Obadja 1

1 Gesicht Obadjas. So spricht der Herr, Jehova, von Edom: Eine Kunde haben wir von Jehova gehört, und ein Bote ist unter die Nationen gesandt worden: "Machet euch auf, und laßt uns wider dasselbe aufstehen zum Kriege!"

2 Siehe, ich habe dich klein gemacht unter den Nationen, du bist sehr verachtet.

3 Der Übermut deines Herzens hat dich verführt, der du in Felsenklüften, auf hohem Sitze wohnst und in deinem Herzen sprichst: Wer wird mich zur Erde hinabstürzen?

4 Wenn du dein Nest auch hoch baust wie der Adler, und wenn es zwischen die Sterne gesetzt wäre: ich werde dich von dort hinabstürzen, spricht Jehova.

5 Wenn Diebe über dich gekommen wären, wenn nächtliche Räuber, wie bist du vernichtet! würden sie nicht gestohlen haben nach ihrer Genüge? Wenn Winzer über dich gekommen wären, würden sie nicht eine Nachlese übriggelassen haben?

6 Wie sind die von Esau durchsucht, ausgeforscht ihre verborgenen Schätze!

7 Alle deine Bundesgenossen haben dich bis zur Grenze geschickt; betrogen, überwältigt haben dich deine Freunde, die dein Brot aßen; sie legten eine Schlinge unter dich. Es ist kein Verstand in ihm.

8 Werde ich nicht an jenem Tage, spricht Jehova, die Weisen aus Edom vertilgen und den Verstand vom Gebirge Esaus?

9 Und deine Helden, Teman, werden verzagen, auf daß jedermann vom Gebirge Esaus ausgerottet werde durch Ermordung.

10 Wegen der an deinem Bruder Jakob verübten Gewalttat wird Schande dich bedecken, und du wirst ausgerottet werden auf ewig.

11 An dem Tage, da du gegenüber standest, an dem Tage, da Fremde sein Vermögen hinwegführten, und Ausländer zu seinen Toren einzogen und über Jerusalem das Los warfen, da warst auch du wie einer von ihnen.

12 Und du solltest nicht auf den Tag deines Bruders sehen am Tage seines Mißgeschicks, und dich nicht freuen über die Kinder Juda am Tage ihres Untergangs, noch dein Maul aufsperren am Tage der Bedrängnis;

13 du solltest nicht in das Tor meines Volkes einziehen am Tage seiner Not, und du, auch du, nicht auf sein Unglück sehen am Tage seiner Not, noch deine Hand ausstrecken nach seinem Vermögen am Tage seiner Not;

14 und du solltest nicht am Kreuzwege stehen, um seine Flüchtlinge zu vertilgen, und solltest seine Entronnenen nicht ausliefern am Tage der Bedrängnis.

15 Denn der Tag Jehovas ist nahe über alle Nationen: wie du getan hast, wird dir getan werden; dein Tun wird auf dein Haupt zurückkehren.

16 Denn gleichwie ihr getrunken habt auf meinem heiligen Berge, so werden beständig trinken alle Nationen; ja, sie werden trinken und schlürfen, und werden sein wie solche, die nie gewesen sind.

17 Aber auf dem Berge Zion wird Errettung sein, und er wird heilig sein; und die vom Hause Jakob werden ihre Besitzungen wieder in Besitz nehmen.

18 Und das Haus Jakob wird ein Feuer sein, und das Haus Joseph eine Flamme, und das Haus Esau zu Stoppeln; und sie werden unter ihnen brennen und sie verzehren. Und das Haus Esau wird keinen Übriggebliebenen haben, denn Jehova hat geredet.

19 Und die vom Süden werden das Gebirge Esaus, und die von der Niederung die Philister in Besitz nehmen; und sie werden das Gefilde Ephraims und das Gefilde Samarias, und Benjamin wird Gilead in Besitz nehmen;

20 und die Weggeführten dieses Heeres der Kinder Israel werden in Besitz nehmen, was den Kanaanitern gehört bis nach Zarpath hin; und die Weggeführten von Jerusalem, welche in Sepharad sind, die Städte des Südens.

21 Und es werden Retter auf den Berg Zion ziehen, um das Gebirge Esaus zu richten; und das Reich wird Jehova gehören.

Obadja 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

The first part denounces the destruction of Edom, dwelling upon the injuries they inflicted upon the Jews. The second foretells the restoration of the Jews, and the latter glories of the church.

Destruction to come upon Edom. Their offences against Jacob. (1-16) The restoration of the Jews, and their flourishing state in the latter times. (17-21)

Verses 1-16 This prophecy is against Edom. Its destruction seems to have been typical, as their father Esau's rejection; and to refer to the destruction of the enemies of the gospel church. See the prediction of the success of that war; Edom shall be spoiled, and brought down. All the enemies of God's church shall be disappointed in the things they stay themselves on. God can easily lay those low who magnify and exalt themselves; and will do it. Carnal security ripens men for ruin, and makes the ruin worse when it comes. Treasures on earth cannot be so safely laid up but that thieves may break through and steal; it is therefore our wisdom to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Those that make flesh their trust, arm it against themselves. The God of our covenant will never deceive us: but if we trust men with whom we join ourselves, it may prove to us a wound and dishonour. God will justly deny those understanding to keep out of danger, who will not use their understandings to keep out of sin. All violence, all unrighteousness, is sin; but it makes the violence far worse, if it be done against any of God's people. Their barbarous conduct towards Judah and Jerusalem, is charged upon them. In reflecting on ourselves, it is good to consider what we should have done; to compare our practice with the Scripture rule. Sin, thus looked upon in the glass of the commandment, will appear exceedingly sinful. Those have a great deal to answer for, who are idle spectators of the troubles of their neighbours, when able to be active helpers. Those make themselves poor, who think to make themselves rich by the ruin of the people of God; and those deceive themselves, who call all that their own on which they can lay their hands in a day of calamity. Though judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. Let sorrowful believers and insolent oppressors know, that the troubles of the righteous will soon end, but those of the wicked will be eternal.

Verses 17-21 There should be deliverance and holiness at Jerusalem, and the house of Jacob would again occupy their possessions. Much of this prophecy was fulfilled when the Jews returned to their own land. But the salvation and holiness of the gospel, its spread, and the conversion of the Gentiles, seem also to be intended, especially the restoration of Israel, the destruction of antichrist, and the prosperous state of the church, to which all the prophets bear witness. When Christ is come, and not till then, shall the kingdom be the Lord's in the full sense of the term. As none that exalt themselves against the Lord shall prosper, and all shall be brought down; so none that wait upon the Lord, and put their trust in him, shall ever be dismayed. Blessed be the Divine Saviour and Judge on Mount Zion! His word shall be a savour of life unto life unto numbers, while it judges and condemns obstinate unbelievers.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO OBADIAH

The title of this Book, in the Hebrew copies, is usually "Sepher Obadiah", the Book of Obadiah: the Vulgate Latin version calls it the Prophecy of Obadiah; and so the Arabic version: and in the Syriac version it is, the Prophecy of the Prophet Obadiah. His name signifies a "servant" or "worshipper of the Lord". Who he was, what his parentage, and in what age he lived, are things uncertain. The Seder Olam Zuta {a} places him in the reign of Jehoshaphat: and he is thought by some to be that Obadiah that was one of the princes he sent to teach the people, 2Ch 17:7. The ancient Jewish Rabbins take him to be the same with him that lived in the times of Ahab, and in his court, who hid the prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them, 1Ki 18:3,4; to which Aben Ezra objects, because he is not called a prophet, only one that feared the Lord; whereas to be a prophet is something greater. They also say he was an Edomite by birth, but was proselyted to the Jewish religion, and so a fit person to be employed in prophesying against Edom; and it is a tradition with them that his widow is the woman whose cruse of oil Elisha multiplied, 2Ki 4:1. Some have been of opinion that he was the captain of the third fifty, whose life Elijah spared in the times of Ahaziah; and who upon that left the king's service, and followed the prophet, and became a disciple of his; so Pseudo-Epiphanius {b}, and Isidorus Hispalensis {c}, who say that he was of Sychem, a city of Samaria, and of the field of Bethachamar, or Bethaccaron. Others would have him to be one of the overseers of the workmen in the house of the Lord, in the times of Josiah, 2Ch 34:12; to which Mr. Lively {d} inclines; though others, going according to the order of the books in the canon of Scripture, which is not to be depended on, place him earlier, and make him contemporary with Hosea, Joel, and Amos, as Grotius {e}, Huetius {f}, and Lightfoot {g}: but he seems rather to be contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, with whose prophecies this agrees, as may be observed by comparing it with Jer 49:1-39, Eze 25:1-17; and to have lived and prophesied after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; in which the Edomites, against whom he prophesies, had a concern; see Ob 1:11-14, Ps 137:7; though Dr. Lightfoot thinks these prophecies refer either to the sacking of Jerusalem by Shishak king of Egypt, 1Ki 14:25; or by the Philistines and Arabians, 2Ch 21:16,17; or by Joash king of Israel, 2Ch 25:21; so that, upon the whole, it is not certain; and, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi own, it is not known in what age this prophet lived: Bishop Usher {h} places his prophecy in the twelfth year of Jeconiah's captivity. However, there is no doubt to be made of the authenticity of the prophecy; as may be concluded, not only from the title of it, and the solemn manner in which it begins; but from the matter of it, and the accomplishment of what is contained in it; as well as from the testimony borne to it in the New Testament, in which not only the book of the minor prophets, in which this stands, is quoted, Ac 7:42; but a passage in it, Ob 1:8; is referred to in 1Co 1:19; as is thought by some learned men. I have only to observe, that, according to Pseudo-Epiphanius {i}, he died in Bethachamar, where he is said to be born, and was buried in the sepulchre of his ancestors; but, according to Jerom {k} and Isidore {l}, his sepulchre is in Sebaste or Samaria; which remained to the times of Jerom, near those of the Prophet Elisha and John the Baptist. Monsieur Thevenot {m} says that John Baptist here lies buried between the Prophets Elisha and Abdias.

{a} P. 103. {b} De Prophet. Vid. c. 15. {c} De Vita & Mort. Sanct. c, 44. {d} In loc. {e} In loc. {f} Demonstrat. Evangel. Prop. 4. p. 290. {g} Works, vol. 1. p. 96. {h} Annales Vet. Test. A. M. 3417 or 587 B.C. {i} Ut supra. (De Prophet. Vid. c. 15.) {k} Comment. in loc. & in Epitaph. Paulae, fol. 59. M. {l} Ut supra. (De Vita & Mort. Sanct. c, 44.) {m} Travels, par. 1. B. 1. ch. 56. p. 216.

\\INTRODUCTION TO OBADIAH 1\\

This prophecy of Obadiah is the least of the minor prophets, consisting but of one chapter; the subject of it is Edom, whose destruction is foretold, and is to be considered as a type of the enemies of Christ and his kingdom, and especially of the Roman antichrist. After the preface, the rumour of war, and preparation for it, which would issue in the ruin of Edom, are observed, Ob 1:1,2; because of their pride, confidence, and security, Ob 1:3,4; which should be complete and entire, Ob 1:5,6; notwithstanding their allies, who would deceive them; and the wisdom of their wise men, which should be destroyed; and the strength of their mighty men, who would be dismayed, Ob 1:7-9; and this should come upon them, chiefly because of their ill usage of the Jews at the time of Jerusalem's destruction, which is enlarged upon, Ob 1:10-14; and this would be when all the nations round about them would be destroyed, Ob 1:15,16; and then deliverance is promised to the Jews, who should not only enjoy their own possessions, but the land of the Edomites, wasted by them, Ob 1:17-20; and the book is concluded with a glorious prophecy of the kingdom of the Messiah, Ob 1:21.