The Book of Obadiah
1 Edom refers to the territory settled by Esau's descendants. It is a mountainous desert extending for about one
hundred miles from the wadi Zered to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Edomites enjoyed the security of their mountain
stronghold and the prosperity obtained by taxing caravans traveling through their territory. See the note on Genesis
36:1-43.
3 Rock (Hebrew Sela) is the name of the Edomite capital, Sela. The name emphasizes the security the Edomites
enjoyed because of the narrow canyons that led in and out of Edom.
4 Though thou set thy nest among stars: This figure of speech emphasizes the inaccessibility and natural security
of their city. However, their natural security is no match for God's determination.
5 As a gentle rule, when thieves or grape gatherers work, they do not search out and take everything; they merely
take their fill. However, God will so thoroughly judge Esau that He makes it bare (Jeremiah 49:9, 10).
7-9 Teman was one of the cities of Edom. Dismayed (Hebrew chatat, lit., "to shatter, terrify, or dismay"): With her
wise counselors and mighty men gone, proud Edom is doomed.
10-14 No particular historical occasion may be intended here; Obadiah is probably referring to all of Edom's
transgressions against Israel: past (2 Chronicles 21:8-10, 16, 17), present (2 Chronicles 26:6, 7; Joel 3:4-6, 19;
Amos 1:6-12), and future (Psalms 137:7).
15 The day of the Lord is pictured in Scripture as the time when God will judge the heathen (See the Introduction to
Joel). Here the final day of judgment is in view.
17, 18 Deliverance (Hebrew peletah) is better understood as "an escaped one" or "a fugitive," hence "a remnant."
19, 20 The south (Hebrew negev) refers to those Jews who, in a time future to the prophet, will again occupy the
southern regions of Judah. Zarephath is a Phoenician town on the Mediterranean coast. Sepharad has not been
identified with certainty. It was apparently in the south near Edom.
21 Saviors is better read "those saved," in distinction from the Masoretic text. The closing verse looks forward to
that time when the Lord's people will come to mount Zion and judge the mount of Esau during the kingdom age
(Daniel 7:27; Revelation 5:10).