(The Book of Obadiah was the fourth of the twelve books that made up the minor prophet section of the Old Testament. Obadiah was a prophet that preceded all of the prophetic books we have covered so far including the books of the major prophet section. Obadiah's message focused on Edom being punished for her sins against Israel. At the time of Obadiah's prophecy, Edom had never been bitter towards Israel. Obadiah's prophecy not only predicted the destruction of Edom but also the eternal possession of Edom's land by Israel. To people of the Old Testament, this book reinforced the promised blessings and curses of the Abrahamic Covenant from Genesis 12.)
Obadiah 1
1 The 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.
(This prophecy concerned a vision of Obadiah regarding the destruction of Edom. Edom was from Esau.)
2 Behold, I have made thee small among the nations: thou art greatly despised.
(Edom was humbled.)
3 The 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?
(Edom's pride of heart deceived him. Edom thought he was too great to be brought down: to be humbled.)
4 Though 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.
(Edom exalted himself and God would bring him down. Edom had never been bitter towards Israel, so this verse's ability to become manifested looked unlikely to the Israelites at that time.)
5 If 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?
6 How are the things of Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!
(Edom was specifically referred to as Esau.)
7 All 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.
8 Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
(Edom was known for wisdom and its wise men: Jeremiah 19:7. These wise men and their understanding would be destroyed.)
9 And 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.
(Teman was a clan of the Edomites. Eliphaz, one of Job's comforters, was a Temanite.)
10 For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
(The reason for judgment against Edom was the violence he (Esau) did to Jacob. When God remembered His people and Isaac's son during their rebellious immature years when they did not know better, God referred to them as "Jacob." When God saw them as having matured and responsible for their actions, God referred to them as "Israel." Even though the Edomites had not sinned against Israel, God said they would and then illustrated the issue by referencing "Esau" and "Jacob." This verse began God's explanation for the reason Edom would be judged.)
11 In 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.
12 But 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.
(This prophecy predicted that Edom would rejoice over Israel's destruction. Basically, Edom would curse the people of the Abrahamic Covenant, which would bring a curse upon Edom.)
13 Enter 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.
14 And 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.
15 For 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.
(Justice would be equaled out against Edom to the extent Edom "cursed" Israel. Verse 15 began the transition from God speaking about the curse against Edom that was yet to occur during their time to the curse that has yet to occur during our time.)
16 For 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.
17 But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
18 And 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.
(Esau would be utterly destroyed. None will remain of the house of Esau (Edom) after the battle of Armageddon. Again, notice God went to the previous names (Jacob and Esau) to pronounce a prophecy over Edom.)
19 And 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.
(Judah ("of the South") would possess the mount of Esau eternally.)
20 And 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.
21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah's.
(The "saviours" will be Christ and His resurrected saints at the battle of Armageddon.)
(The Book of Obadiah was the fourth of the twelve books that made up the minor prophet section of the Old Testament. Obadiah was a prophet that preceded all of the prophetic books we have covered so far including the books of the major prophet section. Obadiah's message focused on Edom being punished for her sins against Israel. At the time of Obadiah's prophecy, Edom had never been bitter towards Israel. Obadiah's prophecy not only predicted the destruction of Edom but also the eternal possession of Edom's land by Israel. To people of the Old Testament, this book reinforced the promised blessings and curses of the Abrahamic Covenant from Genesis 12.)
Day 270
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