Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are turning our hearts and minds to the summary of the Book of Obadiah.
As the shortest book in the Old Testament with just one chapter, Obadiah delivers a powerful message against the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau. Their pride, arrogance, and violence against their brothers, the Israelites, descended from Jacob, have not gone unnoticed by God.
Let’s go into the summary of this concise yet mighty book.
(Read Also: The Book of Amos Summary by Chapter)
Table of Contents
The Summary of the Book of Obadiah
One-Word Summary
Judgment
One-Sentence Summary
The Book of Obadiah prophesies the downfall of the prideful nation of Edom due to its hostility against Israel, while also foreshadowing Israel’s divine restoration and the establishment of the Lord’s Kingdom.
Theme of the Book
The Book of Obadiah primarily focuses on the theme of divine judgment and retribution, especially against the Edomites for their pride and violence towards their brethren, the Israelites.
When and Where of the Book
Obadiah is believed to have been written between 586 and 841 B.C. The prophecies in the book were directed towards the people of Edom, who were located to the southeast of the Dead Sea, and also towards Israel.
Setting the Stage:
What Happened Previously in the Bible that Led to This Book
To truly grasp the essence of the Book of Obadiah, it is crucial to understand the backdrop against which it is set. The origins of the conflict between the Edomites and the Israelites can be traced back to the book of Genesis, where two brothers, Esau and Jacob, were born to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the ancestor of the Edomites, while Jacob, whose name was later changed to Israel, became the forefather of the Israelites.
Esau and Jacob had a tumultuous relationship, beginning with Jacob buying Esau’s birthright for a bowl of stew and then deceiving their father to receive the blessing intended for Esau. This sparked a deep-seated animosity between the two brothers and their descendants.
As we follow the Bible’s narrative through Exodus, Numbers, and other books, we witness the Israelites becoming a nation under God’s guidance. In contrast, the Edomites established themselves in the mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea.
The Edomites’ hostile actions towards the Israelites persisted over the centuries. When the Israelites were escaping Egypt, the Edomites refused them passage through their land. This bitterness escalated, and during the time of the Kings and the Prophets, tensions continued to grow.
By the time we arrive at the Book of Obadiah, Jerusalem has fallen to the Babylonians, and the Edomites, instead of aiding their brethren, exploited their downfall. They not only rejoiced over the misfortune of the Israelites but also participated in the plundering of Jerusalem.
This sets the stage for the Book of Obadiah, where through the prophet Obadiah, God pronounces judgment upon Edom for their pride and the cruelty they exhibited towards the Israelites, and also speaks of the eventual restoration of Israel.
The Book of Obadiah Summary in Detail
God’s Judgment Against Edom
- Obadiah receives a vision from the Lord concerning the fate of Edom.
- God announces that He will make Edom small among the nations and despised.
- The pride of Edom’s heart has deceived them because they dwell in the clefts of the rocks and set their dwelling on high.
- God states that even if Edom ascends to the heavens, He will bring them down.
Edom’s Violence Against Jacob
- God condemns Edom for standing aloof and not aiding their brother Jacob (Israel) when foreign invaders attacked Jerusalem.
- Edom is reproached for gloating over Israel’s misfortune and looting their wealth.
- Obadiah warns Edom that the day of the Lord is near for all nations, and what they have done will return upon their own heads.
Restoration of Israel
- The house of Jacob will become a fire and consume Edom.
- The Israelites will return and possess their land, and there will be holiness upon Mount Zion.
- Saviors will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the Kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
Key Takeaways
- Pride leads to downfall; Edom’s arrogance was its own undoing.
- God is just and will not leave the wrongdoings of nations unpunished.
- The importance of brotherhood and the consequences of betraying kin.
- God’s ultimate plan includes the restoration and redemption of His people.
Bible Study Questions from the Book
- 1. What can we learn from Edom’s pride and how it led to their downfall?
- 2. How does God’s judgment of Edom reflect His character and sovereignty?
- 3. What is the significance of the restoration of Israel as described in Obadiah?
- 4. How does the Book of Obadiah fit into the larger narrative of the Old Testament regarding God’s plan for His people?
The Whole Book of Obadiah Paraphrased
Obadiah had a dream where God told him that Edom, a neighboring country that thought they were invincible, was going to be brought down. Edom was super arrogant and didn’t help their relatives, the Israelites, when they were in trouble. In fact, they even gloated and took advantage of the situation.
But God was like, “Not cool, Edom. What goes around comes around.” God also gave hope to the Israelites, saying that they were going to get back on their feet.
The Israelites would be like a fire, and Edom would be like straw – you can guess what happens next. The Israelites would get their land back, and goodness would win. The mountain where Edom lived would be judged, and God would be in charge – as it should be.
So, the bottom line is, don’t be a show-off like Edom and never kick someone when they’re down, especially if they’re family. Plus, no matter how rough things get, always remember that God has a plan to set things right.
(Read Also: Summary of the book of Jonah)
The Text (KJV)
1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.
3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.
5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grape gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?
6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!
7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.
8 Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.
17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.
19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.
21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
