1.
The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
Obadiah = Servant of Jehovah. Compare 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 , Obadiah 1:8 , 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.
2.
Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . Calling attention to the words of Jehovah.
3.
The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
the clefts, &c. Referring to the natural position of the Edomites. Compare 2 Kings 14:7 .
4.
Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.
Though, &c. The words of Jehovah.
set thy nest. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:21 ). App-92 . Compare Habakkuk 2:9 .
among the stars. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6 .
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
5.
If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?
if the grape gatherers. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "or if", &c.
would they not. ? Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 24:21 ). App-92 . Compare Isaiah 17:6 ; Isaiah 24:13 .
6.
How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!
How . . . ! Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
searched out: i.e. discovered by the enemies. Ginsburg thinks it should be read "stripped bare".
7.
All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.
men. Plural of 'enosh. App-14 .
confederacy. See 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 . Jeremiah 49:7 .
8.
Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
that day: i.e. the day of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Copmare Obadiah 1:15 :16 , and Isaiah 63:1-6 . Jeremiah 49:13 ,
mount = hill country.
9.
And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
Teman. Compare Jeremiah 49:7 .
10.
For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
thy violence, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 27:41-44 .Deuteronomy 23:7; Deuteronomy 23:7 ). App-92 .
11.
In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
in the day. See App-18 . Note the Figure of speech Repetitio ( App-6 ) in verses: Obadiah 1:12-14 .
strangers = aliens.
gates. Hebrew text = gate; but Hebrew margin, with some codices and two early printed editions, read "gates"(plural)
12.
But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
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 .Isaiah 57:4 .Ezekiel 35:13 .
13.
Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
14.
Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
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.
15.
For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
the day of the LORD. See note on Isaiah 2:11 , 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.
16.
For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.
holy. See note on 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 .
as though, &c. Solemn and note worthy words.
17.
But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
upon mount Zion. Compare Isaiah 46:13 .Joel 2:32 .
shall be. Compare Jeremiah 46:28 . Joel 3:16 . Amos 9:8 .
deliverance = a delivered remnant. Compare Joel 2:32 .
and there shall be, &c. Compare Isaiah 1:26 ; Isaiah 4:3 , Isaiah 4:4 .Joel 3:17 .
shall possess, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:18 , Numbers 24:19 ), App-92 . Compare Isaiah 14:1 , Isaiah 14:2 .Joel 3:19-21 .Amos 9:11-15 .
18.
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.
there shall not be. Compare verses: Obadiah 1:9-10 , Obadiah 1:9 , 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 , and Numbers 24:19 (the same word). There will be a restored Edom, "in that day", or Isaiah 63:1-6 . Jeremiah 49:7-22 could not be fulfilled.
19.
And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
the south = the south [country], the Negeb. See note on Psalms 126:4 . Compare Amos 9:12 .
the plain = the lowlands, the Shephelah [shall possess]. Compare Zephaniah 2:7 .
they = they [of the mountain], or [of the centre].
fields = territory.
and Benjamin = and [they of] Benjamin.
20.
And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.
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 , supply the logical Ellipsis of thought thus: "[yea. My People shall enlarge their borders on all sides], and saviours", &c.
21.
And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
saviours = deliverers: i.e. earthly and human, as in Judges 3:9 , Judges 3:15 . Compare Micah 5:4 , Micah 5:5 . See the Structure, above.
the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. Compare Psalms 22:28 . Daniel 2:44 ; Daniel 7:14 , Daniel 7:27 . Zechariah 14:9 . Revelation 11:15 ; Revelation 19:6 .