The Book of Obadiah
The Book of Obadiah is very unique in the Bible in that it is the shortest book in the Old Testament and its main message is devoted to Edom, a neighboring nation to the Southeast of Israel whose origin is traced to Esau, the brother of Jacob (Gen. 35:1, 9). Nothing is known about Obadiah, although the Babylonian Talmud said he was the palace administrator of Ahab (1 Ki. 18:3-16), but most biblical scholars consider it as pure speculation. His name may either mean “worshipper of the Lord” or “servant of the Lord”, depending on whether one follows the Masoretic vocalization or the source on which the LXX translator based.
The setting or background of Obadiah is also uncertain, but I believe it is safe to follow those scholars who consider that the “most satisfying setting is shortly after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC, when refugees were captured in mid-flight (2 Ki. 25:4-6)" (TOTC, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, 23).
(1) V. 1 amounts to a declaration of war, except that it is made by the Lord and He calls on the nations to go against Edom. How does this affect our view on all the battles, especially battles against Israel and/or its neighbors in the past, present and future?
(2) Edom was not exactly a small country, laying south and east of the Dead Sea, running south from the Dead Sea all the way to the Gulf of Aqabah, but the Lord pronounces His judgment to make it small and despised. What does v. 3 point out as its source of pride? (See Note below).
a. How does each of the analogies in v. 4 bring out the spirit of pride in a person (or a nation)?
b. What does Proverbs 16:18 say about the proud?
c. Why is God so against the sin of pride? (Read God’s rebuke against Tyre in Ezek. 28, especially v. 6 and v. 17.)
(3) What do the two rhetorical questions in v. 5 seek to reveal about the impending judgment of Edom?
(4) Why does the Lord purposely make mention of Edom’s allies, friends and those “who eat your bread”?
(5) What might be the reason that Edom has to face such treachery and betrayal? (See Num. 20:14, 21; Amos 1:11)
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
The eastern part of Edom (now occupied by Jordan) was “rocky and mountainous, at times reaching c.1070 meters in elevation. Through it passed two major traffic routes, the King’s Highway and the road along the Arabah. Its control over much of the north-south trade fed its coffers…” (TOTC, 21). You may wish to consult the maps in your Bible to see the actual location of Edom
It will be helpful to read yesterday’s meditative article about Edom, if you have not done so:
(1) Based on the impact of the judgment mentioned in vv. 8-9, what do we know about what Edom was known for? (See also Jer. 49:7; Ezek. 32:29)
(2) Of all Israel’s neighbors, Edom was the only nation that God specially appointed a prophet to prophesy against their sins and pronounce their judgment. From the reading of this particular section, what is the core reason for such a treatment by the Lord?
(3) In citing the sins of Edom one by one, see how you may categorize their sins:
a. V. 11: Standing aloof when a foreigner ransacked Israel. What kind of sin was it and what should Edom have done?
b. V. 12: Why did Edom gloat and rejoice at his brother’s misfortune? What should he do instead?
c. V. 13: What was the sin described in this verse?
d. V. 14: What kind of sin did they commit in this verse? Why would they do that?
Vv. 15-16—Their judgment
(4) To whom is the “Day of the Lord” meant for?
(5) The allusion of drinking on the holy hill likely refers to the rejoicing of Edom at the misfortune of Jerusalem. However the result will be that they, together with all the nations will drink a cup of a different kind. Read Jeremiah 25:15 and Revelation 16:19 to see what they will drink on the “Day of the Lord”.
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The last part of this short prophecy changes its focus to Israel and the glorious hope of the coming of the Kingdom of God:
(1) Mount Zion stands for the whole of Israel and the seat of the throne of God:
a. What is the deliverance (which can also be translated as salvation, LXX) being prophesied and how will the seat of the throne of God be made holy? (See Dan. 9:24)
b. What is Jacob’s inheritance? (See Exod. 15:17 and Matt. 25:34)
(2) Jacob and Joseph (the two divided kingdoms are now mentioned as one) are used as metaphor: How appropriate is this metaphor of fire to depict both the mistake of Edom in opposing Israel and its consequence?
(3) The final proclamation of restoration appears to be split into two parts
- V. 19 addresses the residents on the southern and western perimeters of Israel: They shall occupy the eastern (Esau) and northwestern part of Canaan: and
- V. 20 addresses the people already carried away as exiles: They will occupy the land from south of Sidon to the far south of Canaan.
The idea seems to be that the re-occupation will far exceed the original land of promise. However, the restoration is framed within the final ushering into the “Kingdom of the Lord” in v. 21:
a. Could these unnamed residents in v. 19 refer to the Gentiles of those lands?
b. Would the “possession” refer to beyond the physical Land of Promise?
c. What will happen to Esau upon the establishment of the Kingdom of the Lord? (Esau, with its prideful sins, is likely used as a representative of all Gentile nations that oppose the people of God.)
(4) Pause and reflect on the messages of this short book of prophecy and see what might be the main message to you. How may you apply it to your life?