D1 F1 A1 1-16. Edom. Destruction.
A2 17-21. Israel. Restoration.
The Minor Prophets do not profess to chronological. The order seems to be logical; hence, Obadiah corresponds with Joel, and takes up Joel's theme, and shows [by contrast] what Joel's "day of the Lord" shall be for Israel's enemies. Edom is the one enemy in Joel [3:19] as in Obadiah: indeed,from the 1st, Gen. 39,40 was fulfilled [see 2 Kings 22:47 and 2 Kings 8:20-22. 2 Chron. 21:8-10]. After that we find prophecies against Edom [Isa. 34:5-17. Jer. 49:17-22. Ezek. 25:12-14; 35; and Obadiah].
The correspondence between Jer. 49. and Obadiah may be thus shown:
That Obadiah gives details which are complementary may be well explained by the figure of speech Hysteresis or Subsequent Narration (Gen. 31:7,8. Ps. 105:18). When a later record gives supplemental or new particulars, not inserted in the historical record.
The prophecy of Obadiah is undated; but, from the internal evidence, referred to above, it was almost certainly subsequent to the captivity of Jehoiachin [489-488 B.C.], or to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the end of Judah. This would bring it to either 482 B.C. or 472 B.C.
Obad. 1- = Jer. 49:7 Obad. -5 = Jer. 49:9-.
" -1,2 = " 14,15. " 6 = " 10.
" 3,4 = " 16. " 8 = " -7.
" 5- = " -9. " 9 = " 22.
The 2 prophecies are independent and original. There is no need to discus which of the 2 quoted the other, or whether both refer to an earlier prophet. All beyond the Scripture record is conjecture.
A1 A a 1,2. Remote cause. Yehovah's Purpose.
b 3,4. Deceived by Self.
B 5,6. Devastation.
A b 7-9. Deceived by others.
a 10-14. Immediate Cause. Edom's sin.
B 15,16. Extermination.
482 or 472 B.C.
Obadiah 1)
1 The vision of Obadiah (= servant of Yehovah. Cp. 1 Kings 18:3). Thus says the Lord GOD (Adonai Yehovah. The words of this prophecy, therefore, are not Obadiah's, but Yehovah. Cp. vv.8,18) concerning Edom (Edom = Esau = Russia, the system, not the people. Atheist. Superpower away from the fat of the land. See Ezek. 38,39.); "We have heard tidings from the LORD [that Edom is to be attacked] (these are the words of Edom's foes), and [already] an ambassador is sent among the nations, Arise you (these are the words of the embassage), and let us rise up against her the war." (Not with an empty bowl. The last superpower! God will defeat it, not man.)
2 Behold, I have made you small among the nations: you are greatly despised.
3 The pride of your heart (propaganda) has deceived you (led him falsely, pride), you that dwell in the clefts of the rock (referring to the natural position of the Edomites. Cp. 2 Kings 14:7. Brings Kenite leadership in with it), whose habitation is high; that says in his heart, 'Who shall bring me down to the ground?'
4 Though you exalt yourself as the eagle (they try to look like an eagle. God is the eagle Who blesses the Unites States who uses the eagle), and though you set your nest among the stars (see Num. 24:21. Cp. Hab. 2:9. They act like a supernatural force), there will I bring you down, says the LORD.
5 If thieves came to you, if robbers by night, (how are you cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? (For the gleaning. Robbers even leave when they have enough. Ref. Deut. 24:21. Cp. Isa. 17:6; 24:13.)
6 How are the things of Esau stripped! (i.e. discovered by the enemies. He's stripped bare) how are his hidden things sought up! (Communism doesn't work.)
7 All the men of your confederacy (satellites, Warsaw Pact. See Ps. 83:5-8) have brought you even to the border: the men who were wont to salute you have deceived you (they abandoned ship), and prevailed against you; they that eat your bread have laid a snare under you (broke the bank): there is none understanding in him. (Or, no discernment of it: in spite of their renown for wisdom. Cp. v.8. Jer. 48:7. Without God there is no wisdom.)
8 Shall I not in that day (i.e. the day of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Cp. 15,16, and Isa. 63:1-6. Jer. 49:13. To let the citizenry know He is God), says the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the hill country of Esau? (Why shouldn't He make them stop)
9 And your mighty men, O Teman (southern Russia. Cp. Jer. 49:7) shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. (Their system failed.)
10 For your violence against your brother Jacob (fought against brother. See Gen. 27:41-44. Deut. 23:7) shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever. (Disgraced and destroyed.)
11 In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that the aliens carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even you was as one of them.
12 But you should not have looked on the day of your brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither should you have rejoiced over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither should you have spoken proudly (Heb. enlarged you mouth [with laughter]. Cp. Ps. 35:21. Isa. 57:4. Ezek. 35:13) in the day of distress. (Remember the airlift of Berlin?)
13 You should not have entered into the gate of My people in the day of their calamity; yes, you should 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; (The giveaway of all things, ripoff artists in the treasury.)
14 Neither should you have stood in the cross-way (fork of the roads, or a mountain pass. The Berlin Wall), to cut off those of his that did escape; neither should you have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. (Shot them down like dogs, like cattle, when Christians tried to escape where they could have dignity in their sacred Divine destiny. Are you happy with democracy?)
15 For the day of the LORD is near (this generation, see the parable of the fig tree. See Isa. 2:11,17. The prophecy is now enlarged, and includes all the nation who were Israel's enemies) upon all the nations: according as you have done (this prophecy was fulfilled, so far as Edom was concerned, later on [see 1 Macc. 5:4,65]; likewise will the judgment on 'all nations' be literally fulfilled), it shall be done to you: your reward shall return upon your own head.
16 For as you have drunk upon My holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually, yes, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down (the cup of God's wrath), and they shall be as though they had not been. (Its all for nothing. Solemn and noteworthy words.)
A2 C 17-. Deliverance.
D -17. Possession.
E 18. Victory.
D 19,20. Possession.
C 21. Deliverers.
17 But upon mount Zion (cp. Isa. 46:13. Joel 2:32) shall be (cp. Jer. 46:28. Joel 3:16. Amos 9:8) a delivered remnant (cp. Joel 2:32.), and there shall be holiness; (Cp. Isa. 1:26; 4;3,4. Joel 3:17.)
and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Ref. Num. 24:18,19. Cp. Isa. 14:1,2. Joel 3:19-21. Amos 9:11-15.)
18 And the house of Jacob (natural tribes) 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 him that remains of the house of Esau (cp. v.14, and Num. 24:19. There will be a restored Edom "in that day", or Isa. 63:1-6. Jer. 49:7-22 could not be fulfilled); for the LORD has spoken it. (nations, not people. Earthly governments destroyed)
19 And they of the south [country] (the Negeb. See Ps. 126;4. Cp. Amos 9:12) shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the lowlands the Shephelah [shall posses] the Philistines (cp. Zeph. 2;7): and they [of the mountain] shall possess the territory of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and [they of] Benjamin shall possess Gilead. (See Jeremiah. Land deed put in a bottle and buried there.)
20 And the captives of this host of the sons of Israel (i.e. the whole 12 tribes) [they who are scattered among Canaanites] shall possess that of the Canaanites (sheep traffickers. God is going to bring back separated ones), [shall posses as far as] even to Sarepta (belonging to Sidon and Tyre); and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad (is mentioned with Ionia and Greece [in the west] in the inscriptions of Behistun. Judeans were sold as slaves, and were taken to Spain by the Phoenicians to working the mines near the great city of Ampura, now being unearthed, near Figueras, in the province of Gerona. The "Jews houses" are still shown at Besalu), shall possess the cities of the south; [yes , My People shall enlarge their borders on all sides].
21 And deliverers (i.e. earthly and human, as in Judg. 3:9,15. Cp. Mic. 5:4,6. Teachers of the Savior, the Zdock, the elect) shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. (Because it is the Lord's day. Cp. Ps. 22:28. Dan. 2:44; 7:14,27. Zech. 14:9. Rev. 15; 19:6.)