Obadiah 10-14
The Causes for Edom’s Destruction
Welcome back to our study of Zephaniah and Obadiah. Every weekday we focus on a section of Scripture, combined with Malcolm’s commentary and practical ways to reflect, pray, and act. The entire commentary is available as a book here.
Obadiah 10
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.
Because of
Edom’s sin was violence against Israel.
your brother
Esau hated his brother, Jacob (Gen. 27:411), and this hatred was transmitted to his descendants (Num. 20:14-21), even though Israel was commanded by God to respect her brother (Deut. 2:4-5; 23:7).
destroyed forever
Cf. Is. 34:9-102; Ezek. 35:93; Mal. 1:4.4
Obadiah 11
On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
stood aloof
Edom refused to help Israel when she was invaded by foreign armies.
cast lots for Jerusalem
This has reference to the prisoners they took and also to the things taken as plunder in the city that the conquerors divided among themselves (cf. Joel 3:35).
you were like one of them
Edom acted just like Israel’s enemy.
Verses 12-14 contain a gradual increase of the Edomites’ sins: first they rejoice in watching Israel’s troubles (v. 12), then they join Israel’s enemies in conquering them (v. 13), then they outdo Israel’s enemies by finishing the work of destruction (v. 14).
Obadiah 12
You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.
look down … rejoice … boast
Not only did the Edomites refuse to help, but they gloated over Israel’s misfortune (Ezek. 35:156) and poured scorn on them.
Obadiah 13
You should not march through the gates of My people in the day of their disaster, nor look down on them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster.
Edom now joins Israel’s foes in conquering her (cf. Ezek. 35:107).
Obadiah 14
You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble.
The worst crime of all: they seize upon the fugitives to murder them or to deliver them up to their enemy.
An additional sin was condemned in vv. 3-4: Edom’s pride and sinful self- confidence.
Edom’s conduct toward Israel is representative of the conduct of the nations in general, and her judgment foreshadows the judgment of the nations in the Day of the Lord (vv. 15-16).
Reflect: What responsibility do you have, as a follower of Jesus, to your neighbor and people in your community? Are you seeking to love them the way God has called you to?
Pray: Pray for your neighbors.
Act: Reach out to your neighbors and get to know them better. Find out several ways you can help and encourage them regularly.
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” (Genesis 27:41)
Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again. (Isaiah 34:9-10)
I will make you desolate forever; your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 35:9)
Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the LORD Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD.” (Malachi 1:4)
They cast lots for My people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might drink. (Joel 3:3)
Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 35:15)
Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the LORD was there … (Ezekiel 35:10)