10 "Because of violence to your brother Jacob , [1]You will be covered with shame , And you will be cut off forever . 11 "On the day that you stood aloof e , On the day that strangers carried off his wealth , And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for Jerusalem - You too were as one of them. 12 " Do not [2]gloat over your brother's day , The day of his misfortune . And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction ; Yes, do not [3]boast e In the day of their distress . 13 "Do not enter the gate of My people In the day of their disaster . Yes , you, do not [4]gloat over their calamity In the day of their disaster . And do not loot their wealth In the day of their disaster . 14 "Do not stand at the fork of the road To cut down their fugitives ; And do not imprison their survivors In the day of their distress .
15 "For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations . As you have done , it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head . 16 "Because just as you drank on My holy mountain , All the nations will drink continually . They will drink and [5]swallow And become as if they had never existed .
17 "But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape , And it will be holy . And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions . 18 "Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame ; But the house of Esau will be as stubble . And they will set [6]them on fire and consume [6]them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau ," For the Lord has spoken . 19 Then those of the [8]Negev will possess the mountain of Esau , And those of the [9]Shephelah the Philistine plain; Also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria , And Benjamin will possess Gilead . 20 And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel , Who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath , And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Will possess the cities of the Negev . 21 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion To judge the mountain of Esau , And the kingdom will be the Lord'S .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Obadiah 1:10-21
Commentary on Obadiah 1:1-16
(Read Obadiah 1:1-16)
This prophecy is against Edom. Its destruction seems to have been typical, as their father Esau's rejection; and to refer to the destruction of the enemies of the gospel church. See the prediction of the success of that war; Edom shall be spoiled, and brought down. All the enemies of God's church shall be disappointed in the things they stay themselves on. God can easily lay those low who magnify and exalt themselves; and will do it. Carnal security ripens men for ruin, and makes the ruin worse when it comes. Treasures on earth cannot be so safely laid up but that thieves may break through and steal; it is therefore our wisdom to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Those that make flesh their trust, arm it against themselves. The God of our covenant will never deceive us: but if we trust men with whom we join ourselves, it may prove to us a wound and dishonour. God will justly deny those understanding to keep out of danger, who will not use their understandings to keep out of sin. All violence, all unrighteousness, is sin; but it makes the violence far worse, if it be done against any of God's people. Their barbarous conduct towards Judah and Jerusalem, is charged upon them. In reflecting on ourselves, it is good to consider what we should have done; to compare our practice with the Scripture rule. Sin, thus looked upon in the glass of the commandment, will appear exceedingly sinful. Those have a great deal to answer for, who are idle spectators of the troubles of their neighbours, when able to be active helpers. Those make themselves poor, who think to make themselves rich by the ruin of the people of God; and those deceive themselves, who call all that their own on which they can lay their hands in a day of calamity. Though judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. Let sorrowful believers and insolent oppressors know, that the troubles of the righteous will soon end, but those of the wicked will be eternal.
Commentary on Obadiah 1:17-21
(Read Obadiah 1:17-21)
There should be deliverance and holiness at Jerusalem, and the house of Jacob would again occupy their possessions. Much of this prophecy was fulfilled when the Jews returned to their own land. But the salvation and holiness of the gospel, its spread, and the conversion of the Gentiles, seem also to be intended, especially the restoration of Israel, the destruction of antichrist, and the prosperous state of the church, to which all the prophets bear witness. When Christ is come, and not till then, shall the kingdom be the Lord's in the full sense of the term. As none that exalt themselves against the Lord shall prosper, and all shall be brought down; so none that wait upon the Lord, and put their trust in him, shall ever be dismayed. Blessed be the Divine Saviour and Judge on Mount Zion! His word shall be a savour of life unto life unto numbers, while it judges and condemns obstinate unbelievers.