The Fall of Edom

Obadiah has a vision, an audio/visual revelation of things to come. 

Obadiah makes clear that his vision came to him from Yahweh his God, and he uses the ancient formula for identifying Yahweh as the source of his inspired prophecy, “Thus says the Lord God.” 

He then explains the focus of his vision being Edom. His vision proves Yahweh is not a limited and localized God of a small group of tribes known as Israel. Yahweh is the sovereign Lord of the whole earth. 

Obadiah admits other prophets had heard and pronounced this message, and an angel had been dispatched to the nations. 

The angel could have been a prophetic voice but was more likely an actual angel, a heavenly messenger. This would remain consistent with how the term tsir was used in the Old Testament. No doubt this angel messenger was sent to stir up nations against Edom in due time. Scripture is clear about God sending spirits to entice certain results among rulers (1 Kings 22:19-38; Daniel 10:10-21).

According to Obadiah’s vision, Yahweh was going to send an angel to whisper in the ears of the kings of nations to rise up in battle against Edom (1).

Edom Humbled (2-9)

Yahweh was going to make Edom seem insignificant to the nations and would cause them to be despised (2).

Destruction of Fortresses (3-4)

Obadiah announces that Edom was full of pride and arrogance; they deceived themselves into thinking their lofty mountain fortresses of craggy cliffs, steep ravines, and wasteland-like surroundings would keep them out of reach of invasion. The Edomites had constructed fortresses everywhere and had a series of caves and tunnels to hide and attack would-be invaders (3).

In Obadiah’s vision, Yahweh reveals that even if Edom could soar and live among eagles and build their nests in the stars, Yahweh would personally make sure they were brought down (4).

Destruction of Treasures (5-6)

Edom was situated on and controlled the important trade route between Damascus and other major cities in the north and the port on the Red Sea to the south. As a nation, they were lush with goods, especially copper. Obadiah makes it clear that they would be looted by thieves, leaving nothing but dust in their wake. They would leave nothing to glean, no mercy shown. Even vine-dressers would leave a few grapes for the poor to pick, but the thieves invading Edom would leave nothing. Every treasure would be searched out and taken (5-6).

Destruction of Allies (7)

Obadiah then watches, in his vision, as the allies and national friends of Edom turn against them and join their enemies, all to chase them out of their land. They would do so by betraying them. These allies would pretend peace, but their peace proposal would actually be an opportunity for deception, leading to Edom’s destruction. In their arrogance, Edom assumed they were safe in their alliances, but those they trusted the most would set traps they wouldn’t see coming (7).

Destruction of Counselors (8)

Obadiah continues to watch the devastation of Edom. Their wise counselors lost all insight and understanding; not one of them could offer intelligent or clever counsel. Their sharp wit and shrewd thinking had been destroyed (8).

Destruction of Warriors (9)

Finally, Obadiah sees the great and mighty warriors of Edom turn into cowards, shaking with fear and giving in to the slaughter (9).

Obadiah watches all five sources of Edom’s pride destroyed:

• Fortresses (3-4)

• Treasures (5-6)

• Allies (7)

• Counselors (8)

• Warriors (9) 

Reason for Edom’s Overthrow (10-14)

Israel and Edom had a treaty between them, making them brothers by treaty and by heritage—Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel), both sons of Isaac and Abraham. Because Edom broke their treaty and dissolved their relationship with Israel, they were to be destroyed completely. It was not just the breaking of their treaty, but it was the vicious intrigue with which they treated Israel (10).

Obadiah gives an example of the evil Edom did to Israel. On one occasion, a foreign army entered Jerusalem and began carrying off Israeli wealth. The invaders cast lots for the spoil. On that day, when the Edomites should have come to Israel’s aid, they stood at a distance, indifferent to all that was going on (11).

Not only was Edom of no help to Israel when being looted, but they were also gloating and rejoicing over Judah’s ruin. Edom boasted that Israel was getting what it deserved (12).

Then Edom became incredibly insidious. They quit watching from a distance and entered the city, joining in the looting. Next, they went to the crossroads and captured survivors who were escaping the city, selling them as slaves (13-14).

The Day of Yahweh Is Near (15-16) 

The Day of Yahweh was the Day of Judgment—the day every nation, kingdom, and person faces when they appear before Yahweh and give an account of their obedience. On the day that Edom appears before Yahweh, they will be judged by the same standard all nations are judged by: they will get as good as they gave. Their deeds will come crashing down on their own heads, destroying them. Edom had gotten drunk on the fortunes of Israel. They were out of their minds with greed and hatred, so the nations would turn on them in the same way. They would be swallowed up in out-of-control greed and hatred by other nations until nothing would be left of them (15-16).

Israel Restored (17-18) 

In these two verses, we learn Israel was to experience five different blessings in being:

• A place of safety 

• A place set apart for Yahweh 

• A place of prosperity (17)

• A place of purging 

• A place of overwhelming victory (18)

Eventually, those who lived in southern Judah (Negeb) would possess the territory of Edom, along with the coastland where the Philistines lived. Obadiah’s vision reached even further. Judah would possess the land of Ephraim—Samaria—while Benjamin would possess Gilead (19). The exiles would further possess the land of the Canaanites, reaching up north to Zarephath, a city beyond Tyre. 

In his vision, Obadiah sees exiles returning from as far away as Greece (Sepharad) and living in Southern Judah once again (Negeb) (20).

Then Obadiah sees saviors. These saviors are likely referring to the leaders of the Maccabean period, during the time between the two testaments, who conquered nations around them, including Mount Esau.

Ultimately, however, Obadiah sees that the Kingdom would one day belong to Yahweh (21).