God sends a message to Edom through the prophet Obadiah (v. 2-14). God will make them small among the nations…and hated. The word “see” implies that they could actually look to see their demise as if it had already happened. We see God’s sovereignty even in the pagan world.(1) The First Oracle: (v. 3-4) Edom’s pride or insolence to Israel and subsequently God is on display in the fact that they live in the “heights” (Edomite Plateau a natural barrier/stronghold like Masada) and ask “who can bring me to the ground?”
(1a) Because of their outward impenetrability it bleeds over to their hearts and like their physical surroundings their hearts also become elevated and lofty in pride.
(1b) Even more damning of their pride is the “soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars” comment. Their pride lifts them even higher. A height from which the Lord will bring them down. Pride goes before the fall. This is no different than Europe’s mentality right before Hitler begins his march on them and his attempt at world domination.
(2) The Second Oracle: (v. 5-7) The second oracles elaborates on the first. "If thieves came to you…Oh, what a disaster awaits you-would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
(2a) But how Esau (Edomites are Esau descendants) will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged
(2b)Edom’s wealth would be plundered, all of it with nothing left behind.
(2c)Their alliances would be broken and their allies would deceive them
America could learn a tough lesson from this vicariously. A nation that boasts proudly of alliances and had a formidable military established was systematically dismantled by enemies that drove them out of their stronghold. The very people (Babylonians) that they had allied themselves with would be their undoing and they would never see it coming. “those who eat your bread will set a trap for you”. Those that eat bread with you is an allusion to those closest to you, your friends, perhaps even family loyal to people other than the Edomites.
(3) The Third Oracle: Judgment Day (In that day)
(3a) Rhetorical questions: That inevitably end up with Edom losing their wise men and warriors
We then see definitive reasons for their judgment:
(4) Because of the violence against your brother Jacob…they will be destroyed forever(4a) Edom stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth, foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, and Edom was among those that cast lots. They cut down their own brethren that attempted to escape the massacre by the Babylonians. The Edomites being in such close proximity to Judah would’ve known the escape routes the Jews used when fleeing the Babylonians and would’ve been there to kill them. Imagine running for your life thinking you got away only to find that the escape route was lined with enemies waiting to kill you, people you thought were your family. This would be no different than fleeing the World Trade Towers on 9/11 only to be gunned down or picked off by snipers in the street and those snipers were familiar to you. It is horrendous.
(5) They looked down on Jerusalem and their misfortune in the day of their destruction and boasted too assisting the enemies of the Jews
(5a) Its bad enough not helping but to rejoice in their brother’s downfall is just too much
(6) They laid wait at the crossroads to cut down fugitives and either kill them or hand them over to the enemy for slaughter of imprisonment.
Like sin, the Edomites were waiting around corners and sometimes hidden in escape routes during Israel's flight. Lurking in the darkness, hidden and purposely concealing themselves for malevolent reasons. They pop up in as victims attempted flee and were slaughtered in the process. Just as sin trips up our progress of becoming holy.
Alexander, T.D., D.W. Baker, and B.K. Waltke. "Reason For Edom's Judgment." TOTC: Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (Tyndale Commentaries Series). Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988. 36-40. Print.
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