---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "Obadiah = Servant of Jehovah. Compare 1 Kings 18:3 .  Thus saith, &c. The words of this prophecy, therefore, are not Obadiah"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/obadiah/1"
---

**Obadiah** = Servant of Jehovah. Compare [1 Kings 18:3](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/3) .
**Thus saith, &c.** The words of this prophecy, therefore, are not Obadiah's, but Jehovah's. Compare verses: [Obadiah 1:1](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/1) , [Obadiah 1:8](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/8) , [Obadiah 1:18](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/18) .
**the Lord GOD.** Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 .
**concerning Edom.** See notes on p. 1244.
**We have heard.** The rhetorical difficulty may be removed by regarding these words as the words of Edom's foes.
**a rumour** = tidings.
**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 . Supply the logical *Ellipsis* ( App-6 ): "from Jehovah [that Edom is to be attacked]".
**and:** or, and [already].
**heathen** = nations.
**Arise ye.** These are the words of the embassage.
**in battle** = the war.

**Behold.** Figure of speech *Asterismos.* App-6 . Calling attention to the words of Jehovah.

**the clefts, &c.** Referring to the natural position of the Edomites. Compare [2 Kings 14:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/14/7) .

**Though, &c.** The words of Jehovah.
**set thy nest.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Numbers 24:21](../../../kjv/numbers/24/21) ). App-92 . Compare [Habakkuk 2:9](../../../kjv/habakkuk/2/9) .
**among the stars.** Figure of speech *Hyperbole.* App-6 .
**saith the LORD** = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

**if the grape gatherers.** Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "or if", &c.
**would they not. ?** Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 24:21](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/24/21) ). App-92 . Compare [Isaiah 17:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/17/6) ; [Isaiah 24:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/13) .

**How . . . !** Figure of speech *Erotesis.* App-6 .
**searched out:** i.e. discovered by the enemies. Ginsburg thinks it should be read "stripped bare".

**men.** Plural of *'enosh.* App-14 .
**confederacy.** See [Psalms 83:5-8](../../../kjv/psalms/83/5-8) .
**the men, &c.** = the men who were wont to salute thee.
**and.** Some codices, with three early printed editions and Syriac, read this "and" in the text.
**they that eat.** The *Ellipsis* is thus correctly supplied.
**wound** = snare.
**understanding in him:** or, no discernment of it: in spite of their renown for wisdom. Compare [Obadiah 1:8](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/8) . [Jeremiah 49:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/7) .

**that day:** i.e. the day of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Copmare [Obadiah 1:15](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/15) :16 , and [Isaiah 63:1-6](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/1-6) . [Jeremiah 49:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/13) ,
**mount** = hill country.

**Teman.** Compare [Jeremiah 49:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/7) .

**thy violence, &c.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 27:41-44](../../../kjv/genesis/27/41-44) .[Deuteronomy 23:7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/23/7); [Deuteronomy 23:7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/23/7) ). App-92 .

**in the day.** See App-18 . Note the Figure of speech *Repetitio* ( App-6 ) in verses: [Obadiah 1:12-14](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/12-14) .
**strangers** = aliens.
**gates.** Hebrew text = gate; but Hebrew margin, with some codices and two early printed editions, read "gates"(plural)

**thou shouldest not have looked on, &c.** All these are Prohibitives in Hebrew: i.e. they are addressed to Edom as from a spectator looking on and saying; "Look not thou, "&c.
**children** = sons.
**spoken proudly.** Hebrew enlarged thy mouth [with laughter]. Compare [Psalms 35:21](../../../kjv/psalms/35/21) .[Isaiah 57:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/4) .[Ezekiel 35:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/35/13) .

**stood in the crossway.** Referring to some antecedent event by Figure of speech *Hysteresis* ( App-6 ).
**crossway** = fork of the roads, or a mountain pass.

**the day of the LORD.** See note on [Isaiah 2:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/11) , [Isaiah 2:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/17) . The prophecy is now enlarged, and includes all the nations who were Israel's enemies.
**as** = according as. This prophecy was fulfilled, so far as Edom was concerned, later on (see 1 Macc. 5.4, 65. Josephus, *De Bell.* iv. 5); likewise will the judgment on "all the nations" be literally fulfilled.

**holy.** See note on [Exodus 3:5](../../../kjv/exodus/3/5) .
**continually.** Some codices, with four early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), read "round about",
**swallow down:** or, stagger. Only elsewhere in [Job 6:3](../../../kjv/job/6/3) .
**as though, &c.** Solemn and note worthy words.

**upon mount Zion.** Compare [Isaiah 46:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/13) .[Joel 2:32](../../../kjv/joel/2/32) .
**shall be.** Compare [Jeremiah 46:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/28) . [Joel 3:16](../../../kjv/joel/3/16) . [Amos 9:8](../../../kjv/amos/9/8) .
**deliverance** = a delivered remnant. Compare [Joel 2:32](../../../kjv/joel/2/32) .
**and there shall be, &c.** Compare [Isaiah 1:26](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/26) ; [Isaiah 4:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/3) , [Isaiah 4:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/4) .[Joel 3:17](../../../kjv/joel/3/17) .
**shall possess, &c.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Numbers 24:18](../../../kjv/numbers/24/18) , [Numbers 24:19](../../../kjv/numbers/24/19) ), App-92 . Compare [Isaiah 14:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/1) , [Isaiah 14:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/2) .[Joel 3:19-21](../../../kjv/joel/3/19-21) .[Amos 9:11-15](../../../kjv/amos/9/11-15) .

**there shall not be.** Compare verses: [Obadiah 1:9-10](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/9-10) , [Obadiah 1:9](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/9) , [Obadiah 1:16](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/16) .
**any remaining** = him that remaineth. Twenty-four centuries ago this prophecy was written, and to-day no Edomites can he identified. Compare [Obadiah 1:14](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/14) , and [Numbers 24:19](../../../kjv/numbers/24/19) (the same word). There will be a restored Edom, "in that day", or [Isaiah 63:1-6](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/1-6) . [Jeremiah 49:7-22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/7-22) could not be fulfilled.

**the south** = the south [country], the Negeb. See note on [Psalms 126:4](../../../kjv/psalms/126/4) . Compare [Amos 9:12](../../../kjv/amos/9/12) .
**the plain** = the lowlands, the Shephelah [shall possess]. Compare [Zephaniah 2:7](../../../kjv/zephaniah/2/7) .
**they** = they [of the mountain], or [of the centre].
**fields** = territory.
**and Benjamin** = and [they of] Benjamin.

**captivity** = the captives: "captivity" being put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the captives.
**this host:** i.e. the whole of the twelve tribes.
**shall possess.** Supply the *Ellipsis* thus: "they who are scattered among [the Canaanites]".
**even, &c.** Supply "[shall possess] as far as".
**Zarephath** = Sarepta, belonging to Sidon and Tyre. Sepharad is mentioned with Ionia and Greece (in the west) in the inscriptions of *Behistun,* vol. 1, line 15. See App-57 . Jews were sold as slaves, and were taken to Spain by the Phoenicians to work in the mines near the great city of Ampuria, now being unearthed, near Figueras, in the province of Gerona. The "Jews' houses" are still shown at Besalu.
**the cities, &c.** Jewish tradition declares for Spain.
**south.** After [Obadiah 1:20](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/20) , supply the logical *Ellipsis* of thought thus: "[yea. My People shall enlarge their borders on all sides], and saviours", &c.

**saviours** = deliverers: i.e. earthly and human, as in [Judges 3:9](../../../kjv/judges/3/9) , [Judges 3:15](../../../kjv/judges/3/15) . Compare [Micah 5:4](../../../kjv/micah/5/4) , [Micah 5:5](../../../kjv/micah/5/5) . See the Structure, above.
**the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.** Compare [Psalms 22:28](../../../kjv/psalms/22/28) . [Daniel 2:44](../../../kjv/daniel/2/44) ; [Daniel 7:14](../../../kjv/daniel/7/14) , [Daniel 7:27](../../../kjv/daniel/7/27) . [Zechariah 14:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/9) . [Revelation 11:15](../../../kjv/revelation/11/15) ; [Revelation 19:6](../../../kjv/revelation/19/6) .

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