The Prophecies of Obadiah

Obadiah 1  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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The Judgment of Edom in Three Phases
Obadiah focuses on the judgment of Edom, who will be one of the confederates in the coalition led by the King of the North (Psa. 83). Edom had a particular hatred for Israel and Obadiah’s prophecy shows the end of those who take such a position against God’s chosen people. He shows Edom’s judgment as falling in three stages, ending with their total annihilation from the face of the earth, after which the remnant of Israel will take their true, God-given inheritance (“their possessions”), which includes the land of Edom.
The FIRST Stage of Judgment on Edom
Vss.1-14
The first 14 verses were historically fulfilled in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian invasion. He gathered a large coalition of armies from many nations, of which Edom had a part (Jer. 34:11The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, (Jeremiah 34:1); 2 Kings 24:22And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets. (2 Kings 24:2)). After he passed through the land of Israel and took Jerusalem (vss. 11-12), he deceived Edom and some of his other confederates (vs. 7) and entered into their countries and plundered them. The first nine verses give an account of this treachery.
Verse 1 is a call through the ranks of this enormous confederacy under Nebuchadnezzar to betray the land of Edom—“let us rise up against her in battle.” Verse 2 gives the result—they are “left small” in numbers. Verses 3-4 tell us the reason why, from God’s perspective; it was their “pride.” Verses 5-9 show who will execute the judgment—“all the men of thy confederacy.” In verses 10-14, Edom’s guilt is exposed; they helped in the destruction of the Jews and Jerusalem when they should have been a help to Israel their “brother.”
Thus, Edom’s first blow will be when the King of the North and his Arab confederacy sweep through the land of Israel during the “Consumption.” As the book of Amos shows (chaps. 1-2), a number of nations that have situated themselves on Israel’s promised land will come under judgment at this time on account of the general mayhem that will occur. The “Consumption” will be upon “the whole land” (Isa. 28:2222Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:22)), and these nations will be devastated. This will only be a partial destruction of Edom; “the chief” of the people (the upper class) will “escape” (Dan. 11:4141He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Daniel 11:41)).
The SECOND Stage of Judgment on Edom
Vss. 15-16
Vss. 15-16—Edom’s second blow will be more severe. After the Lord has returned and restored the remnant of Israel, He will personally “roar out of Zion” (Joel 3:1616The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)) to tread the Winepress judgment “upon all the heathen [nations].” This is a reference to Gog’s confederacy (Russia) which will use the land of Edom as the place to assemble their armies in view of their attack on restored Israel. The judgment of the Lord on these nations gathered in Edom will be so terrible that land of Edom will be permanently destroyed (Isa. 34:1-8; 63:1-61Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. 2For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. 3Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. 4And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. 5For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. 6The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. 7And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. 8For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. (Isaiah 34:1‑8)
1Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6); Hab. 3:3-163God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. 5Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. 6He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. 7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 8Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? 9Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. 11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. 12Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. 13Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. 14Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. 16When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. (Habakkuk 3:3‑16)).
The THIRD Stage of Judgment on Edom
Vss. 17-21
Vss. 17-21—Edom’s final blow will come at the hands of those they have so bitterly hated—Israel. After the Lord treads the Winepress in Edom, He will lead out the armies of newly restored Israel in a mighty conquest to take their full inheritance as promised to Abraham (Isa. 11:1414But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isaiah 11:14); Jer. 51:20-2320Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; 21And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; 22With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; 23I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. (Jeremiah 51:20‑23); Mic. 4:13; 5:5-813Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:13)
5And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. 7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. 8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:5‑8); Psa. 108:7; 118:1-127God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. (Psalm 108:7)
1O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. 2Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 3Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 4Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 5I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. 6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. 10All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. 11They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 12They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. (Psalm 118:1‑12)). At that time, Israel will be given the opportunity to extinguish any remaining Edomites until every last one will be cut off from the earth. “There shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau” (vs. 18).