The Book of Obadiah carries a tone of sadness rather than antagonism toward Edom, despite the historical conflicts with Israel and Judah. A lament runs through the prophecy, reflecting a sense of sorrow for a people in rebellion against God. Occasionally, the message becomes imploring, hinting at a faint hope that some Edomites might heed the warning and change their ways. Obadiah foretells a grim fate for Edom, not merely defeat but complete annihilation. Unlike a thief who takes only items of value or grape gatherers who leave some fruit behind, Edom's punishment will leave nothing untouched. Everything, even hidden treasures, will be ransacked and taken, as expressed with intense grief by the prophet in phrases like "Oh, how you will be cut off!" and "Oh, how Esau shall be searched out!" This reflects Obadiah's heartache over the horrible end awaiting this people. The prophecy also highlights the loss of Edom's renowned wisdom and understanding. Known regionally for sagacity, Edom will see its counsel and prudence vanish, a personal and ghastly punishment. Their allies will betray them, and Edom will fail to recognize the treachery, blinded to their peril as God removes their discernment. Consequently, their leaders and warriors will lose courage, leading to their destruction. Obadiah identifies hatred as Edom's fundamental flaw, rooted in pride and a historical grudge against their brother, Israel. This hatred manifested in atrocities, particularly during the fall of Judah in 586 BC, when Edom joined Babylonian forces and reveled in the defeat, committing violence against the defenseless. God takes great offense at these acts, promising through Obadiah that Edom shall be cut off forever for their perpetual hatred and crimes against His chosen people.

In the prophetic book of Obadiah, God employs striking repetition to emphasize a critical time of judgment for the nation of Edom. Between verses 11 and 14, the phrase "in the day" or "on the day" appears ten times, serving as a refrain in the prophet's lamentation, highlighting the specific period when Edom's iniquity peaks and seals their fate. Earlier, in verse 8, God introduces this time as "in that day," a period when Edom's allies betray them with a cunning trap they fail to foresee, due to the absence of their wise men, destroyed by God's hand. Subsequent verses clarify that this day belongs not to Edom, but to their brother Jacob, marked by distress, calamity, captivity, and destruction. In verse 15, God declares that "the day of the Lord upon all nations is near," pinpointing a pivotal era in His great plan when human history culminates in confusion and rebellion, prompting Him to intervene directly. Though Edom has gloated over Israel's misfortunes in the past, this behavior will peak egregiously at the time of the end, leading God to decree, "As you have done, it shall be done to you," ensuring no survivor remains of the house of Esau. Verse 10 identifies Edom's great sin as violence against their brother Jacob, with following verses detailing their transgressions through various acts of hostility. God's warnings in verses 12-14 target the Edomites alive during this distressing day, a time of intense hardship for Israel. Though lacking significant power over Israel, Edom retains the ability to mock, pillage, and exploit weaknesses, even as God promises in verses 6-9 to strip them of wealth, wisdom, and courage. In verses 15-16, God proclaims that Edom will drink the wine of His wrath in the Day of the Lord, a time of retribution where their actions are returned upon their own heads. He warns that they will drink continually until they cease to exist, a severe judgment for their gloating and feasting over Israel's downfall on His holy mountain.

The Book of Obadiah, the shortest in the Old Testament, presents a continuous prophecy concerning Edom, offering a succinct overview of the causes and resolution of the sibling rivalry between Jacob/Israel and Esau/Edom. It confirms Edom's role in a confederacy against Israel, highlighting that this evil alliance is joined at the end time, as indicated by clear markers in verses 15 and 21. The prophecy places Edom in the dry, barren, rocky area east of the Jordan, south of the Dead Sea, where they dwell in this inhospitable place even in the end time. In verse 1, a parenthetical statement reveals that God has sent a messenger among the nations, urging them to rise up against Edom, demonstrating that He is the prime mover of world affairs, inspiring ideas that political and diplomatic mechanisms then bring to fruition under His guidance. A national leader sends an ambassador to form a military alliance against Edom, driven by the complaint that Edom must be diminished, possibly for not being a team player and seeking all glory and plunder for herself. God, as the ultimate author of this message, ensures it will happen as declared. Obadiah 2 emphasizes God's purpose to bring about Edom's national deflation, wanting Edom to recognize this and be brought to account for their actions with severe punishment. The nations scheming against Edom are merely agents He will use to fulfill His decree. Verse 3 identifies the root of Edom's problem as pride of heart, stemming from their belief in invincibility due to their nearly impregnable territory and rock-carved fortresses, making them feel secure and invulnerable, which fuels their arrogance. God, however, challenges this pride in verse 4, decreeing that no matter how high and mighty Edom considers herself, from there He will bring her down, ensuring that He will have the last word and humble them.

Weighing in at twenty-one verses, the tiny prophecy of Obadiah is the shortest of all the Old Testament books. It opens simply with the words, "The vision of Obadiah," and commences its diatribe against the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, cousins of the Israelites. No time period is explicitly mentioned, although its content argues for a time late in Judah's history, likely in the years just after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC. Edom itself fell to Babylon in 553 BC, so the date of the book lies somewhere between those two years. Obadiah's theme is God's wrath against Edom for her devious and persistent enmity for Israel and Judah. In vivid terms, the prophet lays out the certainty of Edom's doom and God's airtight case against the children of Esau.

The book of Obadiah, the shortest in the Old Testament with only twenty-one verses, provides a profound resolution to the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob, extending to the nations of Edom and Israel. Through Obadiah, God lays out a succinct overview of the fate of Edom, highlighting their role in a confederation and the ultimate end of this ancient conflict. The timing of the book's writing remains uncertain, with possibilities ranging between 800 and 750 BC, aligning Obadiah with contemporaries like Joel and Amos, or after the fall of Jerusalem around 587-586 BC, placing him alongside Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Regardless of the exact date, the prophecies within focus on events far in the future, now looming near for us. Obadiah, meaning servant or worshiper of Yahweh, remains an enigmatic figure, with no clear identity or background provided. His focus is solely on delivering God's message, emphasizing divine sovereignty. God is portrayed as the prime mover of world affairs, decreeing purposes and sending messengers to ensure their fulfillment, as seen in the diplomatic maneuvers against Edom described in the book. The recurring theme is clear: God speaks, God acts, and it is done. His purpose will prevail despite human actions, leading to Edom's prophesied annihilation. The book details Edom's complete destruction, likening it to a thorough ransacking where nothing is left, not even hidden treasures. This total loss extends to their wisdom and might, with their allies betraying them and their understanding clouded by divine intervention. Obadiah expresses grief over this fate, lamenting the terrible end awaiting Edom. The root of this judgment lies in Edom's pride and hatred toward Israel, manifesting in violence and gloating over Israel's calamities. God takes extreme offense at this enmity against the apple of His eye, declaring perpetual war against Edom for defying His will that the older shall serve the younger. The prophecy intensifies with warnings against Edom's actions during Israel's distress, spotlighting their gloating and exploitation of weakness. The Day of the Lord brings a stark contrast: deliverance for Israel on Mount Zion, but no survivors for the house of Esau, signaling their complete eradication due to their prideful attitude. Ultimately, Israel will return to the Promised Land, and saviors, alongside Jesus Christ, will judge the mountains of Esau, establishing God's government over the earth as part of the Kingdom of God.

The Book of Obadiah presents a focused condemnation of Edom, emphasizing the deep-seated enmity between Esau's descendants and Israel. In verse 1, it is reiterated four times that Esau is Edom, underscoring their inseparable identity and the historical grudge they bear. God speaks of Esau and Edom interchangeably, highlighting that these are the real descendants of Esau, allied with adversarial groups like the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, and Ishmael, all of whom share a hostility toward Israel. This alliance paints Edom as part of a broader coalition of enemies against God's people. The narrative in Obadiah reinforces the perpetual conflict and bitterness rooted in Esau's vow to kill Jacob for stealing his birthright and blessing, a hatred that has been passed down through generations among the Edomites.

The book of Obadiah focuses entirely on Esau, the progenitor of the Edomites, highlighting their perpetual conflict with Israel. It portrays Edom as a nation driven by a deep-seated desire to reclaim what their forefather lost to Jacob, reflecting a history of hostility and rivalry. God's judgment is pronounced against Edom for their actions against Judah, particularly for benefiting from Judah's fall, indicating severe repercussions for their ongoing enmity. This book underscores that Edom will be part of an end-time conspiracy against Israel, facing divine rebuke as a consequence of their longstanding antagonism.

The Book of Obadiah embodies the principle of reaping what one sows, reflecting the consequences of actions as seen in the broader biblical narrative. It specifically addresses the judgment against Edom for their delight in the suffering of Judah during their captivity. God declares through Obadiah that Edom will face a similar fate at the hands of the Babylonians, underscoring the divine retribution for their actions against His people. This theme aligns with the warnings found in Proverbs, where rejoicing in an enemy's downfall is cautioned against, as it displeases the Lord and invites punishment. Thus, Obadiah serves as a stark reminder of the inevitable return of one's deeds, illustrating God's justice in ensuring that those who benefit from others' misfortune will not escape His judgment.