BOOK OF OBADIAH.
It is probable, that Obadiah delivered this short prophecy, about the time when Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.- Obadiah signifies the servant of the LORD , which was a common name in Israel: but the prophet Obadiah must be distinguished distinguished from all others that bore it. He seems to have been contemporary with Jeremiah, and uses several of the same expressions in prophesying against Edom as Jeremiah did: ( Jer . 49:7-22.) and he concludes (as almost all the other prophets do,) with predicting victory and prosperity to Israel and to the church.
В. С. 587.
A prediction of the ruin of Edom for his pride, and his malice
В. С. 587.
against the descendants of his brother Jacob, 1-16. Promises || among the heathen: thou art greatly de
of glorious times, in the latter ages, 17-21.
HE vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God a concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, d Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
2 Behold, I have made thee small
a Ps. 137:7. Is. 21:11. 34:63:1 c Is. 18:2,3. 30:4. -6. Jer. 9:25,26. 25:17,21. 49.7-22. Lam. 4:21,22. Ez. 25:12-14. 35.3, &c. Joel 3:19. Am. 1:11,12. Mal. 1:3,4.
d Jer. 6:4,5. 50:9-15.51:27,28. Mic. 2:13.
Jer. 49:14,15. 51:46. Matt. 24:6. Mark 13:7.
Num. 24:18. 1 Sam. 2:7,8. Job 34:25-29. Ps. 107:39,40. Is. 23:9. Ez. 29:15. Mic. 7: 10. Luke 1:51,52,
NOTES.
V. 1, 2. Obadiah might be employed to deliver verbal messages to his people on other occasions; but this vision alone was preserved
spised.
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 kamong the
f Prov. 16:18. 18:12. 29:23. Is. 10:14-16. 16:6. Jer. 48:29,30. 49:16. Mal. 1:4.
g 2 Kings 14:7. marg. 2 Chr. 25:12.
h Is. 47:7,8. Jer. 49:4. Rev. 18:
7,8.
i Job 20:6,7. 39:27,28. Hab. 2:9.
k Is. 14:12-15. Jer. 51:53. Am.
9:2.
mies of the Jews, the Edomites; and ambassadors were sent among the nations, to excite each other to war against them; by which means the Lord would shortly make them greatly despised among their heaprophets had heard a report from the Lord, then neighbors. among the that ruin was preparing for the insulting ene-14,15. Lam . 4 : 21,22 .)
stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith
the LORD.
5 If thieves came to thee, 1 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: thet 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. [Practical Observations.]
10 For thy y violence against thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, a and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
11 In the day that thou stoodest on the
1 Jer. 49:9.
m 2 Sam. 1:19. Is. 14:12. Jer. 50:23. Lam. 1:1. Zeph. 2:15. Rev. 18:10.
n Deut, 24:21. Is. 17:6. 24:13. Mic. 7:1.
* Or, gleanings.
o Is. 10:13,14. 45:3. Jer. 49:10. 50:37. Matt. 6:19,20.
p Ps. 55:12,13. Jer. 4:30. 30:14. Lam. 1:19. Ez. 23:22-25. Rev. 17:12-17.
† Heb. men of thy peace. Jer. 20:10. 38:22. margins.
Heb. the men of thy bread. Ps. 41:9. John 13:18.
q Is. 19:11,12. 27:11. Jer. 49:7. Hos. 13:13.
Or, of it.
r Job 5:12-14. Ps. 33:10. Is. 19:3,13,14. 29:14. 1 Cor. 3:19,
20.
s Ps. 76:5,6. Is. 19:16,17. Jer. 49:22. 50:36,37. Am. 2:16. Nah. 3:13.
t Gen. 36:11. Job 2:11. Jer. 49:7,20. Ez. 25:13. Am. 1:12. u Is. 34:5-8.63:1-3.
x 21. Deut. 2:5.
y Gen. 27:41. Num. 20:14-21. Ps. 83:5-9. 137:7. Lam. 4:21. Ex. 25:12. 35:5,6,12-15. Am. 1:11.
z Ps. 69:7. 89:45. 109.29. 132: 18. Jer 3:25. 51:51. Ez. 7:18. Mic. 7:10.
a Jer. 49:13,17-20. Ez. 25:13, 14. 35:6,7,15. Mal. 1:3,4.
other side, in the day that the strangers carried away || captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, deven 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 hlooked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their tt substance in the day of their calamity;
14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the cross-way, 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: mas 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
b 2 Kings 24:10-16. 25:11. Jer. 52:28-30.
|| Or, his substance.
c Joel 3:3, Nah. 3:10.
d Ps. 50:18. 137:7.
Or, do not behold.
e Ps. 22:17. 92:11. Mic. 4:11. 7:10. Matt. 27:40-43.
f Job 31:29. Prov. 17:5. 24:17, 18. Lam. 4:21. Ez. 25:6,7. 35:15. Mic. 7:8. Luke 19:41. g 1 Sam. 2:3. Ps. 31:18. ** Heb. magnified thy mouth. Is. 37:24. Jam. 3:5. 2. Pet. 2:18. Jude 16. Rev. 13:5.
b 2 Sam. 16:12. Ps. 22:17.
Zech. 1:15. #Or, forces.
i Am. 1:6,9.
Or, shut up. Ps. 31:8.
k 12. Gen. 35:3. Is. 37:3. Jer. 30:7.
1 Ps. 110:5,6. Jer. 9:25,26, 25: 15-29. 49:12. Lam. 4:21,22. Ez. 30:3. Joel 3:11-14. Mic. 5:15. Zech. 14:14-18.
m Judg. 1:7. Ps. 137:8. Ez 35:15. Joel 3:7,8. Hab. 2:8 Matt. 7:2. Jam. 2:13.
n Ps. 75:8,9. Is. 49:25,26. 51: 22,23. Jer. 25:15,16,27,28. 49: 12. 1 Pet. 4:17.
V.3-6. ( Notes , Jer . 49:9-11,16.) The Edom- their borders as if to assist them, and induce ites inhabited a mountainous country, which them to go forth to meet them as friends, and they had strongly fortified: they had for some thus deceive and prevail against them. The time been prospered, and they proudly confid- very troops, that took pay to defend them, ed in their strength and munitions, munitions, and con- would most fatally assault them; nor would cluded that no enemy could prevail against they have understanding to see or avoid this them.
But the Lord was become their adver-danger, or to take warning from this predicsary; and even if they were like the eagle, eagle, tion. tion.-" Those that were maintained at thy thy cost, which builds her nest at the top of the loftiest 'as thine allies, have given thee a secret blow cedar; nay, if they could exalt themselves as much above their other enemies, as the stars are out of the reach of man; yet he would certainly bring them down, lown, and their pride would
'which thou wast not aware of. Lowth . The
Edomites seem to have been joined in alliance with the Chaldeans and tributary to them, when Jerusalem was taken: but within about
only help to deceive and ruin them. With as- five years after, they and their confederates
tonishment the prophet saw, as it were, the hostile invaders not only only making depredations and slaughter, and then departing; but cutting off all their multitudes and ransacking sacking their most secret treasures, till they had plundered the whole of them. ( Marg . Notes, Job 20:4-9. 39:26-30. Prov. 11:2. Is . 14:12-15. 16:6. Jer . 51:52,53. Am . 9:1-4. Rev. 18:4-8.)
plundered
rg . and Marg . Ref.
V. 7-9. These calamities would be brought upon Edom, by the defection and treachery of all their confederates; who would march to
invaded and desolated Edom.
V. 10-14. The prophet shews, what the conduct of Edom towards his brother Jacob ought to have been; and thus, with peculiar energy, by the implied contrast with their actual conduct, in the several circumstances adduced, exposes the cruelty, violence, insolence, rapacity, and treachery, which he had committed in various ways, during the distresses of the nation. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes, Gen. 27:39-42. Ps . 137:7-9, v. 7. Ez . 25:12-14.35: Joel 3:3-8, v. 3. Am. 1:9-11. Mal . 1:2--5.
they shall swallow down, and they shall || the mount of Esau; and they of the plain
be as though they had not been.
17 But Pupon 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
Or, sup up. Is. 42:14. marg. s Is. 10:17. 31:9. Mic. 5:8. Hab. 1:9.
Zech. 12:6.
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 saviors shall come up on mount Zion & to judge the mount of Esau; hand the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.
Josh. 13:2,3. 15:33,45,46. Judg. 1:18,19. Is. 11:13,14. Ez. 25:16. Am. 1:8. Zeph. 2:4-7. Zech. 9.5-7.
a 2 Kings 17:24. Ezra 4:2,7- 10,17. Ps. 69:35. Jer. 31:4-
6. Ez. 36:6-12,28. 37:21-25. 47:13-21. 48:1-9.
b Josh. 13:15,31. 13:21-28.1 Chr. 5:26. Jer. 49:1. Am. 1: 13. Mic. 7:14.
c Jer. 3:18. 33:26. Ez. 34:12, 13. Hos. 1:10,11. Am. 9:14,15. Zech. 10:6-10.
d 1 Kings 17:9,10. Luke 4:26. Sarepta .
Or, shall possess that which is in Sepharad, they shall possess.
e Jer. 13:19. 32:44. 33:13. f Judg. 2:16. 3.9. 2 Kings 13:5. Is. 19:20. Dan. 12:3, Joel 2: 32. Mic. 5:4-9. Zech. 9:11 -17. 10.5-12. 1 Tim. 4:16. Jam. 5:20.
g Ps. 149:5-9. Dan. 7:27. Luke 22:30. 1 Cor. 6:2,3. Rev. 19. 11-13. 20:4.
h Ps. 2:6-9. 22:28. 102:15. Is. 9:6,7. Dan. 2:35,44. 7:14,27. Zech. 14:9. Matt. 6:10,13. Luke 1:32,33. Rev. 11:15. 19:6.
v. 14. Ez . 38:18-23. Joel 3:18-21, vυ . 19,20. Mic . 5:7-9. Zech . 12:6-8.) Thus one part of Judah would possess mount Seir to the south; and another, the land of the Philistines towards the west; and others would recover possession of mount Ephraim and Samaria, though at that time possessed by strangers. Benjamin would inherit Gilead, beyond Jordan, which the Ammonites had seized on: and the residue of the ten tribes would gain possession of all the country, formerly inhabited by the Canaan
V. 15, 16. Israel and Judah had experienced a day of the Lord's righteous judgment on them for their sins, by the hands of the Assyrians, and Chaldeans, and their allies; while the Gentiles seemed to escape with impunity, and to prosper in their wickedness: but the day of the Lord was at hand, in which he would judge all those nations, that had injured his people, and retaliate their oppressions upon them. The Jews had drunk the cup of God's indignation, even on mount Zion; and the heathen should drink, continually and abun-ites, even to Zarephah, or Sarepta, which bor
dantly, of the same cup, until they were utterly destroyed. The ruin of the several nations, which bordered on Israel and had fought against him, was predicted; but they were types of the enemies of the Christian church, who will be utterly destroyed in due season. ( Notes , Is . 34: 63:1-6.) 'The prophet speaks 'of the Jews here, as already under a state of 'captivity; as they actually were before this 'prophecy was fulfilled.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref. Notes, Ps. 76:10. Is . 49:24-26. 51:17-23. Jer . 25:13-28. 49:12. Lam . 4:21,22. 1 Pet . 4:17
19.)
V. 17-21. When this prophecy was delivered, mount Zion either lay desolate, or was about immediately to be desolated, while the enemies of the Jews had dominion over them. -"But upon mount Zion shall be those that escape," (or an escaping;) "and it shall be holy." Bp. Newcombe . - Thus it was foretold, that there would be "deliverance and holiness" at Jerusalem, and that the house of Jacob would again occupy their ancient possessions. ( Marg . and M Marg. Ref . p-r.- Notes , Is. 2:2-5. 4:3,4.
Joel 2:28-32, ν . 32. 3:9-17, υυ . 16,17.) Then Israel and Judah would become as a flame, to consume the Edomites as stubble, till they were utterly destroyed: and the remnant of the people, ple, who who were at that time captives, would not only possess the land of Canaan, but the adjoining districts; which they would take out of the hands of those who now oppressed them. The remaining tribes would possess the country, which had belonged to those who continued in their dispersions, to the utmost borders of the promised land, and even beyond them. ( Marg .
Ref . s-x.- Notes , Ref. s-x.-Notes, Is . 11:11-16,
dered on Zidon. It is not agreed, what is meant by Sepharad: but some think, that it was the name of a city in Edom, which the remnant of those, who were led captive from Jerusalem, would possess with the cities of the south. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . y-e.-Notes, Zeph . 2:4-7.) For "saviors," or deliverers, would be raised up on mount Zion, to judge and execute vengeance on the Edomites; and the kingdom, or dominion, would actually be possessed and exercised by JEHOVAH, for the benefit of his worshippers. ( Marg .
Ref . f. h.) ---Many parts of this prophecy were accomplished, when the Jews returned to their own land by Cyrus's decree; when the temple was rebuilt, and the worship of God restored; when Jerusalem was re-established in prosperity, and the land replenished with inhabitants; when the Jews, under the Maccabees and other leaders, entirely subjugated the Edomites, and incorporated the remnant of them among themselves as proselytes; and in their subsequent prosperity, till the days of Christ.-No mention is made of the Philistines in the New Testament.
They seem, before that time, to have been extirpated from the land. But the salvation and holiness of the gospel, its success and spread, by the faithful preaching of the word, and the conversion of the Gentiles, were also intended; especially the future restoration of Israel, the destruction of antichristian opposers, and that prosperous state of the church, to which all the prophets evidently bear witness. Then, and not till then, in the full sense of the words, shall "the kingdom be the LORD'S." ( Notes , Dan . 2:34,35,44,45. 7:13,14, 19-27. Matt . 6:10. Rev. 11:15-18.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-9.
wisdom, jus
The Lord exalts or abases individuals or collective bodies, and renders nations honorable or contemptible, "according to the counsel of his own will," but always in perfect wisdom, justice, truth, and goodness. -Self-confidence, reliance on external advantages, ambitious projects, and carnal security, uniformly lead to calamity and conte contempt; and thus the pride of men's hearts deceive them.
No exaltation or power can secure those, whom God is concerned in honor to bring down.-Renowned warriors are generally the most rapacious and insatiable of all thieves and robbers; the prosperity of others only excites and sharpens their appetite for plunder; and thus riches conduce to the ruin of their possessors. They, who rely on plausible and mercenary helpers, are deficient in understanding: for there is so much treachery in man, that such confederates commonly give the most fatal wounds.
They only are happy who trust in the Lord: for in the day of his displeasure, he destroys the wisdom of the prudent, and mars the courage of the mighty, that all his enemies may receive deserved punishment; and his friends may be rescued from oppression, and rejoice with thankful praises in his salvation.
V. 10-21.
God will surely confound those who oppress their brethren, of the same nature with themselves; and those especially who hate such as the Lord loves, and afflict them because they belong to him. They, who rejoice in the calamities which others inflict, will be numbered among the oppressors: and all that would escape their doom, must take care not to sanction their cruelties by their presence, or approbation in any way. It is criminal to behold, with the least degree of satisfaction, or even without deep concern and compassion, the distresses of our neighbors; and far more heinously wicked to insult over them under their calamities. If we cannot enter the doors of the
oppressed and afflicted, to sympathize with them, and to soothe or relieve their sorrows; we had better keep at a distance, lest we should increase their distress, or appear to take pleasure in their misery.
How base then must they be, who seize on such opportunities to lay hands on the property of their neighbors, or to wreak their revenge or satiate their cruelty, by giving assistance to the principal actors in these bloody tragedies!-But let both the sorrowful believer and the insolent oppressor know, that "the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen:" that the injuries, which the persecuted have endured, will be recompensed upon their persecutors, who will drink of that cup, which they have been employed as willing instruments in putting into the hands of others; and that the troubles of the righteous will soon be over, but those of the wicked will be eternal and complete. ( Note , 2 Thes . 1:510.) Happy then is the inhabitant of Zion, even in the most afflicted times! there alone is deliverance from the wrath to come and froin every evil; there holiness is communicated and resides: and while the Lord purifies his redeemed "from all their iniquities, to be unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works;" he both marks them out as his own, and prepares them to possess their purchased inheritance.
His people will also be victorious, and as a flame to consume their enemies: and they shall "inherit all things," whilst others shall lose even what they seemed to have.Blessed be God, for the divine Savior and Judge on mount Zion, and for those, whom he sends forth as his ministers to bring sinners to partake of his salvation!
May all employed in this work be faithful and successful! so that their word may be "a savor of life unto life" to large numbers, and a "savor of death unto death" to all that reject it, as judging and condemning obstinate unbelievers; and in both respects "a sweet savor" to the Lord, whose is "the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen." ( Notes Matt . 6:13. 2 Cor . 2:14-17.)
THE
BOOK OF JONAH.
JONAH was no doubt more ancient than any of those prophets, whose writings are preserved in this part of the sacred scripture.-He predicted the successes of Jeroboam, the son of Joash; (2 Kings 14:25.) and it is probable that the prophecy was delivered a considerable time before its accomplishmen.
Some think, that Jonah executed his prophetical office, as early as the latter part of Jehu's reign: but it is not agreed, whether the events recorded in this book, occurred at his entrance on that office, or at a later period.-Nothing more is known of him, except that he vas of Gath-hepher, a town in the tribe of Zebulun; ( Josh . 19:13. Gittah-hepher;) which was situated in Galilee: (John 7:52.) and the traditions extant concerning him, are unworthy of the least notice. -The book before us is rather a narrative, than a prophecy.
Several of the events recorded in it are of a very extraordinary nature; which has induced some to explain it as an allegory, and emboldened others profanely to ridicule it. But it should be remembered, that our Lord himself has repeatedly attested the truth of the narrative; and shewn, that the most wonderful event in it was intended as a type or emblem of his own death, burial, and resurrection on the third day. ( Matt . 12:4042. 16:4. Luke 11:32.) The knowledge of "the power of God," as recorded in the scriptures.
and as displayed in his works of creation and providence, will fully satisfy the humble mind respecting the miracles here recorded: and a deep knowledge of our own hearts will greatly abate our astonishment at the extraordinary conduct of the prophet himself.
The fame of 'Jonah's deliverance appears to have spread among the heathen nations: and the Greeks, 'who were accustomed to adorn the memory of their heroes, by every remarkable event and 'embellishment which they could appropriate, afterwards added to the fictitious adventures 'of Hercules, that of having continued three days without injury in the belly of a dog, sent 'against him by Neptune. The fable of Arion and the Dolphin, of which the date is fixed at 'a time nearly coeval with the period of Jonah, is possibly a misrepresentation of particulars 'recorded in this sacred book.' Gray's Key .
Jouah lived almost as early as the most ancient Greek poets.-His impartiality in recording his own sins is worthy of being noted: for this conduct is peculiar to the sacred writers.
ah lived almost as early
В. С. 840.
В. С. 840.