Obadiah Chapter 1

“The vision of Obadiah, etc.] 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, (<230101>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…”

“DOOM OF EDOM FOR CRUELTY TO JUDAH, EDOM'S BROTHER; RESTORATION OF THE JEWS. (Oba. 1:1-21) Obadiah--that is, servant of Jehovah; same as Abdeel and Arabic Abd-allah. We--I and my people. heard-- (). and an ambassador is sent--Yea, an ambassador is already sent, namely, an angel, to stir up the Assyrians (and afterwards the Chaldeans) against Edom. The result of the ambassador's message on the heathen is, they simultaneously exclaim, "Arise ye, and let us (with united strength) rise," &c. quotes this.”

“The vision of Obadiah - , i. e., of “the worshiper of God.” The prophet would be known only by that which his name imports, that he worshiped God. He tells us in this double title, through whom the prophecy came, and from whom it came. His name authenticated the prophecy to the Jewish Church. Thenceforth, he chose to remain wholly hidden. He entitles it “a vision,” as the prophets were called “seers” 1 Samuel 9:9, although he relates, not the vision which he saw, but its substance and meaning. Probably the future was unfolded to him in the form of sights spread out before his mind, of which he spoke in words…”

“Obadiah - His name speaks a servant or a worshipper of the Lord, but who he was we know not. We - The prophets, have heard. A rumour - Not an uncertain report, but it comes from God. Is sent - By the Lord first, and next by Nebuchadnezzar who executed on Edom what is here foretold. The nations - Those that were with, or subject to Nebuchadnezzar. Obadiah 1:2”

“1:1 The word vision introduces a prophetic book (Isa 1:1; Nah 1:1); it also defines what a prophet saw or sensed as a divine word (Ezek 12:26-27; Dan 8:1). A vision that did not come from the Lord was false (Jer 14:14; 23:16), the ultimate proof being its lack of fulfillment (Ezek 12:22-24). By contrast, true visions of near or distant events do come to fruition (Ezek 12:25; Hab 2:3). Prophetic visions came in various forms (dreams, extrasensory experiences; e.g., Dan 8:2). The absence of visions is a mark of divine abandonment (Lam 2:9; Ezek 7:26; Mic 3:6). • Sovereign Lord is one of several names for the God of…”

“concerning: Psa 137:7; Isa 21:11, 34:1-17, Isa 63:1-6; Jer 9:25, Jer 9:26, Jer 25:17, Jer 25:21; Jer 49:17-22; Lam 4:21, Lam 4:22; Eze 25:12-14, Eze 35:3-15; Joe 3:19; Amo 1:11, Amo 1:12; Mal 1:3, Mal 1:4 We: Jer 49:14, Jer 49:15, Jer 51:46; Mat 24:6; Mar 13:7 and an: Isa 18:2, Isa 18:3, Isa 30:4 Arise: Jer 6:4, Jer 6:5, Jer 50:9-15, Jer 51:27, Jer 51:28; Mic 2:13 Obadiah 1:2”

“Edom's Ruin, setting forth, in the first place, the purpose of God to make Edom small through the medium of hostile nations, and to hurl it down from the impregnable heights of its rocky castles ( Oba 1:1-4); and then depicting, in lively colours, how it will be plundered by enemies, forsaken and deceived by allies and friends, and perish in helplessness and impotence ( Oba 1:5-9). Oba 1:1 contains, in addition to the brief heading, the introduction to the prophecy, which gives in a brief form the substance of the first section: "Thus hath the Lord Jehovah spoken of Edom, A report have we heard from Jehovah, and…”