BAEdom is frequently spoken of in the prophets. This people who, as well as Jacob, were descended from Isaac, had an inveterate hatred to the posterity of the younger son, who were favored as the people of the Lord. Psa. 137 tells of this hatred, in the seventh verse. In Psa. 83 Edom forms a part of the last confederacy against Jerusalem, the object of which was to cut off the name of Israel from the earth. Ezek. 35 dwells upon this perpetual hatred, and the desire of Edom to possess the land of Israel. Our prophet enlarges upon the details of the manifestation of this hatred, which burst forth when Jerusalem was taken. It is possible that there was something of this sort when Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar. Edom is united with Babylon, in Psa. 137, as the inveterate enemy of Jerusalem. But it is evident that the prophecy extends to other events. Jerusalem shall again be attacked by these Gentiles, who seek to satiate their hatred to the city of the Lord, and to gratify their ambitious purposes. Edom plays a sorrowful part on this occasion, and its judgment is proportioned to its sin. The nation is entirely cut off. When the rest of the world rejoice, the desolation of Edom shall be complete. Edom had purposed to take advantage of the attack of the nations upon Jerusalem, to possess itself of the land, and had united with them to take part in the attack, by lying in wait-as was natural to a people whose habits where those of the Arab tribes-to cut off the retreat of the fugitives, laying hands, when possible, on their substance, and giving them up also to their enemies. The men of Edom knew not that the day of the Lord was upon all the nations, and that this conduct would but bring down an especial curse on their own heads. Their judgment is thus described: God takes away their wisdom, their pride deceives them, their strength fails them, in order that they may be entirely cut off. We have seen them joining the last confederacy against Jerusalem, and taking part in the destruction of that city; but it appears that their confederates deceive them (verse 7); and Edom, thus ill-treated by former allies, becomes small among the heathen" (verses 1, 2). The nations are the first instruments of the Lord's vengeance. But another, and yet more terrible event, is linked with the name of Edom, or Idumea, and is the occasion of the Lord's judgment falling upon that people. It is in Edom that the armies of the nations will be assembled in the last day. We have the account of this in Isa. 34 and 63 (See Isa. 34:5,6), the rest of the chapters displaying the judgment of desolation in the strongest possible language. Isa. 63 shows us the Lord Himself, returning from the judgment, having trodden the wine-press alone, of the people there were none with Him.
Finally, Israel itself shall be an instrument in the hand of the Lord, for the judgment of Esau (Obad. 1:1, 18). The destruction in Isaiah relates especially to the armies of the nations, who, in their movements, find themselves assembled in Edom. The part which Israel takes in the judgment, is on the people in general; and, I suppose, afterward, when Christ is at their head as the Messiah (comp. verses 17, 18, and Isa. 11:14), appears to confirm this view of the passage. At all events, it takes place after Israel's blessing.
That none shall be left of Edom, is also declared in Obad. 1:1,5,6,9,18 Jer. 49:9,10-22; and it will be observed, that there is no restoration of a remnant, as in the case of Elam and others. A part of the latter prophecy, establishes the same facts as that of Obadiah, in nearly the same words. The same judgment is pronounced in Ezek. 35, and in Isa. 34, already quoted. We see in these chapters, as well as in Isa. 63, that it is the controversy of Jerusalem, that the Lord pleads with Edom (Ezek. 30:5, 11; Isa. 34:8; 63:4). In these passages, the Lord does not forget His thoughts of love towards Zion, and His people.
He closes the prophecy of Obadiah with the testimony of the effect of His call to repentance, of His unchangeable faithfulness to his promises and unwearying love.
Power and might against those formidable enemies, should be given to Israel, who should in peace possess the territory which their enemies had invaded. Deliverance should be on Mount Zion, from thence Mount Esau. should be judged, and the kingdom should be the Lord's.
As corrupt power had been judged in Babylon, so in Edom hatred to the people of God.