Obadiah 1:15 - Exposition

The day of the Lord. This is not primarily the final day of judgment, but the time when "Jehovah reveals his majesty and omnipotence in a glorious manner, to overthrow all ungodly powers, and to complete his kingdom" (Keil). It is announced by Joel 1:15 ; Joel 2:1 , Joel 2:31 ; Zephaniah 1:14 ; but the notion of a judgment to fall on Gentile nations, and to issue in the establishment of the kingdom of God, was familiar long before. Balaam had seen it in dim vision ( Numbers 24:17-24 ); Hannah had anticipated the destruction that would accompany it ( 1 Samuel 2:9 , 1 Samuel 2:10 ); so had David ( 2 Samuel 23:5-7 ) in his last words; it is clearly predicted in the Psalms (see Psalms 2:1-12 and Psalms 110:1-7 .) (Knabenbauer). Is near. Because every such judgment upon individual nations is typical of the great day and preparative of it. As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee (comp. 1:7 ; Psalms 137:8 ; Jeremiah 50:15 ). This law of retribution was the ideal of heathen justice, according to the Rhadamanthian rule, "If a man should suffer what he hath done, then there would be strict justice" (Aristotle, 'Eth. Nic.' 5.5. 3). Thy reward ( Joel 3:7 [4:7, Hebrew]; better, that which thou hast performed —thy work or dealing, Upon thine own head. Like a stone cast towards heaven (comp. Psalms 7:16 ; Esther 9:25 ).