Obadiah 1:9

9 "Then your 1mighty men will be dismayed, O 2Teman, So that everyone may be 3cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.

Obadiah 1:9 Meaning and Commentary

Obadiah 1:9

And thy mighty [men], O Teman, shall be dismayed
Teman was one part of the country of Edom, so called from Teman, a son of Eliphaz, and grandson of Esau, ( Genesis 36:11 ) ; and which it seems had been famous for men of might and courage: it abounded with brave officers, and courageous soldiers, who should now be quite dispirited, and have no heart to go out against the enemy; and, instead of defending their country, should throw away their arms, and run away in a fright. The Targum and Vulgate Latin version render it,

``thy mighty men that inhabit the south;''
or are on the south, the southern part of Edom, and so lay farthest off from the Chaldeans, who came from the north; yet these should be at once intimidated upon the rumour of their approach and invasion: to the end that even one of the mount of Esau may be cut by slaughter;
that so there might be none to resist and stop the enemy, or defend their country; but that all might fall by the sword of the enemy, and none be left, even every mighty man, as Jarchi interprets it, through the greatness of the slaughter that should be made.

Obadiah 1:9 In-Context

7 "All the men allied with you Will send you forth to the border, And the men at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread Will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)
8 "Will I not on that day," declares the LORD , "Destroy wise men from Edom And understanding from the mountain of Esau?
9 "Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
10 "Because of violence to your brother Jacob, You will be covered with shame, And you will be cut off forever.
11 "On the day that you stood aloof , On the day that strangers carried off his wealth, And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for Jerusalem - You too were as one of them.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Jeremiah 49:22
  • 2. Genesis 36:11; 1 Chronicles 1:45; Job 2:11; Jeremiah 49:7; Ezekiel 25:13; Amos 1:12; Habakkuk 3:3
  • 3. Isaiah 34:5-8; Isaiah 63:1-3; Obadiah 5
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