Obadiah 1

King James Version

Full text for Obadiah Chapter 1

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.

2Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

3The 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?

4Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

5If 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?

6How are [the things] of Esau searched out! [how] are his hidden things sought up!

7All 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.

8Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise [men] out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?

9And 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.

10¶ For [thy] violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

11In 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.

12But 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.

13Thou 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;

14Neither 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.

15For 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.

16For 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.

17¶ But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

18And 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].

19And [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.

20And 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.

21And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Obadiah prophesies the utter destruction of Edom due to their excessive pride and their violent actions against their brother nation, Jacob (Israel), during Jerusalem's calamity. The Lord declares that Edom, despite its high dwelling, will be brought low, and its allies will betray it. While Edom faces complete annihilation, Mount Zion will experience deliverance and holiness, and the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance, with the kingdom ultimately belonging to the Lord.

Medium Summary

The vision of Obadiah declares the Lord God's judgment against Edom, a nation characterized by its pride and dwelling in fortified, high places. Despite Edom's self-assurance, the Lord promises to bring them down, making them small and despised among the heathen. Their destruction will be more thorough than that of thieves or grape-gatherers, and their supposed allies will betray them. The primary cause for this judgment is Edom's violence and malicious rejoicing against their brother Jacob during Jerusalem's time of distress and foreign invasion. Edom not only stood by but actively participated in the affliction, cutting off escapees and seizing substance. The prophecy declares that the "day of the Lord" is near for all nations, and Edom's deeds will return upon its own head. In contrast, Mount Zion will experience deliverance and holiness, as the house of Jacob will possess its heritage and consume the house of Esau, culminating in the Lord's universal kingdom.

Long Summary

The prophet Obadiah presents a divine vision concerning Edom, announcing the Lord God's impending judgment upon them. Edom is depicted as a nation swollen with pride, trusting in its seemingly impregnable dwelling in the clefts of the rock, believing no one can bring them down. However, the Lord declares that despite their lofty self-exaltation, He will bring them low, making them small and utterly despised among the nations. Their destruction will be complete, unlike the limited plunder of thieves or the gleanings left by grape-gatherers; all their hidden treasures will be sought out. Furthermore, Edom's confederates and those who were at peace with them will turn against them, deceiving them and driving them to their border. The Lord promises to destroy the wise men and mighty men of Edom, ensuring their complete cutting off by slaughter. The core reason for this severe judgment is Edom's inexcusable violence and malicious conduct against their brother, Jacob (Israel). In the day when strangers carried away Jacob's forces and foreigners entered Jerusalem, Edom stood by as an adversary, rejoicing in Judah's destruction, speaking proudly, and even entering the gates to look upon their affliction. They also laid hands on Israel's substance, stood in the crossway to cut off escapees, and delivered up survivors during the distress. The "day of the Lord" is proclaimed as near for all heathen, and Edom's actions will be repaid in full, as they will drink the cup of judgment continually until they are as though they had not been. In stark contrast, the prophecy foretells deliverance and holiness upon Mount Zion, where the house of Jacob will possess its former and expanded territories. The house of Jacob and Joseph will become a consuming fire against the house of Esau, leaving no remnant. Ultimately, saviours will come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.

Core Concepts

  • Edom's Pride and DownfallEdom's arrogant self-reliance, stemming from their high, fortified dwelling, is directly challenged by the Lord, who promises to bring them low and make them despised. Their perceived security will prove futile against divine judgment.
  • Betrayal by AlliesThe chapter highlights that Edom's confederates and those who shared their bread will ultimately deceive and prevail against them, contributing to their downfall. This emphasizes the treachery they will face from those they trusted.
  • Violence Against JacobThe central sin of Edom is their malicious violence and active participation in the affliction of their brother nation, Jacob (Israel), during a time of foreign invasion. They rejoiced in Judah's calamity and hindered their escape.
  • Lex Talionis (Retribution)A key principle articulated is that "as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head." Edom's actions against Jacob will be precisely mirrored in their own judgment.
  • The Day of the LordThis concept signifies a time of divine judgment, not only for Edom but for all heathen nations, where the Lord's justice will be meted out. It marks a period of reckoning and ultimate divine sovereignty.
  • Deliverance and Restoration of ZionIn contrast to Edom's destruction, Mount Zion is promised deliverance and holiness, signifying the restoration and prosperity of the house of Jacob. Israel will reclaim its possessions and expand its territory.
  • The Lord's KingdomThe prophecy culminates in the declaration that "the kingdom shall be the LORD'S," emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations and the establishment of His righteous rule.