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Obadiah, Book of

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The book of Obadiah is largely an announcement of judgment upon Edom for its part in helping Babylon in the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC (Obadiah 1:10-14; cf. Psalms 137:7; Ezekiel 35:5; Ezekiel 35:12; Ezekiel 35:15). Edom, being descended from Esau, was a brother nation to Israel-Judah, and therefore should have helped Jerusalem in its final hour (cf. Genesis 25:23-26; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 36:1; Genesis 36:8-9). Instead the Edomites took the opportunity to plunder the helpless city (Obadiah 1:11; Obadiah 1:13). They even captured the fleeing Jerusalemites and sold them to the Babylonian conquerors (Obadiah 1:14; for map and other details see EDOM).

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Edom prided itself in the strength of its mountain defences and the cleverness of its political dealings. Neither, however, would save it from the divine judgment that would fall upon it because of its active cooperation in the destruction of Jerusalem (Obadiah 1:1-16).

But whereas God would destroy Edom totally, he would bring Judah out of captivity and back to its land, where it would rebuild its national life. It would even spread its power into former Edomite territory (Obadiah 1:17-21).