The Pulpit Commentary — Obadiah — Section 9

Implies the olosest friendship, especially in wards Israel in the time of cal1>mity, in Eastem lancls, where such o. tie is of that she rejoiced at her sister's disnater and general obligation. Have laid a wonnd took part with her enemies. under thee; rather, lay a snare under thee; Septuagint l671,ca.v lveSpa. 61ro,c&.-rw crov, Ver. 10.-ll'or thy violence against thy "they set' ena.res uncler thee;" V~lgate, brother le.cob. The special action to which panent imidiaa subter le (comp. Ps. lx1x. 22). Obadiah alludes, o.nd which he particu- Another interpretation ie this: "As thy larizes in the following verses, occurred nt breo.cl (which they as fricncls were bound the time of the invasion of Judrea by Philis- to offer) they lny a sling uncler thee," i.e. tines and Arabians during the reign of prepa.re an ambueh for thee, like Jael did Jehoram, when the Edomitea aided with for Sieero.. Pusey notes the climax in this the enemy, and acted as the prophet inti- verse-not confederates only, but friencle; mates (2 Chron. xxi. 16, etc.; see Intro- not friends only, but familiar friends, in- duction, § III.). The iniquity of such debted to them. Those banded with them conduct is aggravated by the fact that the should expel them from their country; those victim was the "brother Ja.cob," who was at peace should prevail against them in war; commanded not to hate the Edomites (Deut. those who ate their bread should requite xxiii. 7). This enjoined friendship was not them with treachery. There is none under- reciprocated by the descendants of Esau. standing in him; i.e. in Edom. The shock Whether from envy at the superior privi- of this defection of allies and the sudden leges of Israel, or from other causes, the destruction that has overwhelmed them Edomites, from the time of Moses, had have deprived the Edomites of their wonted always been actively hostile to the Israelites. sagacity and prudence. They know not They had been subdued by David, but had whither to tum or what to do. The lately :rebelled and secured their indepen- following verse expands this thought. dence, and were always looking for an opportunity of revenging themselves on Vere. 8, 9.-Their vaunted wisdom and their conquerors (comp. Amoe i. 11; Ezek. their boasted courage shall fail, for God xxv. 12; xxxv. 5). Shame shall cover shall take them away. "Quem Deus vnlt the,. Shame for the destruction that ha.th perdere, priue dementat." overtaken thee (Micah vii. 10). Thou shalt be cut o:ff for ever (comp. MaL i. 4; see Ver, 8.-In that day; when Edom is Introduction, § I.). Terrible retribution abandoned by its friends. Destroy the fell on Idu.mea. in the time of the Ma.c- wise men out of Edom, God shall take cabees (see 1 Mace. v. 3; 2 Ma.cc. x. 15, etc. ; their wisdom from them, so that they shall Josephus,' Ant.,' xii. 8.1). Before that time be no more able to offer prudent counsel they had been dispossessed of Petra by the or suggest plans of ee.fety (Isa. xix.11-16; Nabo.thmans. xxix. 14; xlvii. 12, 13). 'fhe Edomitee Ver.11.-The injuries complained of were were celebrated for wisdom or practice.I committed lately, and the prophet could philosophy (comp. 1 Kings iv. 30; Jer. epea.k of them as well known (see note dn xlix. 7; Baruch iii. 22, 23). Mount of Esau ver. I 0). In the day that thou stoodest ; (vere. 9, 19, 21). Mount Seir-a designation literally, in the day of thy standing, without of Edom from the nature of the oountry. note of time, but implying a pa.et event Ver. 9.-0 Teman; Septuagint, o/ ,,, here. On the other side. The words may @c1,µ&.v, " those from 'fhmman; " Vulgate, a denote either malicious unconcern, as Ps. meridic, ta.king the word as an appellative; xxxvili. 11 (12), or hostile opposition, as eo the Che.Idea. The southern district of 2 Sam. xviil. 13. Besides the direct ap- Idumea was eo called (see note on Amos i. plico.tion to recent events, the clause inti- 12). One of Job's friends, and the cleverest mates the usual attitude of the Edomites of them, was a Temanite (Job ii. 11). To toward Israel In the day that the strangers the end that. This judioial blindness is -Philistines and Arabians (2 Chron. :ui. infiioted in order that all may perish. By 16)-oarried a.way oaptive his forces; ruther, slaughter. Murder at the hands of the carried. away his substance, as ver. 13; Gen. enemy. The LXX., Vulge.te, and Syriao xxxiv. 29; Deut. viii 17; ha. viii. 4. oonneot these words with the following Foreigners. The same a.;i " strangers." verse. But the Maeoretio punctuation, as Both words are usua.l.ly applied to heathen in the Anglican Version, is doubtle.ss oorrect enemies. Cast lots upon J"eruealem. Divided (see Keil). the oapti vee and spoil of J eruealem by lot Vere. 10-H.-§ 2. The caUIIB of Edom', (2 Chron. xxi. 17; comp. Joel ill. 3; N11,h. iii. 10). Nothing is said of the total de- destruction. This punishment fa.lie upon etruotion of Jerusalem or the wholesale her as the result of the malioo and un- deportation of the inhabitants to Ba.bylon, friendliness wllicll ~he has clisplt1yed to- ~o th!\t Oba.dil\h cannot b11 reforring to th@  THE BOOK OF OBADIAB, Ll-21.