Obadiah1
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning Edom: We have heard tidings from Jehovah, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
2Behold, I have made thee small among the nations: thou art greatly despised.
3The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
4Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.
5If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night (how art thou cut off!), would they not steal only till they had enough? if grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes?
6How are the things of Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!
7All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee on thy way, even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread lay a snare under thee: there is no understanding in him.
8Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
9And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter.
10For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
11In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
12But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.
13Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye hands on their substance in the day of their calamity.
14And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.
15For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head.
16For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been.
17But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
18And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for Jehovah hath spoken it.
19And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria; and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20And the captives of this host of the children of Israel, that are among the Canaanites, shall possess even unto Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, that are in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the South.
21And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah’s.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Obadiah 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Destruction to come upon Edom. Their offences against Jacob. (1–16). The restoration of the Jews, and their flourishing state in the latter times. (17–21).
vv1-16
This prophecy is against Edom. Its destruction seems to have been typical, as their father Esau's rejection; and to refer to the destruction of the enemies of the gospel church. See the prediction of the success of that war; Edom shall be spoiled, and brought down. All the enemies of God's church shall be disappointed in the things they stay themselves on. God can easily lay those low who magnify and exalt themselves; and will do it. Carnal security ripens men for ruin, and makes the ruin worse when it comes. Treasures on earth cannot be so safely laid up but that thieves may break through and steal; it is therefore our wisdom to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Those that make flesh their trust, arm it against themselves. The God of our covenant will never deceive us: but if we trust men with whom we join ourselves, it may prove to us a wound and dishonour. God will justly deny those understanding to keep out of danger, who will not use their understandings to keep out of sin. All violence, all unrighteousness, is sin; but it makes the violence far worse, if it be done against any of God's people. Their barbarous conduct towards Judah and Jerusalem, is charged upon them. In reflecting on ourselves, it is good to consider what we should have done; to compare our practice with the Scripture rule. Sin, thus looked upon in the glass of the commandment, will appear exceedingly sinful. Those have a great deal to answer for, who are idle spectators of the troubles of their neighbours, when able to be active helpers. Those make themselves poor, who think to make themselves rich by the ruin of the people of God; and those deceive themselves, who call all that their own on which they can lay their hands in a day of calamity. Though judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. Let sorrowful believers and insolent oppressors know, that the troubles of the righteous will soon end, but those of the wicked will be eternal.
vv17-21
There should be deliverance and holiness at Jerusalem, and the house of Jacob would again occupy their possessions. Much of this prophecy was fulfilled when the Jews returned to their own land. But the salvation and holiness of the gospel, its spread, and the conversion of the Gentiles, seem also to be intended, especially the restoration of Israel, the destruction of antichrist, and the prosperous state of the church, to which all the prophets bear witness. When Christ is come, and not till then, shall the kingdom be the Lord's in the full sense of the term. As none that exalt themselves against the Lord shall prosper, and all shall be brought down; so none that wait upon the Lord, and put their trust in him, shall ever be dismayed. Blessed be the Divine Saviour and Judge on Mount Zion! His word shall be a savour of life unto life unto numbers, while it judges and condemns obstinate unbelievers.
Key Words
חָזוֹן: a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle
עֹבַדְיָה: Obadjah, the name of thirteen Israelites
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
אֱדֹם: Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
שְׁמוּעָה: something heard, i.e. an announcement
צִיר: a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure); also a herald or erranddoer (as constrained by the principal)
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
Cross References
Obadiah 1Almost identical verbal formula regarding the rumor from the Lord and the ambassador sent among the heathen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct parallel on Edom's pride, dwelling in the clefts of the rock, and being brought down.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the ultimate, glorious establishment of God's universal reign: 'the kingdom shall be the LORD's.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel description of thieves by night and grape-gatherers leaving no gleanings in Edom.
Supported by JFB
Thematic and verbal link for 'eating bread' and deceiving/laying a wound under a companion.
Supported by JFB
Asks whether wisdom and understanding have perished from Teman and the mount of Esau.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Exact verbal and thematic match declaring that the sovereign kingdom belongs exclusively to the LORD.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The ultimate New Testament realization of the kingdom of this world becoming the Lord's.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Records Edom's hostile actions and rejoicing during the day of Jerusalem's destruction.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical root of Edom's perpetual hatred and violence against his brother Jacob.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the promise of deliverance and holiness on Mount Zion for the remnant.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Uses the same Hebrew concept of God raising up 'saviours' (deliverers) for His people.
Links deliverance on Mount Zion to the preservation of the remnant whom the Lord calls.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the divine decree making Edom small and despised among the nations.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the searching out and uncovering of Esau's secret/hidden places by enemies.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the cup of God's wrath which all nations must drink.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophesies the final transfer of kingdom dominion to the saints of the Most High.
Prophetic condemnation of Edom for pursuing his brother with the sword and casting off pity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Warns against rejoicing at calamities, which directly matches Edom's sin against Judah.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Shows how gospel ministers act as instrumental 'saviours' under Christ's sovereign authority.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Demonstrates the New Testament application of human instruments saving souls from spiritual death.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Geographical identification of Zarephath, which belonged to the region of Sidon/Canaanites.
Supported by Matthew Poole