Obadiah1
New American Standard
1The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord God says concerning Edom— We have heard a report from the Lord, And a messenger has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise, and let’s go up against her for battle”—
2“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised.
3The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, The one who lives in the clefts of the rock, On the height of his dwelling place, Who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’
4Though you make your home high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord.
5“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— Oh how you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape-pickers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings?
6Oh how Esau will be searched, And his hidden treasures searched out!
7All the people allied with you Will send you to the border, And the people at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread Will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)
8Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord, “Eliminate wise men from Edom, And understanding from the mountain of Esau?
9Then your warriors will be filled with terror, Teman, So that everyone will be eliminated from the mountain of Esau by murder.
10“Because of violence to your brother Jacob, Shame will cover you, And you will be eliminated forever.
11On the day that you stood aloof, On the day that strangers carried off his wealth, And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for Jerusalem— You too were as one of them.
12Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah On the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast On the day of their distress.
13Do not enter the gate of My people On the day of their disaster. You indeed, do not gloat over their catastrophe On the day of their disaster. And do not lay a hand on their wealth On the day of their disaster.
14Do not stand at the crossroads To eliminate their survivors; And do not hand over their refugees On the day of their distress.
15“For the day of the Lord is near for all the nations. Just as you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
16For just as you drank on My holy mountain, All the nations will drink continually. They will drink to the last drop, And become as if they had never existed.
17But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, And it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their property.
18Then the house of Jacob will be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be like stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the Lord has spoken.
19Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau, And those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain; Also, they will possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, And Benjamin the territory of Gilead.
20And the exiles of this army of the sons of Israel, Who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad, Will possess the cities of the Negev.
21The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion To judge the mountain of Esau, And the kingdom will be the Lord’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