Feb 2018

Summary:

  • Chastisement toward Esau for treating Judah with contempt when they were being judged by God (and overthrown by Babylon) – key verse 1:11

Insights:

  • 1:1 – like Amos 1:1, the words of prophecy are called “vision”…because they are revelation from seers (i.e. prophets)
  • 1:1, 6, 8, 18-19, 21 – Edom = Esau (neighbors to Israel, in the South)
    • Edom and Esau refer to the same person.  The land he dwelt in came to be called by his name (Compare Gen. 25:30; 32:3; 36:1, 8-9, 17; etc.)
  • 1:9 – Teman either was identical with Edom/Esau, or was a subset of the region
    • Teman was a prominent descendant of Esau; perhaps his tribe became so large that the land sometimes went by his name, or at least a portion of it did (Gen. 36:11, 15, 34; etc.)
  • 1:10 – “brother Jacob” = Israel; and is an allusion to Jacob and Esau (cf. Malachi 1:2-3), who are alternate names for Israel and Edom
  • 1:11 – since this is talking about Jerusalem being sacked, Obadiah was writing after the Babylonian captivity of Judah
  • 1:14 – (contrast 1:18), God did not want it to be thorough, and without mercy (even though He ordained the judgment)
  • 1:15 – the “Day of the Lord” is terrifying for those not right with God
  • 1:19 –
    • Negev – “dry country” + Shephelah – “low land” = names of the land in the South, where Israel had inhabited
    • Ephraim, Samaria, Gilead – regions of the Northern Israel kingdom
    • The sense is that when Judah is restored, it’s territory will grow larger, starting with possessing the Edomites (the very focus of this book who did not show mercy to them when they were being attacked)
  • 1:20 –
    • Zarephath – land in Northern Israel, between Tyre and Sidon
    • Sepharad – unknown location where Judah was held captive
    • The sense, like 1:19, is that Judah will return and occupy the far North and far South of the land 
  • 1:21 –
    • Saviors…to Mount Zion…rule Mount Esau – essentially, Israelite people/leaders(?) who in some way help to bring salvation will return and rule over Esau (again, because of the contempt they showed while Israel was being punished)…ultimately fulfilled in Christ the Savior — who brings salvation to Christians, and is Lord over all
    • The Lord Himself = King – Ultimately, God will be restored as king over His people when deliverance comes to the Jews.  Ultimately, this is fulfilled in Jesus’ inauguration of His kingdom wherein all who follow Him are brought in, and become the new Israel of God–Jews and Gentiles.

For Brian to obey:

  • Don’t be hasty to judge another’s situation.  Seek God for how to honor Him, instead.