NOTES ON The Book of OBADIAH
Who Obadiah was, does not appear, neither the exact time when he prophesied. It is
generally thought he was cotemporary with Hosea, Joel, and Amos.
After the preface, ver. 1. we have first threatenings against Edom, ver. 2 - 16. and
then gracious promises to Israel, ver. 17 - 21.
Chapter I
| 1 |
Obadiah - His name speaks a servant or a worshipper of the Lord, but who he was we
know not. We - The prophets, have heard. A rumour - Not an uncertain report, but it comes
from God. Is sent - By the Lord first, and next by Nebuchadnezzar who executed on Edom
what is here foretold. The nations - Those that were with, or subject to Nebuchadnezzar. |
| 2 |
Small - Thou art a small people. In comparison with other nations. Despised - What
ever these Edomites had been, now they were despised. |
| 3 |
The pride - The Edomites were, as most mountaineers are, a rough hardy, and daring
people. And proud above measure. Deceived thee - Magnifying thy strength above what really
it is. |
| 4 |
Bring thee down - God who is in the heavens would throw thee down. When men could not
marshal armies against thee, stars should fight in their courses against thee. Nothing can
stand which God will cast down, Jer 49:16,17. |
| 5 |
If thieves - If thieves by day had spoiled thee, they would not have thus stripped
thee. Robbers - If robbers in the night had been with thee, they would have left somewhat
behind them. 'Till they had enough - But here is nothing left. Some grapes - But here have
been those that have cut up the vine. |
| 6 |
Esau - The father of this people, put for his posterity. Sought up - All that the
Edomites had laid up in the most secret places, are seized and brought forth by soldiers. |
| 7 |
Thy confederacy - Thy confederates have marched with thee until thou wert come to the
borders of thy country. Deceived thee - Proved treacherous. Prevailed - Treacherously. A
wound - A snare armed with sharp points. No understanding - Thou wast not aware of it. |
| 9 |
Teman - A principal city of Idumea. |
| 11 |
In the day - During the war which the Babylonians made upon Judea. Stoodest - Didst
set thyself in battle array against thy brother. Jerusalem - Upon the citizens and their
goods. As one of them - As merciless and insolent as any of them. |
| 12 |
Looked - With joy on the affliction. A stranger - As a stranger, one who had no more
right to any thing in the land. Proudly - Vaunting over the Jews, when Jerusalem was
taken. |
| 13 |
Entered - As an enemy. |
| 14 |
The breaches - Of the walls, by which when the city was taken, some might have made
their escape. Delivered - To the Chaldeans. Remain - Survived the taking of the city. |
| 15 |
The day - The time which the Lord hath appointed for the punishing of this, and other
nations. As thou hast done - Perfidiously, cruelly, and ravenously, against Jacob. |
| 16 |
As ye - As ye, my own people, have drunk deep of the cup of affliction, so shall other
nations much more, yea, they shall drink of it, 'till they utterly perish. |
| 17 |
Zion - Literally this refers to the Jews: typically to the gospel - church.
Deliverance - A remnant that shall be delivered by Cyrus, a type of Israel's redemption by
Christ. Holiness - The temple, the city, the people returned from captivity shall be holy
to the Lord. Their possessions - Their own ancient possessions. |
| 18 |
Shall kindle - This was fulfilled in part by Hyrcanus and the Maccabees, 1Macc
5:3, but will be more fully accomplished, when the Lord shall make his church as a
fire to all its enemies. |
| 19 |
They - The Jews who live in the south parts of Canaan, next Idumea, shall after their
return and victories over Edom, possess his country. Of the plain - The Jews who dwell in
the plain country, shall enlarge their borders, possess the Philistines country, together
with their ancient inheritance. The former was fully accomplished by Hyrcanus. And if this
were the time of fulfilling the one, doubtless it was the time of fulfilling the other
also. And all the land which the ten tribes possessed, shall again be possessed by the
Jews. Gilead - Here is promised a larger possession than ever they had before the
captivity; and it does, no doubt, point out the enlargement of the church of Christ in the
times of the gospel. |
| 20 |
The captivity - Those of the ten tribes that were carried away captive by Salmanesar.
Of the Canaanites - All the country they anciently possessed with this addition, that what
the Canaanites held by force, and the Israelites could not take from them, shall now be
possessed by these returned captives. Zarephath - Near Sidon. Of Jerusalem - The two
tribes carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Sepharad - Probably a region of Chaldea. The
cities - All the cities which were once their own. |
| 21 |
Saviours - Deliverers, literally the leaders of those captive troops, who shall come
up from Babylon, such as Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Mystically, Christ and his
apostles, and other preachers of the gospel. To judge - To avenge Israel upon Edom. The
Lord's - The God of Israel, Jehovah, shall be honoured, obeyed, and worshipped by all. |
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