1 The vision H2377 of Obadiah. H5662 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 concerning Edom; H123 We have heard H8085 a rumour H8052 from the LORD, H3068 and an ambassador H6735 is sent H7971 among the heathen, H1471 Arise H6965 ye, and let us rise up H6965 against her in battle. H4421
2 Behold, I have made H5414 thee small H6996 among the heathen: H1471 thou art greatly H3966 despised. H959
3 The pride H2087 of thine heart H3820 hath deceived H5377 thee, thou that dwellest H7931 in the clefts H2288 of the rock, H5553 whose habitation H3427 is high; H4791 that saith H559 in his heart, H3820 Who shall bring me down H3381 to the ground? H776
4 Though thou exalt H1361 thyself as the eagle, H5404 and though thou set H7760 thy nest H7064 among the stars, H3556 thence will I bring thee down, H3381 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
5 If thieves H1590 came H935 to thee, if robbers H7703 by night, H3915 (how art thou cut off!) H1820 would they not have stolen H1589 till they had enough? H1767 if the grapegatherers H1219 came H935 to thee, would they not leave H7604 some grapes? H5955
6 How are the things of Esau H6215 searched out! H2664 how are his hidden H4710 things sought up! H1158
7 All the men H582 of thy confederacy H1285 have brought H7971 thee even to the border: H1366 the men H582 that were at peace H7965 with thee have deceived H5377 thee, and prevailed H3201 against thee; they that eat thy bread H3899 have laid H7760 a wound H4204 under thee: there is none understanding H8394 in him.
8 Shall I not in that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 even destroy H6 the wise H2450 men out of Edom, H123 and understanding H8394 out of the mount H2022 of Esau? H6215
9 And thy mighty H1368 men, O Teman, H8487 shall be dismayed, H2865 to the end that every one H376 of the mount H2022 of Esau H6215 may be cut off H3772 by slaughter. H6993
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Obadiah 1
Commentary on Obadiah 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The Prophecy of Obadiah
Chapter 1
This book is wholly concerning Edom, a nation nearly allied and near adjoining to Israel, and yet an enemy to the seed of Jacob, inheriting the enmity of their father Esau to Jacob. Now here we have, after the preface (v. 1).
Oba 1:1-9
Edom is the nation against which this prophecy is levelled, and which, some think, is put for all the enemies of Israel, that shall be brought down first or last. The rabbin by Edom understand Rome. Rome Christians they understand it of, and have an implacable enmity to it a such; but, if we understand it of Rome antichristian, we shall find the passages of it applicable enough. And though Edom was mortified in the times of the Maccabees, as it had been before by Jehoshaphat, yet its destruction seems to have been typical, as their father Esau's rejection, and to have had further reference to the destruction of the enemies of the gospel-church; for so shall all God's enemies perish; and we find (Isa. 34:5) the sword of the Lord coming down upon Idumea, to signify the general day of God's recompences for the controversy of Zion, v. 8. Some have well observed that it could not but be a great temptation to the people of Israel, when they saw themselves, who were the children of beloved Jacob, in trouble, and the Edomites, not only prospering, but triumphing over them in their troubles; and therefore God gives them a prospect of the destruction of Edom, which should be total and final, and of a happy issue of their own correction. Now we may observe here,
Oba 1:10-16
When we have read Edom's doom, no less than utter ruin, it is natural to ask, Why, what evil has he done? What is the ground of God's controversy with him? Many things, no doubt, were amiss in Edom; they were a sinful people, and a people laden with iniquity. But that one single crime which is laid to their charge, as filling their measure and bringing this ruin upon them, that for which they here stand indicted, of which they are convicted, and for which they are condemned, is the injury they had done to the people of God (v. 10): "It is for thy violence against thy brother Jacob, that ancient and hereditary grudge which thou hast borne to the people of Israel, that all this shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off for ever.' Note, Injuries to men are affronts to God, the righteous God, that loveth righteousness and hateth wickedness; and, as the Judge of all the earth, he will give redress to those that suffer wrong and take vengeance on those that do wrong. All violence, all unrighteousness, is sin; but it is a great aggravation of the violence if it be done either,
In the following verses we are told more particularly,
Oba 1:17-21
After the destruction of the church's enemies is threatened, which will be completely accomplished in the great day of recompence, and that judgment for which Christ came once, and will come again, into this world, here follow precious promises of the salvation of the church, with which this prophecy concludes, and those of Joel and Amos did, which, however they might be in part fulfilled in the return of the Jews out of Babylon notwithstanding the triumphs of Edom in their captivity, as if it were perpetual, are yet, doubtless, to have their full accomplishment in that great salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ, to which all the prophets bore witness. It is promised here,