Obadiah 1:1-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:9

And thy mighty men , O Teman, shall be dismayed ,.... Teman was one part of the country of Edom, so called from Teman, a son of Eliphaz, and grandson of Esau, Genesis 36:11 ; and which it seems had been famous for men of might and courage: it abounded with brave officers, and courageous soldiers, who should now be quite dispirited, and have no heart to go out against the enemy; and, instead of defending their country, should throw away their arms, and run away in a fright. The Targum and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:10

For thy violence against thy brother Jacob ,.... Which is aggravated: by being against Jacob, an honest plain hearted man, and whom the Lord loved; his brother, his own brother, a twin brother, yea, his only brother; yet this is to be understood, not so much of the violence of Esau against Jacob personally, though there is an allusion to that; as of the violence of the posterity of the one against the posterity of the other; and not singly of the violence shown at the destruction of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:1

We have heard a rumor - See Jeremiah 49:14 , where the same expressions are found. The prophet shows that the enemies of Idumea had confederated against it, and that Jehovah is now summoning them to march directly against it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:2

I have made thee small among the heathen - God ever attributes to himself the rise and fall of nations. If they be great and prosperous, it is by God's providence; if they be tow and depressed, it is by his justice. Compared with the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, Syrians, Arabs, and other neighboring nations, the Idumeans were a small people. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:3

The pride of thine heart - St. Jerome observes that all the southern part of Palestine, from Eleutheropolis to Petra and Aialath, was full of caverns hewn out of the rocks, and that the people had subterranean dwellings similar to ovens. Here they are said to dwell in the clefts of the rock, in reference to the caverns above mentioned. In these they conceived themselves to be safe, and thought that no power brought against them could dislodge them from those fastnesses. Some think that by ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:4

Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle - Though like this bird thou get into the highest cliff of the highest rock, it will not avail thee. To defend thee, when Jehovah has determined thy destruction, thy deepest caves and highest rocks will be equally useless. See Jeremiah 49:16 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:5

If thieves came to thee - That is, if thieves entered thy dwellings, they would not have taken every thing; they would have laid hold on thy wealth; and carried off as much as they could escape with conveniently; if grape-gatherers entered thy vineyards, they would not have taken every bunch; some gleanings would have been left. But the Chaldeans have stripped thee bare; they have searched out all thy hidden things, Obadiah 1:6 , they have left thee nothing. Hour art thou cut off! Thou art... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:7

All the men of thy confederacy - The Chaldeans are here intended, to whom the Idumeans were attached, and whose agents they became in exercising cruelties upon the Jews. Have brought thee even to the border - Have hemmed thee in on every side, and reduced thee to distress. Or, they have driven thee to thy border; cast thee out of thy own land into the hands of thine enemies. The men that were at peace with thee - The men of thy covenant, with whom thou hadst made a league. That... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:8

Shall I not - destroy the wise men - It appears, from Jeremiah 49:7 , that the Edomites were remarkable for wisdom, counsel, and prudence. See on the above place. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Obadiah 1:9

Thy mighty men, O Teman - This was one of the strongest places in Idumea; and is put here, as in Amos 1:2 , and elsewhere, for Idumea itself. Mount of Esau - Mount Seir. read more

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