Obadiah 1:11 Commentary and Bible Study

‘In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces [Judah’s forces] …’ When the enemies of Israel invaded Judah, and overran the land, and took prisoners and carried them away as captives or as slaves into their own land; when the enemy came and strode proudly through the gates of Jerusalem, and looked about them as if they owned all in sight, what did the Edomites do? Judah’s enemies treated her with contempt and acted as if all her territory was a prize to be divided up between them by lot, as if Judah could be completely discounted and dispossessed. They humiliated her, and treated her with utmost cruelty. Edom looked on and saw this sorrowful sight, but she was not moved to pity. Instead this made them jubilant, triumphant, because they saw it as their revenge on their despised neighbour. This is what made them so guilty. Edom ought to have had pity at the plight of Judah, but hatred and jealousy made her bitter and vengeful. Instead of offering help, they even joined with the enemies of Judah, and added to her woes.They were guilty of a series of evils, says the Lord. They looked with delight on the misfortune of Judah, a nation closely related to themselves, and relished the sight. They were not strong enough to do this to Judah themselves, so when others who were stronger came down on her, they were pleased beyond measure. Then when they saw Judah being destroyed, they treated her destruction as if they had delivered it themselves – victory by proxy. They rejoiced over her. Edom is not charged with failing to help, for she was not strong enough to resist this powerful enemy of God’s people, but she showed not sympathy and fellow feeling. Old grievances created malice and spite in her heart, grievances which she refused to forgive, though she was wrong to hold them even from the start. She also spoke proudly in the day of Judah’s distress. She spoke as if she had punished Judah herself, and was now exalted to her rightful elevation.