Behold, I have made thee small. Here is the effect of the summons. So in Jeremiah 49:15 , "For, lo, I will make thee small." Jehovah is the Speaker, and he regards the future as past. What he determines is as good as accomplished. At this time the Edomites were a powerful nation, and possessed an almost impregnable seat at Petra. Small ; in numbers, territory, honour. read more
Pride. "Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee," etc. These words may be taken as suggesting and illustrating one of the chief sins of all sinners, viz. pride, that which poets tell us "peoples hell and holds its prisoners there." The words suggest three facts in relation to pride. I. THAT THE MOST DESPICABLE PEOPLE ARE OFTEN THE MOST DISPOSED TO PRIDE . Edom, which is charged... read more
Hath deceived; Septuagint, ἐπῆρε , "elated;" Vulgate, extulit . The pointing varies. In Obadiah 1:7 Jerome translates the word by illudere . The clefts; Septuagint, ὀπαῖς : Vulgate, scissuris . The word occurs in the parallel passage, Jeremiah 49:16 , and in So Jeremiah 2:14 , where it has the meaning of "refuge." Of the rook. This may be Sela, or Petra, as 2 Kings 14:7 . The country inhabited by the Edomites lay on the eastern side of the Arabah, and extended from the... read more
Edom had prided herself in the strength of her position; but this shall not secure her from destruction when the Lord wars against her. read more
The deceptiveness of human pride. The prophecies of Obadiah were mainly addressed to the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, a wild and warlike people who inhabited the mountainous region to the south of the Dead Sea. Their hostility and treachery towards their kinsmen, the descendants of Israel, were the occasion of the threatenings with which this book abounds. Fancying themselves secure and impregnable in their singular mountain fastnesses, they deemed their neighbours altogether... read more
Behold, I have made thee small - God, having declared His future judgments upon Edom, assigns the first ground of those judgments. Pride was the root of Edom’s sin, then envy; then followed exultation at his brother’s fall, hard-heartedness and bloodshed. All this was against the disposition of God’s Providence for him. God had made him small, in numbers, in honor, in territory. Edom was a wild mountain people. It was strongly guarded in the rock-girt dwelling, which God had assigned it. Like... read more
The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee - Not the strength of its mountain-fastnesses, strong though they were, deceived Edom, but “the pride of his heart.” That strength was but the occasion which called forth the “pride.” Yet, it was strong in its abode. God, as it were, admits it to them. “Dweller in the clefts of the rocks, the loftiness of his habitation.” “The whole southern country of the Edomites,” says Jerome, “from Eleutheropolis to Petra and Selah (which are the possessions of... read more
Obadiah 1:1-4. The vision of Obadiah The name of this prophet signifies, a servant, or a worshipper, of the Lord. Such he undoubtedly was, and also a prophet, but what he was in other respects we are not informed. It is not improbable that he had other visions, or revelations, from God, besides this which is here recorded, but this only has been preserved for the benefit of future ages. Thus saith the Lord This declaration includes his commission and authority to prophesy, together... read more
OBADIAH’S MESSAGEEdom’s sin (1-14)The Edomites thought their land was unconquerable because of the defence system that they had built throughout their rocky mountains. Obadiah warns them that no matter how high up the mountains they go or how strong they make their defences, nothing will save them from the coming destruction. Already the enemy armies are preparing to attack Edom (1-4).A house burglar steals only what he wants, and leaves the remainder of the goods in the house; a vineyard... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Obadiah 1:1-16
Part I. THE DESTRUCTION OF EDOM, AND THE CAUSE THEREOF. read more