Obadiah is one of the 12 prophetic works of Hosea thru Malachi, sometimes referred to
as the Minor Prophets. Designed as a single book called The Twelve, Obadiah is the
fourth book of The Twelve. It is the shortest book in the Old Testament with only 21
verses. It is a collection of divine judgement poems against the people of Edom who
share a common ancestry with the Israelites. Isaac, Abraham’s son and his wife
Rebekah had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Genesis 25-27 tell the story of these two
brothers. The two brothers later received the names, “Israel” and “Edom” which became
the names of their respective families. The two families had significant tensions
between them over the centuries (Numbers 20:14-20)
During the tragic events of Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (2 Kings 25) the family bond was
betrayed and shattered. During the invasion of Israel, the people of Edom took
advantage by plundering Israelite cities, capturing and even killing their captives (Ps.
137:7; Lam 4:22; Ezek. 35; Amos 1:6-9). In Obadiah, the people of Edom were held
accountable for the violence.
Obadiah is made up of 2 halves. The first is the accusations made against the leaders
of Edom. The second pivots to Obadiah announcing the Day of the Lord for all nations
including Edom. He views Edom’s pride and fall as an example of how God will one day
confront the pride among all nations and bring about their fall.
Questions to consider for Bible study for verses 1-5:
as the Minor Prophets. Designed as a single book called The Twelve, Obadiah is the
fourth book of The Twelve. It is the shortest book in the Old Testament with only 21
verses. It is a collection of divine judgement poems against the people of Edom who
share a common ancestry with the Israelites. Isaac, Abraham’s son and his wife
Rebekah had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Genesis 25-27 tell the story of these two
brothers. The two brothers later received the names, “Israel” and “Edom” which became
the names of their respective families. The two families had significant tensions
between them over the centuries (Numbers 20:14-20)
During the tragic events of Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (2 Kings 25) the family bond was
betrayed and shattered. During the invasion of Israel, the people of Edom took
advantage by plundering Israelite cities, capturing and even killing their captives (Ps.
137:7; Lam 4:22; Ezek. 35; Amos 1:6-9). In Obadiah, the people of Edom were held
accountable for the violence.
Obadiah is made up of 2 halves. The first is the accusations made against the leaders
of Edom. The second pivots to Obadiah announcing the Day of the Lord for all nations
including Edom. He views Edom’s pride and fall as an example of how God will one day
confront the pride among all nations and bring about their fall.
Questions to consider for Bible study for verses 1-5:
- How does Obadiah claim in verse 1 that he was inspired?
- What did God prophesy in verse 2 would happen to the nation of Edom?
- What does God say about the pride of Edom in verse 3? (Based on the geography & map; topography of Edom, how does this explain verse -See map below
- What did God say He would nevertheless do – verse 4?
- Explain the examples about thieves and grape gatherers in verse 5.
- What’s one thing that stood out to you from verses 1-5?
This is a map of the region in the biblical era. Edom was a rugged, mountainous region. It was a territory of harsh arid terrain that ran between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba to the south. It was also referred to as Seir. It was a high plateau with deep gorges cut through the western part of the plateau.
Information compiled by Deb Walter Laws
OBABADIAH WEEK 2
Please read verses 6-14 (NSRV)
6 How Esau has been pillaged,
his treasures searched out!
7 All your allies have deceived you;
they have driven you to the border;
your confederates have prevailed against you;
those who ate your food have set a trap for you--
there is no understanding.
8 On that day, says the Lord,
I will destroy the wise out of Edom
and understanding out of Mount Esau.
9 Your warriors shall be shattered, O Teman,
so that everyone from Mount Esau will be cut off.
Edom Mistreated His Brother
10 For the slaughter and violence done to your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you,
and you shall be cut off forever.
11 On the day that you stood aside,
on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you, too, were one of them.
12 But you should not have gloated over[a] your brother
on the day of his misfortune;
you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah
on the day of their ruin;
you should not have boasted
on the day of distress.
13 You should not have entered the gate of my people
on the day of their calamity;
you should not have joined in the gloating over Judah’s[b] disaster
on the day of his calamity;
you should not have stolen his goods
on the day of his calamity.
14 You should not have stood at the crossings
to cut off his fugitives;
you should not have handed over his survivors
on the day of distress.
These are the key words and concepts to look for: arrogance, prejudice, vengeance,
HOT TAKE: Hatred is a learned trait. Prejudice is taught; we are not born with it. Generational hatred is deeply
intrenched in human history. Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, puts this principle on
display.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
- What application is made of the illustration to Edom – verse 6?
- What would be done to Edom by those who were her confederates at peace with her – verse 7?
- What did previous allies of Edom do them?
- Whom would God destroy according to verse 8? (Think: Why would this be a problem for Edom?)
- What men are described in verse 9, and what consequence would occur?
- List the sins that Edom committed against Israel according to verses 10-12.
- Explain why God was upset with Edom for this.
- What consequences would God bring upon Edom?
- Name some ways that people today can be guilty of sins like what Edom committed.
- What sin did Edom commit according to verse 13?
- What sin did Edom commit according to verse 14?
- Explain ways that people may be guilty of similar sins today.
- What is one thing that stands out to you from today’s message?
- Name some ways that people today can be guilty of sins similar to what Edom committed.
- What makes prejudices so hurtful to God?
- How can we work to correct prejudices and end feuds in ways that glorify God?
- What is revenge? Why does God steer us away from seeking revenge?
OBADIAH WEEK 3
15 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.
16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, all the nations around you shall drink; they shall drink
and gulp down, and shall be as though they had never been.
17 But on Mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob
shall take possession of those who dispossessed them.
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, 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 of the house of Esau; for the
Lord has spoken.
19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah the land of the
Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall
possess Gilead.
20 The exiles of the Israelites who are in Halah shall possess Phoenicia as far as Zarephath; and the
exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the towns of the Negeb.
21 Those who have been saved shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau; and the kingdom shall
be the Lord
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
- What punishment did God predict upon Edom according to verse 15?
- How did God describe the punishment of Edom in verse 16?
- List other passages where drinking something is used to illustrate punishment.
- Jeremiah 25:15-16
- 1 Kings 20:12-21 and Esther 1:5-12
- Genesis 9:20-27
- Psalm 75:8
- Proverbs 20:1
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
- In contrast to Edom, what would Mount Zion receive – verse 17.
- What would the house of Jacob and of Joseph do to Edom – verse 18?
- How complete would destruction be? (Think: Where is the nation of Edom today?)
- What territories would be possessed – verses 19,20 (see a map)? Who would possess them?
- Explain the significance of verses 19,20. (Various translations may help here.)
- Summarize the sins committed by Edom.
Aftermath: Edomites do not exist today as a separate people because they were assimilated into other groups, primarily through intermarriage and conquest. While their ancient kingdom ceased to exist, their descendants have been absorbed into populations in the modern-day regions of southern Jordan and Israel, among other places. The ancient territory of Edom is located in modern-day southern Jordan and extends into parts of Israel & the Negev desert.
