Obadiah 1:1-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Obadiah 1:1-9

Edom is the nation against which this prophecy is levelled, and which, some think, is put for all the enemies of Israel, that shall be brought down first or last. The rabbin by Edom understand Rome. Rome Christians they understand it of, and have an implacable enmity to it a such; but, if we understand it of Rome antichristian, we shall find the passages of it applicable enough. And though Edom was mortified in the times of the Maccabees, as it had been before by Jehoshaphat, yet its... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Obadiah 1:10-16

When we have read Edom's doom, no less than utter ruin, it is natural to ask, Why, what evil has he done? What is the ground of God's controversy with him? Many things, no doubt, were amiss in Edom; they were a sinful people, and a people laden with iniquity. But that one single crime which is laid to their charge, as filling their measure and bringing this ruin upon them, that for which they here stand indicted, of which they are convicted, and for which they are condemned, is the injury they... read more

John Gill

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

The vision of Obadiah ,.... Or the prophecy, as the Targum; which was delivered unto him by the Lord in a vision; it was not what he fancied or dreamed of, but what he saw, what he had a clear discovery and revelation of made unto his mind; hence prophets are sometimes called "seers". This was a single prophecy; though sometimes a book, consisting of various prophecies, is called a vision; as the prophecies of Isaiah are called the vision of Isaiah, Isaiah 1:1 ; thus saith the Lord God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:2

Behold, I have made thee small among the Heathen ,.... Or "a little one", or "thing" F15 קטן "parvium", V. L. ; their number few, and their country not large, as Aben Ezra, especially in comparison of other nations; and therefore had no reason to be so proud, insolent, and secure, as they are afterwards said to be; or rather, "I will make thee"; the past for the future, after the prophetic manner, as Kimchi; that is weak and feeble, as the Targum; reduce their numbers, destroy their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:3

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee ,.... The Edomites were proud of their wealth and riches, which they had by robberies amassed together; and of their military skill and courage, and of their friends and allies; and especially of their fortresses and fastnesses, both natural and artificial; and therefore thought themselves secure, and that no enemy could come at them to hurt them, and this deceived them: thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock ; their country was called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:4

Though thou exaltest thyself as the eagle ,.... That soars aloft, flies on high, even out of sight, higher than any other bird does: or, "exaltest thy habitation"; and makest it as high as the eagle's nest; see Jeremiah 49:16 ; and though thou set thy nest among the stars ; even higher than the eagle's; an hyperbolical expression, supposing that which never was or can be done; yet, if it was possible, would not secure from danger: or should their castles and fortresses be built upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:5

If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night ,.... Whether the one came by day, and the other by night, or both by night, the same being meant by different words, whose intent is to plunder and steal, and carry off what they can; thy condition would not be worse, nor so bad as now it is: for how art thou cut off ! from being a nation, wholly destroyed; thy people killed, or carried captive; thy fortresses demolished, towns and cities levelled with the ground, and all thy wealth and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:6

How are the things of Esau searched out !.... Or how are the Esauites, the posterity of Esau, sought out! though they dwelt in the clefts of the rocks, and hid themselves in caves and dens, yet their enemies searched them, and found there, and plucked them out from thence, so that none escaped: how are his hid things sought up ! his riches, wealth and treasure, hid in fortresses, in rocks and caves, where they were thought to be safe, and judged inaccessible; or that an enemy would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:7

All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border ,.... Or of "thy covenant" F18 אנשי בריתך "viri foederis tui", V. L. Montanus, Vatablus, Burkius. ; that are in league with thee; thine allies, even all of them, prove treacherous to thee, in whom thou trustedst; when they sent their ambassadors to them, they received them kindly, promised great things to them, dismissed them honourably, accompanied them to the borders of their country, but never stood to their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Obadiah 1:8

Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom ,.... When they shall be invaded by the enemy, and treacherously dealt with by their allies; so that there shall be no wise counsellors at court to give advice what proper methods should be taken at such a season; they should either be taken off by death, or their wisdom should be turned into folly, and they be rendered incapable of giving right counsel: and understanding out of the mount of Esau ? that is,... read more

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