The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV
Page 424
9:2 c Ps. 139:8; Jer. 23:24
9:2 d Job 20:6; Jer. 51:53; Obad. 4; Matt. 11:23
9:2 2 Or Sheol
9:3 e Jer. 23:24
9:4 f Lev. 26:33
9:4 g Lev. 17:10; Jer. 21:10; 39:16; 44:11
9:5 h Ps. 104:32; 144:5; Is. 64:1; Mic. 1:4
9:5 i Amos 8:8
9:5 3 The Nile
9:6 j Ps. 104:3, 13
9:6 k Amos 5:8
9:6 l Amos 4:13; 5:27
9:6 4 Or stairs
9:7 m Jer. 47:4
9:7 n Deut. 2:23
9:7 o Amos 1:5
9:7 5 Lit. sons of the Ethiopians
9:7 6 Crete
9:8 p Jer. 44:27; Amos 9:4
9:8 q Jer. 5:10; 30:11; (Joel 2:32); Amos 3:12; (Obad. 16, 17)
9:9 r (Is. 65:8–16)
9:9 7 shake
9:9 8 Lit. pebble
9:10 s (Is. 28:15); Jer. 5:12; Amos 6:3
9:11 t Acts 15:16–18
9:11 9 Lit. booth; a figure of a deposed dynasty
9:11 10 Lit. wall up its breaches
9:12 u Obad. 19
9:12 v Num. 24:18; Is. 11:14
9:12 11 LXX mankind
9:13 w Lev. 26:5
9:13 x Joel 3:18
9:14 y Ps. 53:6; Is. 60:4; Jer. 30:3, 18
9:14 z Is. 61:4
9:15 a Is. 60:21; Ezek. 34:28; 37:25
Introduction to Obadiah
Title
The book is named after the prophet who received the vision (1:1). Obadiah means “servant of the LORD” and occurs 20 times in the OT, referring to many other OT individuals. Obadiah is the shortest book in the OT and is not quoted in the NT.
Author and Date
Nothing is known for certain about the author. Other OT references to men of this name do not appear to be referring to this prophet. His frequent mentions of Jerusalem, Judah, and Zion suggest that he belonged to the southern kingdom (cf. vv. 10-12, 17, 21). Obadiah was probably a contemporary of Elijah and Elisha.
The date of writing is equally difficult to determine, though we know it is tied to the Edomite assault on Jerusalem described in vv. 10–14. Obadiah apparently wrote shortly after the attack. There were 4 significant invasions of Jerusalem in OT history: 1) by Shishak, king of Egypt, ca. 925 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kin. 14:25, 26; 2 Chr. 12); 2) by the Philistines and Arabians between 848–841 B.C. during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (2 Chr. 21:8–20); 3) by Jehoash, king of Israel, ca. 790 B.C. (2 Kin. 14; 2 Chr. 25); and 4) by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Of these 4, only the second and the fourth are possible fits with historical data. Number two is preferable, since Obadiah’s description does not indicate the total destruction of the city, which took place under Nebuchadnezzar’s attack. Also, although the Edomites were involved in Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem (Ps. 137; Lam. 4:21), it is significant that Obadiah does not mention the Babylonians by name (as with all the other prophets who wrote about Jerusalem’s fall), nor is there any reference to the destruction of the temple or the deportation of the people; in fact, the captives appear to have been taken to the SW, not E to Babylon (cf. v. 20).
Background and Setting
The Edomites trace their origin to Esau, the firstborn (twin) son of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 25:24–26), who struggled with Jacob even while in the womb (Gen. 25:22). Esau’s name means “hairy,” because “he was like a hairy garment all over” (Gen. 25:25). He is also called Edom, meaning “red,” owing to the sale of his birthright in exchange for some “red stew” (Gen. 25:30). He showed a disregard for the covenant promises by marrying two Canaanite women (Gen. 26:34) and later the daughter of Ishmael (Gen. 28:9). He loved the out-of-doors and, after having his father’s blessing stolen from him by Jacob, was destined to remain a man of the open spaces (Gen. 25:27; 27:38–40). Esau settled in a region of mostly rugged mountains S of the Dead Sea (Gen. 33:16; 36:8, 9; Deut. 2:4, 5) called Edom (Gr., “Idumea”), the 40 mi. wide area which stretches approximately 100 mi. S to the Gulf of Aqabah. The famed King’s Highway, an essential caravan route linking North Africa with Europe and Asia, passes along the eastern plateau (Num. 20:17). The struggle and birth of Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25) form the ultimate background to the prophecy of Gen. 25:23, “two nations are in your womb.” Their respective descendants, Israel and Edom, were perpetual enemies. When Israel came out from Egypt, Edom denied their brother Jacob passage through their land, located S of the Dead Sea (Num. 20:14–21). Nevertheless, Israel was instructed by God to be kind to Edom (Deut. 23:7, 8). Obadiah, having received a vision from God, was sent to describe their crimes and to pronounce total destruction upon Edom because of their treatment of Israel.
The Edomites opposed Saul (ca. 1043–1011 B.C.) and were subdued under David (ca. 1011–971 B.C.) and Solomon (ca. 971–931 B.C.). They fought against Jehoshaphat (ca. 873–848 B.C.) and successfully rebelled against Jehoram (ca. 853–841 B.C.). They were again conquered by Judah under Amaziah (ca. 796–767 B.C.), but they regained their freedom during the reign of Ahaz (ca. 735–715 B.C.). Edom was later controlled by Assyria and Babylon; and in the fifth century B.C. the Edomites were forced by the Nabateans to leave their territory. They moved to the area of southern Palestine and became known as Idumeans. Herod the Great, an Idumean, became king of Judea under Rome in 37 B.C. In a sense, the enmity between Esau and Jacob was continued in Herod’s attempt to murder Jesus. The Idumeans participated in the rebellion of Jerusalem against Rome and were defeated along with the Jews by Titus in A.D. 70. Ironically, the Edomites applauded the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (cf. Ps. 137:7) but died trying to defend it in A.D. 70. After that time they were never heard of again. As Obadiah predicted, they would be “cut off forever” (v. 10); and “no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau” (v. 18).
Historical and Theological Themes
Obadiah is a case study of the curses/blessings in Gen. 12:1–3, with two interrelated themes: 1) the judgment of Edom by God for cursing Israel. This was apparently told to Judah, thereby providing reassurance that the Lord would bring judgment upon Edom for her pride and for her participation in Judah’s downfall; 2) Judah’s restoration. This would even include the territory of the Edomites (vv. 19–21; Is. 11:14). Obadiah’s blessing for Judah includes the near fulfillment of Edom’s demise (vv. 1–14) and the far fulfillment of the nations’ judgment and Israel’s final possession of Edom (vv. 15–21).
Interpretive Challenges
The striking similarity between Obad. 1-9 and Jer. 49:7-22 brings up the question: Who borrowed from whom? Assuming there was not a third common source, it appears that Jeremiah borrowed, where appropriate, from Obadiah, since the shared verses form one unit in Obadiah, while in Jeremiah they are scattered among other verses.
Outline
I. God’s Judgment on Edom (1-14)
A. Edom’s Punishment (1-9)
B. Edom’s Crimes (10-14)
II. God’s Judgment on the Nations (15, 16)
III. God’s Restoration of Israel (17-21)
The Book of
OBADIAH
Obadiah 1
The Coming Judgment on Edom
1The vision of Obadiah.
Thus says the Lord GOD aconcerning Edom
b (We have heard a report from the LORD,
And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying,
“Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle”):
2“Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
You shall be greatly despised.
3The cpride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Whose habitation is high;
d You who say in your heart,
‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
4e Though you ascend as high as the eagle,
And though you fset your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down,” says the LORD.
5�
��If gthieves had come to you,
If robbers by night—
Oh, how you will be cut off!—
Would they not have stolen till they had enough?
If grape-gatherers had come to you,
h Would they not have left some gleanings?
6“Oh, how Esau shall be searched out!
How his hidden treasures shall be sought after!
7All the men in your confederacy
Shall force you to the border;
i The men at peace with you
Shall deceive you and prevail against you.
Those who eat your bread shall lay a 1trap for you.
j No2 one is aware of it.
8“Willk I not in that day,” says the LORD,
“Even destroy the wise men from Edom,
And understanding from the mountains of Esau?
9Then your lmighty men, O mTeman, shall be dismayed,
To the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau
May be cut off by slaughter.
Edom Mistreated His Brother
10“For nviolence against your brother Jacob,
Shame shall cover you,
And oyou shall be cut off forever.
11In the day that you pstood on the other side—
In the day that strangers carried captive his forces,
When foreigners entered his gates
And qcast lots for Jerusalem—
Even you were as one of them.
12“But you should not have rgazed3 on the day of your brother
4 In the day of his captivity;
Nor should you have srejoiced over the children of Judah
In the day of their destruction;
Nor should you have spoken proudly
In the day of distress.
13You should not have entered the gate of My people
In the day of their calamity.
Indeed, you should not have 5gazed on their affliction
In the day of their calamity,
Nor laid hands on their substance
In the day of their calamity.
14You should not have stood at the crossroads
To cut off those among them who escaped;
Nor should you have 6delivered up those among them who remained
In the day of distress.
15“Fort the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near;
u As you have done, it shall be done to you;
Your 7reprisal shall return upon your own head.
16v For as you drank on My holy mountain,
So shall all the nations drink continually;
Yes, they shall drink, and swallow,
And they shall be as though they had never been.
Israel’s Final Triumph
17“But on Mount Zion there wshall be 8deliverance,
And there shall be holiness;
The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
18The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
And the house of Joseph xa flame;
But the house of Esau shall be stubble;
They shall kindle them and devour them,
And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,”
For the LORD has spoken.
19The 9South yshall possess the mountains of Esau,
z And the Lowland shall possess Philistia.
They shall possess the fields of Ephraim
And the fields of Samaria.
Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20And the captives of this host of the children of Israel
Shall possess the land of the Canaanites
As afar as Zarephath.
The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
b Shall possess the cities of the 10South.
21Then csaviors11 shall come to Mount Zion
To judge the mountains of Esau,
And the dkingdom shall be the LORD’s. God’s Judgment on Edom
Obadiah Commentaries
Obadiah 1
1 The vision. The prophetic word often came from God in the form of a vision (cf. Hab. 1:1). Thus says the Lord GOD. Although the background of the prophet is obscure, the source of his message is not. It was supernaturally given by God, and was not motivated by unholy vengeance. Edom. Descendants of Esau (Gen. 25:30; 36:1ff.), the Edomites settled in the region S of the Dead Sea. See Introduction: Background and Setting. Arise…rise up against her. The prophet heard of a God-ordained international plot to overthrow Edom. The selfish motives of Edom’s enemies were divinely controlled by the LORD’s “messengers” to serve His sovereign purposes (cf. Ps. 104:4).
3, 4 Who will bring me down…I will bring you down. Edom’s pride was answered decisively by the Sovereign Ruler (cf. Matt. 23:12). The calamity against Edom, though brought about by her enemies, was truly God’s judgment of her pride (cf. Prov. 16:18; 1 Cor. 10:12).
3 the clefts of the rock. Dwelling in difficult mountain terrain, Edom’s imposing, impregnable capital city of Petra was virtually inaccessible, giving her a sense of security and self-sufficiency. Deep, terrifying gorges emanating from peaks reaching 5,700 ft. surrounded her like a fortress, generating a proud, false sense of security.
5 robbers by night. Because of the rugged terrain and very narrow access through the gorges, predatory attack could only come at night.
5, 6 Edom’s attackers, by divine judgment, would not stop where normal thieves would when they have enough. Instead, they would leave nothing.
7 Those conspiring against Edom (v. 1) were her allies (“men in your confederacy”), her neighbors (“men at peace with you”), and even the outlying tribes who benefited from Edom’s prosperity (“those who eat your bread”).
8 wise men. Edom was known for her wise men and sages (Jer. 49:7). Her location on the King’s Highway provided her with intellectual stimulation with India, Europe, and North Africa.
9 Teman. A name derived from a descendant of Esau (Gen. 36:11), it refers to a region in the northern part of Edom which was the home of Job’s friend, Eliphaz (Job 4:1).
10 violence against…Jacob. Edom’s opposition is in view, which began as Israel approached the land (cf. Num. 20:14–21) and continued to Habakkuk’s day. “Slaughter” (v. 9) and shame for Edom will be just retribution for Edom’s violence and slaughter against her brother’s people.
11–14 The charge of v. 10 is here amplified: 1) they “stood,” withholding assistance (v. 11); 2) they “rejoiced” over Judah’s downfall (v. 12; cf. Pss. 83:4–6; 137:4–6); 3) they plundered the city (v. 13); and 4) they prevented the escape of her fugitives (v. 14).
15 day of the LORD. God’s near judgment of Edom in history (vv. 1–14) was a preview of His far judgment on all nations (vv. 15, 16) who refuse to bow to His sovereignty (cf. discussion of “Day of the LORD” in Introduction to Joel).
16 My holy mountain. Zion, referring to Jerusalem (cf. v. 17). drink, and swallow. Compare Zech. 12:2, where the LORD will make His people as a “cup of drunkenness” from which His enemies will be made to drink. This refers to the cup of God’s wrath. Judah drank temporarily of judgment, Edom will drink “continually.”
17 A reversal of Judah’s plight in vv. 10–14 will come about when Messiah intercedes and establishes His millennial kingdom and “holiness” prevails.
18–20 Those of Judah who remain (v. 14) will be divinely empowered to “devour” (v. 18) and completely wipe out the “house of Esau” (Zech. 12:6; cf. Is. 11:14; 34:5–17). When Messiah sets up His kingdom, the boundaries of the Davidic and Solomonic kingdoms will once again expand to include that promised to Jacob in his dream at Bethel (Gen. 28:14) which reaffirmed God’s promise to Abraham (cf. Gen. 12). This would include the S (mountains of Esau); the W (Philistia); the N (Ephraim…Samaria); and the E (Gilead).
18 house of Jacob…house of Joseph. Representatives of Abraham’s seed.
20 Canaanites. Those peoples who occupied the land before the Exodus. Zarephath. Also known as Sarepta (cf. Luke 4:26), this town w
as located on the Phoenician coast between Tyre and Sidon. Sepharad. Not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, the location is uncertain. Most rabbis identify it with Spain; others have suggested Sparta or Sardis.
21 saviors shall come…to judge. Just as the LORD raised up judges to deliver His people (cf. Neh. 9:27), so will He establish similar leaders to help rule in the millennial kingdom (cf. 1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 20:4). the kingdom shall be the LORD’s. When the nations are judged in the Day of the LORD, He will then set up His millennial kingdom, a theocracy in which He rules His people directly on earth (Zech. 14:4–9; Rev. 11:15).
Obad. 1:21
God’s Judgment on Edom
More than any other nation mentioned in the OT, Edom is the supreme object of God’s wrath.
Pss. 83:5-18; 137:7
Is. 11:14; 21:11, 12; 34:5; 63:1-6
Jer. 49:7-22
Lam. 4:21, 22
Ezek. 25:12-14; 35:1-15
Joel 3:19
Amos 1:11, 12; 9:11, 12
Mal. 1:2-5
Obadiah 1
1:1 a Is. 21:11; Ezek. 25:12; Joel 3:19; Mal. 1:3
1:1 b Jer. 49:14–16; Obad. 1–4
1:3 c Is. 16:6; Jer. 49:16
1:3 d Is. 14:13–15; Rev. 18:7
1:4 e Job 20:6
1:4 f Hab. 2:9; Mal. 1:4
1:5 g Jer. 49:9
1:5 h Deut. 24:21
1:7 i Jer. 38:22
1:7 j Is. 19:11; Jer. 49:7
1:7 1 Or wound or plot
1:7 2 Or There is no understanding in him
1:8 k (Job 5:12–14); Is. 29:14
1:9 l Ps. 76:5
1:9 m Gen. 36:11; 1 Chr. 1:45; Job 2:11; Jer. 49:7
1:10 n Gen. 27:41; Ezek. 25:12; Amos 1:11
1:10 o Ezek. 35:9; Joel 3:19
1:11 p Ps. 83:5–8; Amos 1:6, 9
1:11 q Joel 3:3; Nah. 3:10
1:12 r Mic. 4:11; 7:10
1:12 s (Prov. 17:5); Ezek. 35:15; 36:5
1:12 3 Gloated over
1:12 4 Lit. On the day he became a foreigner
1:13 5 Gloated over
1:14 6 Handed over to the enemy
1:15 t Ezek. 30:3; (Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; Amos 5:18, 20)
1:15 u Jer. 50:29; 51:56; Hab. 2:8
1:15 7 Or reward
1:16 v Joel 3:17
1:17 w Is. 14:1, 2; Joel 2:32; Amos 9:8