Editing Book of Obadiah (section)

== Content ==
[[File:Bergen Marienkirche - Fresko Propheten 3a.jpg|thumb|Fresco from [[St Mary's Church, Bergen]], with a quote from Obadiah 17: "Upon Mount Zion there will be deliverance."]]
The Book of Obadiah is based on a prophetic vision concerning the fall of [[Edom]],<ref>{{Bibleref2|Obadiah|1:1,4,18|NKJV}}</ref> a mountain-dwelling nation<ref>{{Bibleref2|Obadiah|1:8,9,19,21|NKJV}}</ref> whose founding father was [[Esau]].<ref>{{Bibleref2|Obadiah|1:6|NKJV}}</ref><ref>{{Bibleref2|Genesis|36:9|NKJV}}</ref> Obadiah describes an encounter with [[Yahweh]], who addresses Edom's arrogance and charges them for their "violence against your brother Jacob".<ref>{{Bibleref2|Obadiah|1:10|NKJV}}</ref>

Throughout most of the [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|history of Judah]], Edom was controlled absolutely from Jerusalem as a [[vassal state]]. Obadiah said that the high elevation of their dwelling place in the [[Mount Seir|mountains of Seir]] had gone to their head, and they had puffed themselves up in pride. "'Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,' declares the {{Lord}}".<ref> {{bibleref2|Obadiah|1:4|NIV}}</ref>

In the [[Siege of Jerusalem (597 BC)]], [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] sacked Jerusalem, carted away the King of Judah, and installed a puppet ruler. The Edomites helped the Babylonians loot the city. Obadiah, writing this prophecy around 590 BCE, suggests the Edomites should have remembered that blood was thicker than water. "On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them... You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster."<ref>{{bibleref2|Obadiah|1:11, 13|NIV}}</ref>

Obadiah said in judgment that Yahweh would wipe out the house of [[Esau]] forever, and not even a remnant would remain.<ref>{{bibleverse|Obadiah|1:18}}</ref> The Edomites' land would be possessed by the lands of the south and they would cease to exist as a people.<ref>Obadiah 1:15</ref> [[The Day of the Lord]] was at hand for all nations, and one day, the children of Israel would return victorious from their exile and possess the land of Edom, the fields of [[Ephraim]], the land of [[Gilead]], the lowland of [[Philistia]], and the fields of [[Samaria]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Obadiah|1:19}}</ref>