Obadiah

1. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, having settled apart from Jacob and the land of promise (cf. Gen 36.8)
2. They denied Israel passage through their land when Israel was traveling from Kadesh to the plains of Moab, in preparation for the conquest. Moses said to the descendants of Esau: “Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your territory. Please let us travel through your land. We won’t travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water.  We will travel the King’s Highway; we won’t burn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory” (Num 20.16b-17). But the Edomites hardened themselves against their brothers, not only denying them passage upon a second request, but also “they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily armed people. Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them” (Num 20.20b-21). This front was so severe that Isaiah prophesied of Edom’s doom (Is 34.5ff)
3. Judah had made a pact with the Edomites, to resist the Babylonian threat, but Edom quickly surrendered to the Babylonians and left Judah to endure Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath. In the prophecy of Jeremiah it is recorded:

1. The LORD promised to humble the Edomites (vv. 1-4). The prophet announced: “We have heard a message from the LORD” (v. 1); He said concerning the land of Seir: “Though you seem to soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down” (v. 4)
2. The LORD would turn Edom’s strengths into causes of destruction (vv. 5-10). The prophet spoke in hyperbolic terms concerning the extent of Edom’s coming destruction; grape-pickers leave behind a small amount of fruit when they are finished with the harvest, but this would be greater than what was left of Edom! (vv. 5-6). Indeed even the strength of the Edomites—their geographical location and political alliances—would crumble; Obadiah announced: “Everyone who has a treaty with you will drive you to the border; everyone at peace with you will deceive and conquer you” (v. 7)
3. The LORD’s wrath was enticed by Edom’s treatment of Jacob (vv. 11-14). The prophet spoke against Edom “because of violence done to your brother Jacob” (v. 10). Obadiah’s mind was filled with images of the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem, when Edom celebrated and mocked and grabbed their side in laughter. Further still, the Edomites raided the city and plundered what little the Babylonians had left behind (v. 13)
4. The LORD would settle accounts, against Edom and for His people (vv. 15-21). On the Day of the LORD—which Obadiah called, “near” (v. 15)—Edom would endure what they had only watched come upon Judah (v. 15). While the nations would come against the descendants of Esau, the descendants of Jacob would return to their land—called “holy” (v. 17)—and even “rule over the hill country of Esau” (v. 21a), which kingdom would belong to the LORD (v. 21b)

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