Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
About time we got these going again. The prophet Obadiah was, oddly for an Old Testament prophet, a man of relatively few words. His book is a whole 1 chapter of 21 (rather long) lines.
Reading through some commentaries, and the first thing that seems to come out in most is "who the (bleep) is Obadiah?" No one really seems to be able to equate the speaker/author of this book with anyone else by that name in the Bible. While the text talks about Edom being involved in the destruction of Jerusalem in an earlier period, there are commentators who suggest it is really about the fall of Jerusalem in 586CE with "Edom" as a stand-in for Babylon and other enemies of God's people. So really an early exilic book, though I did see some still trying to place it in the ninth century CE, closer to the events it seems to be referring to.
The words are directed to Edom, which had attacked Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord, through Obadiah, talks about taking the Edomites down and punishing them for their treatment of His people, and of restoring Israel. This could, based on the above, be a more general call against Israel's enemies rather than actually being about Edom being targetted.
There is much focus on the pride and gloating of the Edomites.
So is this a condemnation of pride (as one evangelical commentator I found concludes)? Or more specifically a condemnation of Edom (or enemy nations in general) taking pride in its role in attacking Israel?
What is the general message here, if any? That the Lord shall defeat the enemies of God's chosen and restore them to power/glory? Or is there a more personal or modern message possible?
Bible Gateway passage: Obadiah - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proud Edom Will Be Brought Low - The 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 it for battle!” I will surely make you least among the nations; you shall be...
www.biblegateway.com
Reading through some commentaries, and the first thing that seems to come out in most is "who the (bleep) is Obadiah?" No one really seems to be able to equate the speaker/author of this book with anyone else by that name in the Bible. While the text talks about Edom being involved in the destruction of Jerusalem in an earlier period, there are commentators who suggest it is really about the fall of Jerusalem in 586CE with "Edom" as a stand-in for Babylon and other enemies of God's people. So really an early exilic book, though I did see some still trying to place it in the ninth century CE, closer to the events it seems to be referring to.
The words are directed to Edom, which had attacked Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord, through Obadiah, talks about taking the Edomites down and punishing them for their treatment of His people, and of restoring Israel. This could, based on the above, be a more general call against Israel's enemies rather than actually being about Edom being targetted.
Obadiah 1:15 said:For the day of the Lord is near against all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head.
There is much focus on the pride and gloating of the Edomites.
Obadiah 1:12 said:
So is this a condemnation of pride (as one evangelical commentator I found concludes)? Or more specifically a condemnation of Edom (or enemy nations in general) taking pride in its role in attacking Israel?
What is the general message here, if any? That the Lord shall defeat the enemies of God's chosen and restore them to power/glory? Or is there a more personal or modern message possible?