Questions on Obadiah
1. Who was Edom (Obadiah 1:1)? Answer
2. Where was Edom located (Obadiah 1:3)? Answer
3. What is Obadiah 1:3 - 4 referencing? Answer
4. For what sins is Edom condemned? Answer
5. What was the Edomite city of Teman known for (Obadiah 1:8 - 9)? Answer
6. What is Edom's relationship with Israel (Obadiah 1:10)? Answer
7. What is the violence referred to in Obadiah 1:10 - 14? Answer
8. What does God promise to do with Edom's hated enemy the Israelites? Answer
9. What is Edom's ultimate punishment? Answer
10. Who are the saviors mentioned in Obadiah 1:21? Answer
Answers on Obadiah
1. Edom is the Biblical name given both to the descendants of Esau (also called Edomites) and the region they populated.
2. The Edomites generally lived southwest, south and southeast of the Dead Sea. Their territory stretched south to the Gulf of Aqabah (the north-eastern arm of the Red Sea). The land they lived in was mountainous but divided, in the center, by a semi-desert valley known as the Arabah.
The chief mountain in Edom was Mt. Seir, a name sometimes symbolically used to refer to the nation. The major towns within Edom's territory included Selah, Bozrah and Teman (2Kings 14:7, Isaiah 63:1, Jeremiah 49:7) as well as the Gulf of Aqabah port cities of Ezion-geber and Elath (Deuteronomy 2:8). The Biblically famous route known as the King's Highway also ran through its territory (Numbers 20:17).
The rocky outcrop known as Petra is only hinted at in this book (Obadiah 1:3). Petra, which was settled by the Nabateans in the 4th century B.C. and later became their capital, was also a part of Edomite territory.
3. The Edomites lived in a mountainous region where caves and clefts in the rock were used as residences (Obadiah 1:3). This is especially true of Mount Seir. The mount, in the time of Abraham, was the home of a group of people called the Horims or Horites (Genesis 14:6). The name Horite means "cave dweller" in Hebrew (Strong's #H2752).
[Hidden Role of Old Testament Caves!]
The Edomites, looking for a permanent home, kicked the Horites off the mountain and took over their caves (Genesis 36:8). The mountainous outcrop known as Petra, where dwellings were carved out of the rock, was another place they lived. also a part of Edom's territory.
4. Pride (Obadiah 1:3 - 4) was Edom's chief sin. They also were not only indifferent when the Kingdom of Judah was attacked and plundered, they participated in violence against them and rejoiced at her destruction (verse 10)!
[Is Pride the Devil's First Sin?]
5. Teman was famous for its teachers of wisdom (Job 2:11, Jeremiah 49:7). It was also known for its mighty men of courage (Obadiah 1:9).
[The Book of Proverbs by Topic!]
6. The nations of Israel and Edom are related by blood. Their relationship is through the patriarchs Jacob and Esau who were twin brothers born to Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 25:24 - 26).
[Genealogy of Abraham to Jesus]
Jacob, renamed Israel by God (Genesis 32:24 - 30), produced twelve sons whose descendants would collectively be referred to as Israel or Israelites. Esau, who was also called Edom (25:30), produced eleven sons called "dukes" in the Bible (36:40 - 43) whose descendants would be known as Edomites.
7. Judah and Jerusalem, by the time Obadiah wrote his book in 590 B.C., had already been attacked by Babylon in 605 and 597.
[Timeline of Jerusalem Attacks!]
[Where Was Judah Taken Captive?]
When the Kingdom of Judah was attacked by the Babylonians, many of those fleeing Jerusalem were caught by the Edomites and turned over to the enemy (Obadiah 1:14). The Edomites rejoiced to see God's people fall and even aided in the plunder of Jerusalem (verses 11 - 13)!
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. . . Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof (Psalm 137:1, 7).
Edom's willingness to pursue vengeance (Obadiah 1:10, Ezekiel 25:12) for ancient wrongs led it to violently oppose Israel and Judah.
Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother (Israel) with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever (Amos 1:11).
[Meaning of an Eye for an Eye]
8. God promises he will deliver Israel from its enemies and make Mount Zion (symbolic of Jerusalem) holy (Obadiah 1:17). God's people will also have their inheritance in the Promised Land restored to them.
9. Edom's punishment is that God will insure, through Israel, that they are completely wiped out.
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 (Obadiah 1:18).
[Who Has God Personally Killed?]
[What Is the First Resurrection?]
10. Jesus' return to earth, in the near future, will initiate the first resurrection of the dead (1Corinthians 15:51 - 52, 1Thessalonians 4:16 - 17). All those called and converted since the time of Adam will be given eternal life and the gift of reigning as kings and priests during the Millennium (Daniel 7:13 - 14, 18, 22, 27, Revelation 5:9 - 10, 20:4 - 6).
Those brought back to life are rightfully referenced as "saviors" or "deliverers" (Obadiah 1:21) as, upon their resurrection, they will become members of God's spiritual family.