1The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” (Jer 49:7; Jer 49:14; Eze 25:12)2Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.[1]3The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock,[2] in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” (Nu 24:21; Isa 14:13)4Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.5If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? (Jer 49:9)6How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out! (Jer 49:10)7All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread[3] have set a trap beneath you— you have[4] no understanding. (Ps 41:9; Jer 49:7)8Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? (Isa 29:14; Eze 35:2)9And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. (1Ch 1:45; Am 1:12; Ob 1:8)
Edom’s Violence Against Jacob
10Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. (Nu 20:20; Eze 35:9)11On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. (2Ki 25:10; Ps 137:7; Jer 12:14; Joe 3:3)12But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast[5] in the day of distress. (1Sa 2:3; Ps 22:17; Mic 4:11; Mic 7:8)13Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. (Pr 17:5; Eze 35:10)14Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. (Eze 21:21)
The Day of the Lord Is Near
15For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. (Jer 50:29; Eze 35:15; Joe 1:15; Hab 2:8)16For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been. (Jer 25:27; Joe 3:17)17But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. (Joe 2:32; Am 9:8; Am 9:12)18The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken. (Isa 10:17; Jer 5:14; Eze 25:14; Joe 2:5; Zec 12:6)
The Kingdom of the Lord
19Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. (Jos 10:40; Jud 1:9; Jer 17:26; Jer 23:13; Ob 1:8; Ob 1:17)20The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. (1Ki 17:9; Lu 4:26)21Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. (2Ki 13:5; Ps 22:28; Isa 19:20; Da 2:44; Da 7:14; Da 7:27; Ob 1:19; Zec 14:9; Lu 1:33; 1Co 15:24; 1Ti 4:16; Jas 5:20; Re 11:15; Re 19:6)