Edom’s Judgment at Jerusalem’s Fall
Overview
- Testament: Old
- Book: Obadiah
- Chapters: 1:10–14 (also Psalm 137:7)
- Summary: For violence against his brother Jacob and for gloating and cutting off fugitives when Jerusalem fell, Edom is condemned to be cut off forever.
Details
Obadiah indicts Edom for the way the nation treated Jerusalem in the day of her calamity. For the violence done against his brother Jacob, shame would cover Edom and he would be cut off for ever. When strangers carried away Judah’s substance and cast lots over Jerusalem, Edom stood on the other side, as one of them, rejoicing over the destruction of the children of Judah. The prophet rebukes Edom for looking on the day of his brother in the day that he became a stranger, for speaking proudly in the day of distress, for entering the gate of God’s people to lay hands on their goods, and for standing in the crossway to cut off those who escaped and delivering up the survivors. Because Edom gloated and plundered and betrayed fugitives, the LORD declares that as Edom has done, so shall be done to him; his reward shall return upon his own head. Psalm 137:7 likewise remembers how Edom cried, “Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof,” in the day of Jerusalem.
Key People Involved
- The Edomites — Condemned for their cruelty
- The people of Judah — The victims of the fall
Key Places
Important Verses
- Obadiah 1:10 — “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.”
- Obadiah 1:15 — “as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.”
Cross-References
- Related events: Esau’s Birth and Birthright, Israel Refused Passage Through Edom
- Foreshadowed in: The enmity of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25–27)
Notes
The ancient strife of two brothers in the womb ripens into national betrayal and divine judgment, showing that violence against the people of God does not go unanswered.