The book of Obadiah tells of God's judgment against Edom for mistreating Israel. Edom, descended from Esau, was located south of Israel and was often at odds with them. Obadiah prophesied Edom's destruction for their pride, violence against Israel, indifference to Israel's troubles, and rejoicing in Israel's destruction. God would bring complete ruin to Edom for their sins. In contrast, Israel would be delivered and protected on Mount Zion. Lessons from Obadiah include avoiding pride, mistreating brothers, rejoicing in enemies' falls, and turning to God in times of judgment.

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2. OBADIAH
The Judgment of Edom
God’s Retributive
Justice
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3. Obadiah
● His name means “Servant of Yahweh/Jehovah”
● Thirteen different people are called by this
name in the Old Testament
● Whoever this Obadiah was, his message
contains valuable lessons for us today
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4. Prophecies against Edom
● God's Coming Slaughter of Nations; Edom to be a
Perpetual Wasteland (Isaiah 34:1-17)
● Jeremiah Prophesies: Edom to Become a
Wasteland (Jeremiah 49:7-22)
● Some Reasons for Divine Judgment on Edom
According to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 24:12-14, 35:1-15)
● Malachi on God's Perpetual Enmity Against
Edom (Malachi 1:1-4)
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5. The Date
● 845 B.C. and 586 B.C. are often proposed
● Obadiah refers to an attack on Jerusalem
– The days of Jehoram (848 – 844 B.C.), when Philistines and
Arabians attacked the city
[II Chronicles 21:8 – 10, 16 – 17]
– The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (586 B.C.)
● Internal evidence appears to support the early date of
845 B.C. (Keil, Hailey)
– There is no mention of the destruction of the temple, the
deportation to Babylon, or the remnant who went to Egypt
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6. The Message
● The Fall of Edom
– Because of its pride
– And its cruelty against Israel
● The exaltation of Zion
– When Seir, the Edomite counterpart of Zion,
will be cast down
– The rescued of Israel will be in Zion, for in it
the redeemed shall be found
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7. The book of Obadiah tells the story of two nations,
the nation of Israel and the nation of Edom, the
country to the south of Israel that is now usually
referred to as the Negev or Negeb. Through this
ancient land of Edom the Israelites marched as
they came into the land of Israel out of the
captivity and slavery of Egypt. As they came into
the land they had difficulty with the Edomites;
they were enemies of Israel from its very
beginning.
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8. The History of Edom
● The people of Edom descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin
brother (Gen. 36, I Chronicles 1: 43 – 54)
● There was sibling rivalry between Edom and Israel, found
first in Esau and Jacob
– Gen. 25: 22 – 26, 27 – 34, Gen. 27
● While Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled (Gen. 32 –
33), their descendants were often at odds with one another
– Numbers 20: 14 – 29, II Samuel 8:13 -14, II Kings 8:
20 – 22
● Located south of the Dead Sea, they build their cities in
the cliffs and thought themselves impregnable
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9. The Edomites
refused a request by
Moses for the
Israelites to simply
pass directly through
Edomite territory on
their way north
(Numbers 20:14-21)
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10. Edom
● The region is known in various translations of
The Bible as Idumea (Isaiah 34:5-6, Ezekiel
35:15), "the field of Edom" (Genesis 32:3),
"the land of Edom" (Genesis 36:16). Also,
because it is, in part, mountainous, it was also
known as "the mountains of Esau" or "the
mountain of Seir" (Obadiah 1:8,9,19,21). The
southern part of Edom was known as Teman.
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11. Edom
● The territory was conquered by King David (II Samuel
8:14, 1 Kings 9:26), and in later years by Amaziah (2
Chronicles 25:11-12), but they regained their
independence and again made war against Judah. The
Edomites sided with the Babylonians under King
Nebuchadnezzar when they conquered Judah and
devastated Jerusalem, but later the Edomites were
themselves conquered by the Babylonians (Jeremiah
27:3-6).
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12. After the prophecy of Obadiah . . .
● The Edomites were overcome by the
Nabataeans, forced to settle south of Judah
● Around 100 B.C., they were conquered by
John Hyrcanus of the Maccabees
● By 100 A.D., Edom as a race and nation had
become lost to history
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13. The pre-exilic prophets came to
warn of impending judgment.
● Obadiah wrote to or about Edom.
● Amos, Hosea and Joel wrote to the northern
kingdom.
● Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah
and Jeremiah wrote to warn Judah.
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14. When you outline the prophets you find that
they all have the same basic ingredients:
● Warning of impending judgment because of
the nations sinfulness
● Description of the sin
● Description of the coming judgment
● A call for repentance
● A promise of future deliverance
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15. 15

16. OBADIAH
● The Coming Judgment of Edom (vs. 1-9)
– The decree has gone forth to the nations (vs. 1)
– Deceived by pride in her location, Edom will be
brought down (vs. 2 – 4)
– Destruction will be complete (vs. 5 – 6)
– Edom will be betrayed by allies (vs. 7)
– Not even wisdom and might can save them (vs. 8 – 9)
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17. OBADIAH
● The Reason for Judgment on Edom (vs. 10-16)
– For violence and unbrotherly conduct toward Jacob
(vs. 10 – 11)
– Therefore, the “Day of the Lord” for them will mean
receiving the same sort of treatment! (vs. 15 – 16)
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18. The Reason for Destruction (vs. 10- 14)
● The underlying sin: violence to his
"brother" Judah (vs. 10)
● The specific actions: (vs. 11 - 1 4)
– Indifference to Judah's troubles (vs. 11)
– Rejoicing over Judah's troubles (vs. 12).
– Looting Judah's possessions (vs. 13).
– Oppressing Judah's people (vs. 14).
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20. OBADIAH
● The Exaltation of Israel over Edom (vs. 17-21)
– Deliverance and holiness will be found on Mt.
Zion, not Mt. Seir! (vs. 17a)
– The house of Jacob will consume the house of Esau
(vs. 17b – 18)
– The children of Israel will possess Edom and
surrounding nations (vs. 19 – 20)
– The ultimate rule will be that of the Lord’s (vs. 21)
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21. Lessons From Obadiah
● “Pride Goes Before Destruction” – Proverbs 16:18
– Pride leads to vanity and a sense of independence from God
– Just as Edom took pride in their geographical location, allies,
wisdom and might
– Such arrogance God will punish – Isaiah 13: 9 – 11
- - Are we on guard against such pride?
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22. Lessons From Obadiah
● Do Not Mistreat Your Brethren
– This was Edom’s guilt also (vs. 10)
– How we treat our brothers affects our relationship
with the Lord – I Corinthians 8:12
- - Are we careful about our dealings with our
brothers?
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23. Lessons From Obadiah
● “Do Not Rejoice When Your Enemy Falls . . .”
Proverbs 24: 17 – 18
– This Edom did when Judah was plundered (vs. 12)
– This sort of gloating is displeasing to God!
- - Do we rejoice when our enemy falls?
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24. Lessons From Obadiah
● In Time of Divine Judgment, God Provides a
Means and Place of Escape for Those who
Turn to Him . . .
● Note again verse 17, where Mount Zion would
become a place of deliverance
● Today, spiritual Mount Zion is a place to which
we can turn – Hebrews 12: 22 – 24
- - Of course, this is what we come to as we obey
the gospel of Christ!
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25. Conclusion and Application
● Pride deceives and leads to more sin.
● Sin follows a downward path.
● God will keep His word.
● God will punish sin.
● God will protect His own.
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