Obadiah 1:1

1 This is the vision that the Sovereign LORD revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. Edom’s Judgment Announced We have heard a message from the LORD that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!”

Obadiah 1:1 Meaning and Commentary

Obadiah 1:1

The vision of Obadiah
Or the prophecy, as the Targum; which was delivered unto him by the Lord in a vision; it was not what he fancied or dreamed of, but what he saw, what he had a clear discovery and revelation of made unto his mind; hence prophets are sometimes called "seers". This was a single prophecy; though sometimes a book, consisting of various prophecies, is called a vision; as the prophecies of Isaiah are called the vision of Isaiah, ( Isaiah 1:1 ) ; thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom;
by the mouth of this prophet, who was divinely inspired by him; for Obadiah said not what follows of himself but in the name of the Lord; and is a proof of the divine authority of this book; the subject matter of which is Edom or Idumea, as in the Septuagint version; a neighbouring country to the Jews, and very troublesome to them, being their implacable enemies, though their brethren; and were a type of the enemies of the Christian church, those false brethren, the antichristian states; and particularly the head of them, the Romish antichrist, whose picture is here drawn and whose destruction is prophesied of, under the name of Edom; for what has been literally fulfilled in Idumea will; be mystically accomplished in antichrist. The Jews generally understand, by Edom, Rome, and the Christians in general; which, if applied only to the antichristians, is not amiss; we have heard a rumour from the Lord;
or "a report" ^F14; a message from him, brought by the Spirit of God, as a spirit of prophecy; that is, I Obadiah, and Jeremiah, and other prophets, as Isaiah and Amos, who have had orders to prophesy against Edom; see ( Jeremiah 49:14 ) ; so the angels, or Gospel ministers, will have a rumour or message concerning the fall of antichrist ( Revelation 14:6-9 ) ; and an ambassador is sent among the Heathen:
either by the Lord, as Jeremiah the prophet, according to some; or an angel, as others; or an impulse upon the minds of the Chaldeans stirring them up to war against the Edomites: or else by Nebuchadnezzar to the nations in alliance with him, to join him in his expedition against them; or a herald sent by him to his own people, to summon them together to this war, and to encourage them in it: arise ye, and let us rise up in battle against her;
come up from all parts, join together, and invade the land of Idumea, and give battle to the inhabitants of it, and destroy them; so the kings of the earth will stir up one another to hate the whore of Rome, and make her desolate, ( Revelation 17:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (hewmv) "auditum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.

Obadiah 1:1 In-Context

1 This is the vision that the Sovereign LORD revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. Edom’s Judgment Announced We have heard a message from the LORD that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!”

2 The LORD says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised.

3 You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully.

4 But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the LORD .

5 “If thieves came at night and robbed you (what a disaster awaits you!), they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely!