ, they would accomplish God’s plan while thinking that they were advancing their own causes.

1:2 In spite of Edom’s arrogance, God would make the nation small and despised.

1:3 “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you”: (Proverbs 16:18). In this book we see the intoxicating nature of arrogance and how pride can completely blind one to reality. Obadiah proceeds to mention the object of the Edomites’ trusted, that is, what made them so self-confident.

1:3 “You live in the clefts of the rock”: “The very character of its land, the high hills, the lofty mountains, the steep crags, the tropical heat, the scarcity of water, all combined to make a campaign against Edom exceedingly difficult…The innumerable caves, natural and artificial, offered refuge for the people of the land and vantage points for the soldiers from which surprise attacks, and sudden raids could be made upon the enemy. While the invaders plodded their weary way in the fierce heat, without adequate food and water supply, the Edomites enjoyed the coolness of the caves, where they had not only hidden their treasures, but had also stored ample food supplies, while huge cisterns filled in the rainy seasons furnished the needed water during the dry summer” 1 1

Bible Commentary : The Minor Prophets, Dr. Theo Laetsch, pp. 196-197

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The capital city Petra provides a sample of the uniqueness of Edom. The city was virtually impervious to attack with its 700-foot-high cliffs which sheltered a narrow, mile-long ravine that provided entrance into the city. The buildings were carved out of solid pink stone (Obadiah 3).

1:4 God answers the pride of these people. Even if they could build their homes where the eagles nest or even among the stars, God could still bring them down.

Though Edom was also impregnable to man, she was not inaccessible to God. Point to Note It is easy for mankind to become arrogant in our times. It seems like our technology has made us independent and completely self-sufficient, but such is only an illusion. No nation or culture, regardless of its resources, technology and defenses is invulnerable to either the blessings or judgments of God. When we as individuals or as a nation portray a prideful, self-centered sense of security, we are only fooling ourselves. We will eventually face the consequences of our self-reliant failure or bow humbly before God. Equally observe that man would be accountable to God even if he dwelled among the stars. If man was able to build a colony on the moon or Mars, such inhabitants would still have to answer to the Creator.

1:5 Obadiah now gives us some details about the coming judgment upon the Edomites. Thieves and robbers usually leave at least something untouched.

Grape gatherers overlook a few grapes. But not so with Edom, she will be completely plundered.

1:6 Edom’s pride also rested in its wealth. Edom was by no means a completely desert country. Fertile valleys were watered by rain and irrigation and rich copper and iron mines near Ezion-Geber were the source of great wealth. In addition, Edom controlled the great trade routes from Ezion-Geber, one leading to Egypt, the other, the King’s Highway (Numbers 20:17), portions of which are still traceable, which ran from that port through the length of Edom and Transjordan north to Damascus. At Ezion-Geber trading vessels assembled from Arabia, India, Africa, with wares for Egypt, Syria, Assyria, and to return home laden with goods from these latter countries. Edom served as the broker of this world-wide trade, exacting duties, tolls, and other taxes, buying and selling at a great profit. But no matter how carefully the Edomites had hidden their wealth

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in secret underground caves, all this wealth would be looted. Its most secret places will be ransacked, not an iota of its riches will be left behind.

1:7 Edom also prided herself on all her alliances with other nations. Yet in time of need all these human alliances and treaties would fail. The expression, they would eat your bread, refers to their allies and supposed friends. How many people today trust in human relationships to deliver them? People seem to think that there is safety in numbers, that is, if a large quantity of people believe something then man thinks that it is safe ground. People even think that God won’t condemn them, because if God did, He would have to condemn millions and obviously God wouldn’t allow millions of people to end up lost (Matthew 7:13-14). The prophet also says, “There is no understanding in him”, that is, the Edomites, due to their pride, could not see what was really happening in such human alliances.

1:8-9 The Edomites also placed a lot of confidence in their “wise men”. The city of Teman was the southernmost of Edom’s two chief cities and was distinguished for its men of wisdom (Job 2:11). Like nations of today, Edom placed all her confidence in her human scientists, experts, professors, counselors, and advisors.

“Their statesmanship, their political finesse, their business acumen, their military judgment—all gone, all vanished” (Laetsch p. 199). All the professors, political advisors, lawyers, military experts, and so on, could not protect the Edomites from God’s judgment. Are we depending upon any “smart” men to get us off the hook?

The Reason for this Judgment 1:10-14 Instead of brotherly love and sympathy in the time of Israel’s distress, Edom’s attitude had been one of cold indifference, gloating over Israel’s downfall, looting the city of Jerusalem, and taking advantage of Jews who were trying to flee for safety. Evidently, the Edomites had stationed themselves at the places where the roads leading away from Jerusalem forked or crossed that they might fall upon the hapless fleeing fugitives, either to rob or slay them or to take them captive to be sold as slaves.

Has anything really changed? “It is a travesty today on our society and its integrity that when disaster strikes a city or countryside the National Guard must be called out to protect the goods—not from the unfortunate people’s enemies but from the plundering hands of their own neighbors. Time changes

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little, and humanity not at all” 2 Edom finds herself condemned for callous noninvolvement (“you stood aloof”); malicious gloating and ruthless exploitation.

Note that God also reminds the Edomites that the Israelites are their brothers.

“God is not pleased with the one who stands aloof and manifests cold indifference toward those in distress…To find sadistic joy in the calamities of others is doubly wicked” 3 Compare with Luke 10:31-32.

You Reap What You Have Sown 1:15 The day of the Lord is a day in which God manifests Himself in the overthrow of His enemies. It is a day of terror to such enemies and a day of deliverance to His people. This expression is used anytime God judges by entering into world affairs. Edom would reap as she had sown, her punishment would exactly fit her crimes. She had looted Jerusalem, hence she would be looted. She had killed Judean fugitives, so she was slaughtered. Remember, every physical and local judgment is simply a reminder that eventually God will judge everyone at the last day.

1:16 Apparently, the Edomites had been involved in a drunken celebration in Jerusalem. Edom, as well as other nations which oppose God and His people will drink of the cup of His wrath as a consequence and they will cease to exist.

In the late sixth or early fifth century B.C. the Nabateans, from northern Arabia, worshipers of gods and goddesses of fertility and the celestial bodies, drove out most of the Edomites. Apparently some remained in Edom and were absorbed by the Nabatean Arabs. The expelled Edomites settled in Idumea, the Greek name for southern Judea. Later (ca. 120 B.C.) the Edomites there, then called Idumeans, were subdued by John Hyrcanus, a Maccabean, who forced them to be circumcised and to follow Judaism. The Idumeans joined the Jews in their rebellion against Rome in A.D. 70, but were almost obliterated by Titus, the Roman general. Only a few Idumean refugees escaped. The Edomites then faded from history.

Escape Will Be Found On Mount Zion 2 3

A Commentary On The Minor Prophets, Homer Hailey, pp. 35-36 The Spiritual Sword, July 1995, p. 16

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1:17 The future of the Edomite nation would be a complete disaster, while the future of God’s people would be bright. First, even through Israel would go into captivity, she would be restored to the land during the time period of Ezra and Nehemiah (see Malachi 1:1ff).

1:18 As God had predicted no Edomites exist today.

1:19 James, in Acts 15:15-18, quotes Amos 9:11-12, where Edom, as a remnant, was to become a possession, and declares that this prophecy was fulfilled in preaching Christ to the Gentiles. Hence, Obadiah 16-21 does not refer to some sort of Millennial Kingdom. The physical kingdom of Edom was destroyed, but individuals of Edomite stock still could find deliverance, just as descendants of the stock of others which God had destroyed in the Old Testament, yet such deliverance could only be found in spiritual Zion, that is, the church.

1:20-21 Many feel that the deliverers in this passage refer to the apostles and early Christians who preached in Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. Smith says, “The term is broad enough in scope to include all the political and spiritual leaders who arose in the days subsequent to Obadiah who were successful in giving deliverance to the people of God” (p. 57). Such saviors would preserve the holiness of God’s people.

Clearly, during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah God’s people once again possessed these regions. Amos reveals that the restored tabernacle of David would possess the remnant of Edom, namely, all which was called by the Lord’s name (Amos 9:11-12). In Acts 15:13-18 James applies this latter prophecy to the Church’s victorious conquest of all the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel.

Matthew and Mark tell us that people from Jerusalem, Judea, Galilee, from beyond the Jordan, Decapolis, Idumaea, Tyre, and Sidon were gained for Christ’s kingdom by Jesus’ preaching. The book of Acts records the fulfillment of Obadiah 17-20; the conquest of the countries and districts named by Obadiah by the Church of the New Testament, the true Mount Zion; Philistia (Acts 8:40; 9:3243); Samaria (8:5-17); Zarephath in Phoenica (Acts 11:19); Sepharad, in Asia Minor; Revelation 3:1 and Paul’s preaching.

The term “Negev” (NEG ev) used to describe the southern desert or wilderness area of Judah. The term “Shephelah” describes the western foothills of Judah.

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“Zarephath”-(ZAR eh fath), was Phoenician coastal city situated between Tyre and Sidon, and the term “Sepharad” (she FA rid), may refer to the city of Sardis in Asia Minor.

Obadiah predicts a time when all these territories would again be possessed by God’s people, having returned to the Lord in repentance and faith. What about the captives dragged out of their homeland? The Lord has not forgotten them!

1:21 “And the kingdom will be the Lord’s”: This is the bottom line of all history. “The struggles between Mt. Zion and Mt. Esau, the world and the church, fade from the prophet’s view. He sees the kingdom of Yahweh ultimately triumphant, surviving all the powers which have tried to destroy her.

These words are the polar star to guide God’s people through whatever dark days may arise” (Smith p. 58). See Psalm 22:28; Daniel 2:44; Luke 1:33; Hebrews 12:28

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