OBADIAH

1 See Isa. 1 on verse 1.

2 See of another Obadiah in Ahab’s time, 1 Kings 18 on verse 3, and below on verse 11.

3 Or, against, unto.

4 I and other prophets, my fellow ministers. In its place Jer. 49:14 states: I have, etc., where a similar prophecy against Edom is related almost with the same words. See the annotation there and further in Ezek. 25:12, etc.; 35:2, etc.; Amos 1:11, 12.

a Jer. 49:14.

5Idumea.

6 Compare Jer. 49:16.

7 That is, ye that, etc. Or, him that, etc., or, O thou that thou dwellest, etc. Jer. 49:16.

8 Or, being (namely, the foresaid rocks) his high habitation or seat. Hebr. the height of his habitation.

9 That is, thinks, conceives, as Psalm 10:6, etc.

10 Compare Jer. 49:16; Amos 9:2, 3, 4.

b Jer. 49:16.

11 Compare Jer. 49:9.

c Jer. 49:9.

12 Hebr. their sufficiency.

13 Or, those of Esau, that is, Esau’s posterity or of Esau’s places searched through. Compare Jer. 49:10.

14 Or, hidden places. The Hebrew word is nowhere found but here and may be compared with another, which comes from the same root, Psalm 17:14.

15 Hebr. people or men of your covenant; also in the following: the men that were at peace, that is, with whom you were at peace. See Psalm 41:9; Isa. 41:11, 12; Jer. 20:10; 38:22, with the annotations.

16 Showing your ambassadors much respect, as if they meant it very sincerely with you and would mind your affairs very cordially, but (as it follows) they have deceived you; or, they went forth to battle with you, but forsook you at the borders. Other, they drove you out, that is, helped to thrust you out, having become enemies, instead of friends.

17 By their deceitful advice. Compare Jer. 38:22.

18 Compare Psalm 41:9; Hebr. (from what is before) people or men of thy bread, that is, your guests, your most familiar friends.

19 Here and in the sequel it appears that this is a prophecy of the time to come, though before, the people spoke as of things passed, according to the prophetical manner, to denote the certainty of what they did foretell.

20 As base villains or enemies secretly hide such things at the place where one is wont to sit, lie, stand, go or live, thus to hurt, wound and bring him in sorrow. Hereby may be understood some treachery or subtle plots and practices to bring their state into confusion. Others thus: they have set thy bread for a swelling among thee, that is, they have turned your feastings, wherewith ye did entertain them, to your destruction.

21 Namely, in Edom. Other, whereof thou shalt have no understanding. And consequently you shall not be able to be healed from this, or provide against it, how brave you may think to be. Your understanding shall at that time be taken from you, as is said in the next verse.

d Isa. 29:14; Jer. 49:7.

22 Governors or counselors. Compare Jer. 49:7.

23 As then there shall neither be advice nor understanding with you, so shall there be also no courage.

e Amos 2:14, 16.

24 See Jer. 49 on verse 7.

25 For, if the mighty men be daunted, then all is easily defeated and cut down, without resistance.

f Gen. 27:41; Ezek. 35:5; Amos 1:11.

26 Hebr. because or on account of the violence of thy brother Jacob, that is, that which he did practice against him (that is, against his posterity, you own kinsmen). Compare the phrase with Jer. 2:2; Hab. 2:8, 17, and see the annotations there, and further Psalm 137:7; Ezek. 25:12; 35:5.

27 Compare Job 8:22, with the annotation.

28 To bring about your delight in seeing the calamity of your brethren.

29 The Babylonians with their army, from which it may be gathered that Obadiah prophesied this about or after the siege of Jerusalem and the transportation of the people to Babel, at the same time when Jeremiah prophesied at Jerusalem, or among the Jews who remained in Judah, or in Egypt, and Ezekiel among the imprisoned Jews in Babel.

30 Or, substance, namely, of Jacob. Compare verses 13, 20.

31 That is, the spoils and captives. See Joel 3:3.

g Psalm 137:7.

32 As a Chaldean, stranger and enemy.

33 Other, But look not, etc., and so onward, namely, with joy and delight. Also verse 13. See Psalm 22 on verse 17. As if God would have said: Do not rejoice yourselves in the calamity of your brethren, wait a little; your own, a heavier one by far, is at your very door, as follows in verse 15. It is an upbraiding address and an objection to their insolent carriage, which God would be sure to punish severely, but afterward show favor to His people.

34 The time of his visitation or punishment, as is declared in the sequel. Compare Psalm 37 on verse 13.

35 When, being delivered up into the hand of strangers, he was carried out of his own into a strange land, and God Himself was in a manner become a stranger to him.

36 That is, ye should not have opened your mouth so wide, and ye should not have mocked as such with scorn and ridicule. Compare Psalm 22:13; 35:26; Ezek. 35:12, 13, with the annotations.

37 As kinsmen, it is not proper for them to do what strangers and enemies do.

38 That is, misery, evil of punishment. See Gen. 19 on verse 19.

39 Jacob’s forces or host, as verse 11. They have undoubtedly done both, laying their hands on their persons, as follows, and on their goods. Compare Gen. 37:22, with the annotation.

40 Other, rent, breach, namely, of the city; to prevent the escape of any.

41 To intercept the Jews, who sought to flee or were already escaped from the enemy by the one or the other way, or to stop the passage and to murder them.

42 Into the hand of the enemy.

43 Whom the enemy may have overlooked or have left behind, and whom you begrudge to be alive.

44 That is, the appointed time of their punishment. See Psalm 37:13; Joel 1:15, with the annotations.

h Ezek. 35:15.

45 See of the Hebrew word 2 Chron. 20 on verse 11; Psalm 13 on verse 6. Likewise Judges 9:16, etc.

46 Ye Jews; being My people and church.

47 Out of the cup of My wrath. See Jer. 25:15, 18, 29; 49:12, with the annotations.

48 Zion, typifying the church of God. See Psalm 2 on verse 6.

49 Without ceasing; My wrath shall rest and remain upon them.

50 The very dregs and bottom thereof. See Psalm 75:8.

51 They shall drink as such that by My wrath and vexations they shall be utterly destroyed, but with My church I will deal as follows. Some understand this verse as such: Even as ye (Edomites) did drink with much rejoicing about My holy mountain, when the same was laid waste, so shall all the heathen drink again with rejoicing at your destruction, yea, devour and swallow you up altogether, as if there had never been any Edomite.

52 The destruction of My people shall not be universal, but I shall keep My chosen remnant, and restore and consecrate My church from her, etc. under the Messiah.

53 The mount, that is, they who inhabit thereon, Psalm 15:1. Namely, the church shall be very holy. See Ezek. 43:12; Joel 3:17, with the annotations.

54 Or, and they of the house of Jacob shall, etc.

55 Namely, their own, which are promised them by God in the Messiah, the blessing of the covenant, to which likewise belongs the possession of their enemies, the nations before mentioned. See Amos 9:12, with the annotations.

56 The church shall, through the power of her Head Jesus Christ, consume and destroy all her enemies, typified by the Edomites. Compare the phrase with Judges 9:15, 20; Isa. 29:6.

57 Those of the house of Jacob and of Joseph.

58 The Edomites. Compare Psalm 7:13; 10:2.

59 Hebr. And the south shall, etc. Judah extended itself southwards of Canaan unto the mountains of Esau. The Jews, who dwelled in the plains, bordered on the land of the Philistines, situated westward along the Mediterranean Sea. Thus by others: And they shall hereditarily possess the south, namely the mountains of Esau, and the plains, namely the Philistines, etc. Compare Deut. 1:7; Joshua 10:40; Judges 1:9; 2 Chron. 28:18. It is a prophecy (according to the style and state of the Old Testament) of the spreading of the Gospel of Christ among the hostile heathen. Compare Amos 9:12; Zeph. 2:7, 9, etc., with the annotations.

60 That is, land, as Hosea 12:13; that is, the principal part of all the ten tribes, which was Ephraim, the seducer of all the rest, and Samaria, the capital city thereof.

61 Understand as inserted: shall possess Gilead, situated beyond the Jordan and belonging to Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh.

62 Hebr. captive carrying away, transporting, banishment, as frequently; and so in the sequel, that is, the host that was carried away.

63 As forces, substance in verses 11, 13.

64 Understand: shall possess hereditarily that, etc.

65 Of the idolatrous and hostile nations.

66 See 1 Kings 17 on verse 9.

67 Understand: shall possess that which, etc. Other, they in Sepharad, shall the cities, etc.

68 Of this Sepharad, what it was, opinions vary, etc.

69 This only, great and perfect Savior, Deliverer and Redeemer of the church, Jesus Christ, Who bears from this the Name Jesus, typified by Joshua and other worthies, the judges, whom God bestowed upon His people. See Judges 2:16; Mat. 1:21; Heb. 4:8. Thus the plural number is sometimes taken for something of great excellence and concernment. See Job 40:15; Psalm 73:22; Prov. 1:20, with the annotations, etc. In the meantime it is true that this Savior makes use of His messengers and ministers to make known and publish His salvation unto men that they may be saved, by reason whereof they are likewise themselves said to save men, namely, as ministers and instruments of their salvation. See 1 Tim. 4:16; James 5:20, and compare Jer. 1 on verse 10; Ezek. 3 on verse 18. As this great Savior also often raises temporal saviors, redeemers and deliverers, who deliver them from the miseries and oppressions of human tyrants. Compare Micah 5 on verse 5.

70 To punish the enemies of His church according to their merits and to deliver God’s people out of their hands, as the judges of the Old Testament did it physically. See Gen. 15 on verse 14; Judges 2 on verse 16. And understand further the spiritual judging and reproving of the world, etc. See John 16:8, etc.

71 Or, belong to the LORD, the LORD shall have the kingdom, that is, He shall be King and Ruler, namely, the Lord Christ, being appointed by His Father unto an everlasting King of His church and of the entire world. Psalm 2:6, 8; Luke 1:33, etc.