Obadiah

INTRODUCTION Obadiah: “Obadiah” is a Jewish word meaning "the servant of Jehovah". The Old Testament mentioned many people with this name; as in 1 Kings 18:3-6, 1 Chronicles 3:21, 7:3, 8:28, 12:9, 27:19, 2 Chronicles 17:7-9, 34:12, Ezra 8:9, Nehemiah 10:5, 12:25. His Background: This Book refers to the alliance of the Edoms with Israel's enemies and their participation in plundering Jerusalem (Obadiah 10-14). Jerusalem had been previously plundered in the days of Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:16, 17) in the mid ninth century B.C. by the Philistines and the Arabs. However, most researchers believe that the book of Obadiah is concerned with the alliance of the Edoms and the Babylons -along with others- in the destruction of Jerusalem 587/586 B.C. Edom participated in plundering the city as they blocked the streets in the face of the escapees by arresting them and selling them as slaves to the enemies. In fact Edom did not act neutrally towards Israel, but rejoiced at the misfortune of his brother Israel and supported his enemy in destroying him by all means. The Objective of this Book: This prophecy is addressed to Edom, who rejoiced at his brother's -Israelmisfortune; who has a stubborn heart and loves tyranny and oppression. Edom participated in destroying Israel in the day of captivating Jerusalem. In this respect, the prophecy assured an important spiritual principle that is applicable to all humanity: “…as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reward shall return upon your own head.” He reaps whatever evil, oppression and destruction he sought in his life. The book deals with both the haughty spirit living in lofty mountains that oppresses, destroys and rejoices in other’s misfortunes, as well as with Israel that fell cringingly and was exposed to cruelty by Edom and Babylon. But God saves him, after He has strictly punished him. He also makes Mount Zion a source of spiritual salvation, in that it becomes holy, a spiritual flame that burns all evil and lights the heart with heavenly love. As a matter of fact, it is a message addressed to each and every heart that suffers punishment lest he should fall victim to despair, but instead it must realize God’s plan for its salvation. The prophet ends his book by declaring: “…and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S”. This is the aim of God’s work: to reign over every heart and to set His throne in us! Edom: In studying the book of Amos (Chapter 1), we found out that “Edom” means “out of Earth” or “bloody”. It points out to the sensual man, who adores bloodshed and oppression. Edom is Esau’s nickname, who stood against his brother Jacob. The region in which the sons of Esau lived was also called as such; the land of Seir (the land of Esau, since he was hairy).It is a steep mountainous region that Esau and his descendants seized after they kicked the Horites. They showed enmity towards their Israeli brothers, as they did not allow them to pass through their lands when they left Egypt (Numbers 20:14-41). David captured Edom and set guards over it (2 Samuel 8:13-14, 1 Kings 11:15-17), but they caused lots of trouble for his descendants (2 Kings 8:20, 14:7, 22, 16:6). 3 They were always making fun of the Jews especially when the Babylyons arrested them; thus many prophecies in the Bible were against them, as in Jeremaiah 49:1-22, Zephaniah 2:8,11, Ezekiel 25:12-14 etc…and this prophecy as well. After capturing Judah, which was totally wrecked, Edom took over many places untill they reached the city of Hebron. Nevertheless, the Arabs put more pressure on them especially in the sixth century B.C. In the fifth century B.C. the Nabateans expelled Edom from its hills in the southern side of the Dead Sea1, the mountain of Seir. They were obliged to move to the western side of the Dead Sea and Hebron became their capital. In the second century B.C. the Jews occupied Moccabi and Hebron, as well as other cities, which Edom had previously possessed. John Harkanious forced them to become Jews in 125 B.C., and then the Roman Titus destroyed Edom completely. In this way all prophecies concerning Edom were fulfilled. Edom as a spiritual concept: 1- Saint Augustinus believes that Edom symbolizes the evil nations, who then accepted good faith through the prophets coming from Mount Zion2. In this respect, this book stands for the church that unites the nations, which were previously the oppressors of Edom, as well as the Jews, who accepted Christian faith as is evident in: “…and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:16) 2- Saint Augustinus also believes that Edom, the oppressor and manslayer, stands for the oppressors of the church in the Roman epoch; he says: “How many oppressions had the church undergone?! What says the sons of Edom, the sensual people who worship Satan and the idols and follow the body’s desires?" “Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem's fall, how they said: Tear it down! Tear it down! Down to its foundations!" (Psalms 137:7)." And in this way the oppressors are despised whereas the martyrs are crowned.” 3. This is Edom, who cannot tolerate his brother Jacob; he oppresses him and participates with his enemies in humiliating him. This is mainly because Edom (Esau) was the eldest but became the last due to his desires. In this respect Saint Augustinus says: “The sons of Edom were the eldest, but those, who were born later, deserved the privelge, because the sensual desires degraded them, while others rose to higher standards as they belittled these desires.” 4. 3- Finally, Edom represents the primitive, sensual, bloodily man, who loves enmity and inequity; who hates the internal spirit and can never tolerate it; as Psalmist says:“Tear it down, they cried, tear it down to its foundations.”(Psalms 137:7). Through baptism the cross eliminates our external being, so that an internal Jerusalem, a heavenly Mount Zion, is established in our inner selves; the human being, who is created alike his Creator revives day after day, so that he is blessed with salvation through Jesus Christ and is recognised as holy, in which the Holy Ghost lives to declare His Heaven in us. In fact, this could also be observed in the words of Saint Augustinus as he comments on the title of Psalm 60: “…and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.”, 1 J. Bright: A History of Israel, Philad. 1959, P.361. 2 City of God 18: 31. 3 On Ps. 137. 4 Ibid. 4 he says: “Edom means 'earthly'; thus, one should conquer his senses, because if he wants to live divinely why should he be sensual?! Let’s subdue the love of worldly materials, so that we might experience the heavenly life: “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.”(1 Corinthians 15: 49) 1. Obadiah and Jeremiah: The prophecy of Jeremiah was against Edom (Jeremiah 49:7-22), which is similar to the nine phrases in Obadiah’s prophecy: Obadiah 1-4 corresponds to Jeremiah 49:14, 16 Obadiah 5-6 corresponds to Jeremiah 49:9-10 Obadiah 8-9 corresponds to Jeremiah 49:7, 22 In this respect, all critics agreed that Obadiah did not depend on the book of Jeremiah, but rather the book of Obadiah is believed to be older than that of Jeremiah2. The Devisions of this Book: 1. Edom's arrogance 1-9. 2. His oppression to his brother 10-16. 3. The salvation of cringing Zion 17-21.