Notes on the Book of Obadiah

The icon: Iconostasis of Transfiguration church, Kizhi monastery, Karelia, north Russia, dating from the first quarter of the 18th century (source).

Read Obad 1-4. The opening words of Obad 1 are a superscription. Unlike most of the other prophetic superscriptions, this one contains no reference to king or ruler which would allow us to date Obadiah's ministry. On the basis of what is said in Obadiah 10-14 most scholars date his ministry to sometime during or after the Babylonian exile (ended 537 BC), thinking that these verses are concerned with the calamities that had befallen Judah at this time, and which Edom had taken advantage of and exacerbated.

After the superscription verse 1 goes on to note that a message has gone out to the nations from the Lord, a decree for them to muster and army for Him. The purpose for this is so that God may make Edom small and despised (Obad 2). Proud of heart and trusting in their mountain fortresses they think themselves untouchable (Obad 3). But even if they were to dwell among the stars God would bring them down (Obad 4).

Read Obad 5-9. (NOTE: The Edomites were descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob, father of the twelve tribes of Israel). The passage opens with two rhetorical questions. As a general rule do not thieves and plunderers always leave something behind; especially the little stuff? (Obad 5); but, it is implied, Edom will be pillaged of all that it possesses, including its homeland (Obad 6-7). This will be done by its allies and confederates, people they trusted in, thereby highlighting their lack of understanding (Obad 7). Thus God will drive the Edomites wisemen away.

Read Obad 10-14. The Edomites [descended from Esau] have done violence to their brothers, the Israelites [descended from Jacob] (Obad 10). They showed no concern for what befell their brothers at the hands of a foreign and strange people (Obad 11), except to gloat and rejoice over it (Obad 12). They plundered what the Babylonians had left behind (Obad 13). They delivered up refugees and survivors to the Babylonians (Obad 14).

Read Obad 15-16. As you have done, it shall be done to you, your deeds shall return on your own head. With God the Golden Rule has its reverse! We can see this idea at work in previous verses. The Edomites allowed strangers to plunder the wealth of their brother, Jacob, and plundered the rest themselves; no wonder then that they will suffer plundering at the hands of their friends and allies (compareObad 10, 13 with Obad 6-7). Having cut off the flight of the refugees they will be cut off for ever (compare Obad 14 with Obad 10). God sees to it that evil returns upon the evil doer (Jer 50:15, 29; Ezek 35:15; Joel 3:4, 7).

There may be an allusion to the story of Jacob and Esau underlying this principle. Jacob took advantage of his father Issac's "weak eyes" by disguising himself as Esau, thereby tricking his father into giving him the blessing that belonged to Esau as the firstborn (Gen 27). Later, Jacob is tricked into marrying Leah, the "weak eyed,' firstborn daughter of Laban, when he thought he was marrying the beautiful, second-born Rachael. Laban worked this deceit by dressing up the elder Leah and presenting her as the younger Rachael, just as Jacob had dressed up and presented himself as the firstborn Esau. When the deceit was discovered by Jacob, he objected, but Laban responded by insisting that the elder has precedence over the younger. (Gen 29).

Also, it is interesting to note that when Jacob and Esau met may years after the deceit, Esau showed himself to be quite magnanimous and forgiving, even though he was in a position to destroy Jacob (Gen 33). This stands in marked contrast to the actions of the Edomites highlighted by Obadiah.

Read Obad 17-18. We have seen that Edom watched Jacob be plundered (Obad 11), and plundered Jacob themselves (Obad 13), and turned over those who attempted to escape the Babylonians (Obad 14). Now we see that Mount Zion [Jerusalem] will once again be filled with those who have escaped [i.e., those who returned from the Babylonian exile] and reattained possessions (Obad 17). They shall become like a great fire, consuming the stubble of Edom. Jacob will survive, the Edomites will not (Obad 18).

Read Obad 19-21. The content of verses 19-20 is varied in the manuscripts but the basic idea is clear; the people of God will expand their boarders. The Lord's kingdom will be established (Obad 21).