Obadiah 1WEB
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Obadiah1

World English Bible · Public Domain

1The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord Yahweh says about Edom. We have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let’s rise up against her in battle.

2Behold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised.

3The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

4Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there,” says Yahweh.

5“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes?

6How Esau will be ransacked! How his hidden treasures are sought out!

7All the men of your alliance have brought you on your way, even to the border. The men who were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you. Friends who eat your bread lay a snare under you. There is no understanding in him.”

8“Won’t I in that day”, says Yahweh, “destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mountain of Esau?

9Your mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed, to the end that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.

10For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever.

11In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance and foreigners entered into his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them.

12But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress.

13Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity.

14Don’t stand in the crossroads to cut off those of his who escape. Don’t deliver up those of his who remain in the day of distress.

15For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.

16For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been.

17But in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions.

18The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble. They will burn among them and devour them. There will not be any remaining to the house of Esau.” Indeed, Yahweh has spoken.

19Those of the South will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the lowland, the Philistines. They will possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria. Benjamin will possess Gilead.

20The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev.

21Saviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be Yahweh’s.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Obadiah 1.

Full AI study →

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.

Cross References

Obadiah 1
v1Jeremiah 49:14allusion

Almost identical verbal formula regarding the rumor from the Lord and the ambassador sent among the heathen.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v3Jeremiah 49:16allusion

Direct parallel on Edom's pride, dwelling in the clefts of the rock, and being brought down.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v21Zechariah 14:9thematic

Parallels the ultimate, glorious establishment of God's universal reign: 'the kingdom shall be the LORD's.'

Supported by Matthew Henry

v5Jeremiah 49:9allusion

Parallel description of thieves by night and grape-gatherers leaving no gleanings in Edom.

Supported by JFB

v7Psalms 41:9thematic

Thematic and verbal link for 'eating bread' and deceiving/laying a wound under a companion.

Supported by JFB

v8Jeremiah 49:7thematic

Asks whether wisdom and understanding have perished from Teman and the mount of Esau.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v21Psalms 22:28thematic

Exact verbal and thematic match declaring that the sovereign kingdom belongs exclusively to the LORD.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Revelation 11:15thematic

The ultimate New Testament realization of the kingdom of this world becoming the Lord's.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v10Psalms 137:7thematic

Records Edom's hostile actions and rejoicing during the day of Jerusalem's destruction.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Genesis 27:41thematic

The historical root of Edom's perpetual hatred and violence against his brother Jacob.

Supported by John Calvin

v17Joel 2:32thematic

Parallels the promise of deliverance and holiness on Mount Zion for the remnant.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Nehemiah 9:27thematic

Uses the same Hebrew concept of God raising up 'saviours' (deliverers) for His people.

v21Joel 2:32thematic

Links deliverance on Mount Zion to the preservation of the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Jeremiah 49:15thematic

Parallels the divine decree making Edom small and despised among the nations.

Supported by JFB

v6Jeremiah 49:10allusion

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

v21Daniel 7:27thematic

Prophesies the final transfer of kingdom dominion to the saints of the Most High.

v10Amos 1:11thematic

Prophetic condemnation of Edom for pursuing his brother with the sword and casting off pity.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Proverbs 17:5thematic

Warns against rejoicing at calamities, which directly matches Edom's sin against Judah.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v211 Timothy 4:16thematic

Shows how gospel ministers act as instrumental 'saviours' under Christ's sovereign authority.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21James 5:20thematic

Demonstrates the New Testament application of human instruments saving souls from spiritual death.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v201 Kings 17:9thematic

Geographical identification of Zarephath, which belonged to the region of Sidon/Canaanites.

Supported by Matthew Poole