Obadiah

Obadiah was a prophet of YHVH and writer of the fourth of the so-called minor prophetic books. “THE vision of Obadiah” begins the Bible book of Obadiah (Obadiah 1). The prophet reveals nothing about himself except his name in the book that he composed in 607 BCE.

Edom
Regarding Edom, Obadiah says: “Because of the violence to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will have to be cut off to time indefinite.” The prophet has fresh in mind the Edomites’ recent acts of violence against the sons of Jacob—the Israelites. In 607 BCE, when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites “stood off on the side” and allied themselves with the invading “foreigners” (Obadiah 10, 11).

In contrast, a restoration is in store for the house of Jacob. Obadiah’s prophecy states: “In Mount Zion is where those escaping will prove to be, and it must become something holy” (Obadiah 17).

Highlights
The Edomites lived in a rugged region of high mountains and deep ravines that offered excellent strategic advantages. They may have presumptuously deceived themselves into feeling safe and secure, but Jehovah’s judgments are inescapable.
 * vs 3, 4

What is significant about the comparison of Edom’s destruction to the coming of despoilers by night and of grape gatherers? If thieves had come into Edom, they would have taken only what they wanted. Had harvesters come into her, they would have left behind some of the crop for gleaning. When Edom falls, though, her treasures will be thoroughly searched out and she will be completely plundered by “the very men in covenant with [her]”—her allies, the Babylonians (Jeremiah 49:9, 10).
 * vs 5-8

Human wisdom and mightiness provide no protection during “the day of YHVH” (Compare Jeremiah 49:7, 22).
 * vs 8, 9, 15

How was Edom “cut off to time indefinite”? As foretold, the nation of Edom, with a government and people in a specific region of the earth, became extinct. Babylonian King Nabonidus conquered Edom about the middle of the sixth century BCE. By the fourth century BCE, Edom’s territory was inhabited by the Nabataeans, and the Edomites had to take up residence in the southern part of Judea, the area of the Negeb that later came to be known as Idumea. After the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Edomites ceased to exist.
 * vs 10

The Edomites serve as a warning example to those who gloat over the difficulties that God’s servants may encounter. God does not view the mistreatment of his people lightly.
 * vs 12-14.

This restoration prophecy regarding the sons of Jacob began to be fulfilled when a remnant returned to Jerusalem from Babylon in 537 BCE. God's word always comes true. We can have full confidence in his promises.
 * vs 17-20.