Neviim Akharonim

Ovadyah עבדיה (Trei Asar)

Obadiah Chapter 1

1. The Pronouncement of Doom upon Esav

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The Deceitfulness of pride Kiv-Int-link.gif

1:1 חֲזוֹ֖ן עֹבַדְיָ֑ה כֹּה-אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהֹוִ֜ה לֶאֱדוֹ֗ם שְמוּעָ֨ה שָמַ֜עְנוּ מֵאֵ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ וְצִיר בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם שֻלָּ֔ח קוּ֛מוּ וְנָקוּ֥מָה עָלֶ֖יהָ לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

 Chazon Ovadya

ko-amar Adonai Elohim LeEdom Shemua Shamanu meet Adonai vetsir bagoyim

shulach kumu venakuma Aleiha lamilchama

The vision of Ovadyah. This is what Adonai Elohim (יהוה) says concerning Edom— We have heard a report from the Elohim (יהוה), And a messenger has been sent among the nations Kiv-Int-link.gif saying, “Arise, and let’s go up against her for battle”

1:2   הִנֵּ֥ה קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם בָּזוּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃

Hine kayton netaticha bagoyim bazui ata meod

“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised. 

1:3   זְדוֹ֤ן לִבְּךָ֙ הִשִּיאֶ֔ךָ שֹכְנִ֥י בְחַגְוֵי-סֶּ֖לַע מְרוֹ֣ם שִבְתּוֹ֑ אֹמֵ֣ר בְּלִבּוֹ֔ מִ֥י יוֹרִדֵ֖נִי אָֽרֶץ׃

Zedon libcha hishiecha shochni vechagvei-Sela merom shivto omer belibo mi yorideni aretz

“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, The one who lives in the clefts of the rock (Petra,sela), On the height of his dwelling place, Who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’

1:4   אִם-תַּגְבִּ֣יהַּ כַּנֶּ֔שֶר וְאִם-בֵּ֥ין כּוֹכָבִ֖ים שִׂ֣ים קִנֶּ֑ךָ מִשָּ֥ם אוֹרִידְךָ֖ נְאֻם-יְהֹוָֽה׃

Im-tagbiha kanesher veim bein kochavim sim kinecha misham oridcha neum-Adonai

“Though you make your home high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down,” declares the Elohim (יהוה).

1:5   אִם-גַּנָּבִ֤ים בָּאוּ֤ לְךָ֙ אִם-שוֹ֣דְדֵי לַ֔יְלָה אֵ֣יךְ נִדְמֵ֔יתָה הֲלוֹ֥א יִגְנְבוּ֖ דַּיָּ֑ם אִם-בֹּצְרִים֙ בָּ֣אוּ לָ֔ךְ הֲלוֹ֖א יַשְאִ֥ירוּ עֹלֵלוֹֽת׃

Im-ganavim bau lecha im-shoddei laila ech nidmeita halo yignevu dayam im-botzrim bau lach halo yashiru olelot

“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— Oh how you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape-pickers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings?Kiv-Int-link.gif

1:6   אֵ֚יךְ נֶחְפְּשֹ֣וּ עֵשָׂ֔ו נִבְעוּ֖ מַצְפֻּנָֽיו׃

Ech nechpeshou Esav nivu matzpun av

How is Esav searched out! How are his hidden places sought out!

1:7   עַד-הַגְּבוּ֣ל שִלְּחוּ֗ךָ כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ הִשִּיאוּ֛ךָ יָכְלוּ֥ לְךָ֖ אַנְשֵ֣י שְלֹמֶ֑ךָ לַחְמְךָ֗ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזוֹר֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בּוֹֽ׃

Ad-hagevul shilchucha kol anshei veritecha hisiucha yachlu lecha anshei shelomecha lachmecha yasimu mazor tachteicha ein tevuna bo

“All the people allied with you Will send you to the border, And the people at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you. They who eat your bread Will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)

1:8   הֲלוֹ֛א בַּיּוֹ֥ם הַהוּ֖א נְאֻם יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ מֵאֱדוֹ֔ם וּתְבוּנָ֖ה מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָֽׂו׃

Halo bayom hahu neum Adonai vehaavadti chachamim meEdom utevuna mehar Esav.

“Will I not on that day,” declares Elohim (יהוה) , “Eliminate wise men from Edom, And understanding from the Mountain of Esav (Idumea)?

1:9   וְחַתּוּ֥ גִבּוֹרֶ֖יךָ תֵּימָ֑ן לְמַ֧עַן יִכָּרֶת-אִ֛יש מֵהַ֥ר עֵשָׂ֖ו מִקָּֽטֶל׃

Vechatu giboreicha Teiman lemaan yikaret-ish mehar Esav mikatel

“Then your warriors will be filled with terror, Teman, So that everyone will be eliminated from the Mountain of Esav by murder.

2. The Cause of this Doom

1:10   מֵחֲמַ֛ס אָחִ֥יךָ יַעֲקֹ֖ב תְּכַסְּךָ֣ בוּשָ֑ה וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃

Mechamas achicha Ya'akov techascha vusha venichrata leoLam.

“Because of violence to your brother Ya'akov, Shame will cover you, And you will be eliminated forever.

1:11   בְּיוֹם֙ עֲמָדְךָ֣ מִנֶּ֔גֶד בְּיוֹ֛ם שְבוֹ֥ת זָרִ֖ים חֵילוֹ֑ וְנָכְרִ֞ים בָּ֣אוּ שְעָרָ֗ו שְעָרָ֗יו וְעַל-יְרוּשָלַ֙ם יַדּוּ֣ גוֹרָ֔ל גַּם-אַתָּ֖ה כְּאַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם׃

Beyom amadcha mineged beyom shevot zarim cheilo venachrim bau shearav veal Yerushalam yadu goral gam-ata keachad mehem.

“On the day that you stood aloof, On the day that strangers carried off his wealth, And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for Yerushalam— You too were as one of them.Kiv-Int-link.gif

1:12   וְאַל-תֵּ֤רֶא בְיוֹם-אָחִ֙יךָ בְּיוֹ֣ם נָכְרוֹ֔ וְאַל-תִּשְׂמַ֥ח לִבְנֵי-יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּיוֹ֣ם אָבְדָ֑ם וְאַל-תַּגְדֵּ֥ל פִּ֖יךָ בְּיוֹ֥ם צָרָֽה׃

Veal-tere veyom-achicha beyom nachro veal-tismach livnei-Yehudah beyom avdam veal-tagdel picha Beyom Tzara.

“Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the benai Yehudah On the day of their destruction;  neither should you have spoken proudly On the day of their distress.

1:13   אַל-תָּבוֹ֤א בְשַעַר-עַמִּי֙ בְּיוֹ֣ם אֵידָ֔ם אַל-תֵּ֧רֶא גַם-אַתָּ֛ה בְּרָעָתוֹ֖ בְּיוֹ֣ם אֵידוֹ֑ וְאַל-תִּשְלַ֥חְנָה בְחֵילוֹ֖ בְּיוֹ֥ם אֵידוֹֽ׃

Al-tavo veshaar-ami beyom eidam al-tere gam-ata beraato beyom eido veal-tishlachna vecheilo beyom eido.

“Do not enter the gate of My people On the day of their disaster. You indeed, do not gloat over their catastrophe On the day of their disaster. And do not lay a hand on their wealth On the day of their disaster.

1:14   וְאַל-תַּעֲמֹד֨ עַל-הַפֶּ֔רֶק לְהַכְרִ֖ית אֶת-פְּלִיטָ֑יו וְאַל-תַּסְגֵּ֥ר שְׂרִידָ֖יו בְּיוֹ֥ם צָרָֽה׃

Veal-taamod al-haperek lehachrit et-pelitav veal-tasger seridav beyom tzara.

“Do not stand at the crossroads To eliminate their survivors; And do not hand over their refugees On the day of their distress.

3. Edom in Yom Elohim

1:15   כִּי-קָרוֹ֥ב יוֹם-יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל-כׇּל-הַגּוֹיִ֑ם כַּאֲשֶ֤ר עָשִׂ֙יתָ יֵעָ֣שֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ גְּמֻלְךָ֖ יָשוּ֥ב בְּרֹאשֶֽךָ׃

Ki-karov Yom-Adonai al-kol-haGoyim kaasher asita yease lach gemulcha yashuv beroshecha

For the Day of Elohim (יהוה) is near upon all the Nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

1:16   כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶ֤ר שְתִיתֶם֙ עַל-הַ֣ר קָדְשִ֔י יִשְתּוּ֥ כׇל-הַגּוֹיִ֖ם תָּמִ֑יד וְשָתוּ֣ וְלָעוּ֔ וְהָיוּ֖ כְּלוֹ֥א הָיוּֽ׃

Ki kaasher shetitem al-Har Kadshi yishtu chol-haGoyim tamid veshatu velau vehayu kelo hayu.

For as you have drunk on My Set Apart Mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.

Future deliverance for beit Ya'akov judgment upon Esav

1:17   וּבְהַ֥ר צִיּוֹ֛ן תִּהְיֶ֥ה פְלֵיטָ֖ה וְהָ֣יָה קֹ֑דֶש וְיָרְשוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֵ֖ת מוֹרָשֵיהֶֽם׃

 UveHar Tziyon tihye feleita vehaya Kodesh veyarshu Beit Ya'akov et morasheihem

But in Mount Tziyon there shall be those who escape, and it shall be set apart, and the house of Ya'akov shall possess their own possessions.

1:18   וְהָיָה֩ בֵית-יַעֲקֹ֨ב אֵ֜ש וּבֵ֧ית יוֹסֵ֣ף לֶהָבָ֗ה וּבֵ֤ית עֵשָׂו֙ לְקַ֔ש וְדָלְקוּ֥ בָהֶ֖ם וַאֲכָלוּ֑ם וְלֹא-יִהְיֶ֤ה שָׂרִיד֙ לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃

Vehaya Veit-Ya'akov esh uveit Yosef lehava uveit Esav lekash vedalku vahem vaachalum velo-yihye sarid leveit Esav ki Adonai diber.

The house of Yaakov shall be a fire, and the house of Yosef a flame, and the house of Esav stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esav, for Elohim (יהוה) has spoken.  

1:19   וְיָרְשוּ֨ הַנֶּ֜גֶב אֶת-הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֗ו וְהַשְּפֵלָה֨ אֶת-פְּלִשְתִּ֔ים וְיָרְשוּ֙ אֶת-שְׂדֵ֣ה אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְאֵ֖ת שְׂדֵ֣ה שֹמְרוֹ֑ן וּבִנְיָמִ֖ן אֶת-הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

Veyarshu haNegev et-Har Esav vehaShfelah et-Pelishtim veyarshu et-sede Efrayim veet sede Shomron uBinyamin et-haGilad

Those of the Negev shall possess Mount Esav, and those of the Shefelah shall possess the land of the Pelishtim; they shall possess the land of Efrayim and the land of Shomron, and Benyamin shall possess Gilad.

1:20   וְגָלֻ֣ת הַחֵל-הַ֠זֶּה לִבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֲשֶר-כְּנַעֲנִים֙ עַד-צָ֣רְפַ֔ת וְגָלֻ֥ת יְרוּשָלַ֖ם אֲשֶ֣ר בִּסְפָרַ֑ד יִרְשוּ֕ אֵ֖ת עָרֵ֥י הַנֶּֽגֶב׃

Vegalut hachel-haze livnei Yisrael asher-Kenaanim ad-Tzarfat vegalut Yerushalam asher biSfarad yirshu et arei haNegev.

The exiles of this host of the people of Yisrael shall possess the land of the Kenaanites as far as Tzarefat, and the exiles of Yerushalem who are in Sefarad shall possess the cities of the Negev.

1:21   וְעָלוּ֤ מוֹשִעִים֙ בְּהַ֣ר צִיּוֹ֔ן לִשְפֹּ֖ט אֶת-הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֑ו וְהָיְתָ֥ה לַיְהֹוָ֖ה הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃

Vealu moshiim Behar Tziyon lishpot et-har Esav vehaita laAdonai hamelucha

The deliverers will ascend Mount Tziyon To judge the mountain of Esav, And the kingdom will be Elohim(יהוה)’s. 

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After having read the above scriptures and after seeing the fate of those who were bitter enemies with Yisrael  the question for you  to think about Does it pays to hate Yisrael?

Notes:

Sefer Ovadyah is the shortest sefer in the Tenakh and the third shortest in the entire Scripture. it has one theme only: The destruction of the descendants of Yaakov's twin brother Esav who were bitter enemies of the people of Yisrael. Ovadyah was an Edomite proselyte, who became a high official in the court of Achav and Iezevel. (See Melachim I 18:1-5, which describes how Ovadyah saved 100 prophets from death when Izevel was trying to kill all the prophets for these reason credited and given the prohecy concerning Edom).

Ovadyah opens with a prediction of the downfall of Edom by invaders. Its leading city, Sela or Petra, was carved out of the side of the high, ro-red cliffs south of the Dead Sea. It was considered impregnable against attack. However Hashem would bring them down from the eagle heights and their nest among the stars.

Edom אֱדוֹם,(See Map Edomite kingdom) Edom (Hebrew: אֱדוֹם, Standard Edom Tiberian Ĕḏôm ; "red") is a name given to Esau in the Hebrew Bible, as well as to the nation descending from him. The nation's name in Assyrian was Udumi; in Syriac, ܐܕܘܡ; in Greek, Ἰδουμαία (Idoumaía); in Latin, Idumæa or Idumea.

The Edomite people were a Semitic-speaking tribal group inhabiting the Negev Desert and the Arabah valley of what is now southern Dead Sea and adjacent Jordan. The region has much reddish sandstone, which may have given rise to the name "Edom". The nation of Edom is known to have existed back to the 8th or 9th century BC, and the Bible dates it back several centuries further. Recent archaeological evidence may indicate an Edomite nation as long ago as the 11th century BC, but the topic is controversial. The nation ceased to exist as a settled state with the Jewish-Roman Wars.

The Edomite language is the extinct Hebrew Canaanite language of the Edomites in southwestern Jordan in the first millennium BC.The Edomite people  tribal group inhabiting the Negev Desert and the Aravah valley of what is now southern Israel and adjacent Yarden. The region has much reddish sandstone, which may have given rise to the name "Edom". Edom was pictured drawn here is one of an utterly cold and heartless lact of restraint in Edom's cruel treatment of Hashem's people. Edom was completely without mercy, showing not a one shred of compassion to their brother Yaakov. Perphaps this betrayed family relationship was one reason why their "doom" was so final. Though the physical Edom perish but the spirit of Edom still exist today, those who have bitter hatred and exhibit harm to the people of Yisrael are known to have the spirit of Edom.

Deut 1:2, Deut 2:1, Deut 2:5, 1 Chr 4:42, 2 Chr 20:10, 2 Chr 20:22, 2 Chr 20:23, Ezek 35:2, Ezek 35:3, Ezek 35:7, Ezek 35:15

Teman

tē´man (תּמן, tēmān, “on the right,” i.e. “south”; Θαιμάν, Thaimán): The name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman the grandson of Esav, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz (Gen 36:11; 1Ch 1:36). A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom (Gen_36:42; 1Ch_1:53). He does not however appear first, in the place of the firstborn. Husham of the land of the Temanites was one of the ancient kings of Edom (Gen 36:34; 1Ch 1:45). From Ovadyah 1:9 we gather that Teman was in the land of Esav (Edom).

In Amos 1:12 it is named along with Bozrah, the capital of Edom.

In Eze 25:13 desolation is denounced upon Edom: “From Teman even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword.” Dedan being in the South, Teman must be sought in the North Eusebius, Onomasticon knows a district in the Gebalene region called Theman, and also a town with the same name, occupied by a Roman garrison, 15 miles from Petra. Unfortunately no indication of direction is given. No trace of the name has yet been found. It may have been on the road from Elath to Bozrah.

The inhabitants of Teman seem to have been famous for their wisdom (Jer 49:7; Oba 1:8 ).

Historical Records

The Edomites were expelled from their country by the Nabateans, but took possession of the Negev, which became known as Idumea and even temporily occupied part of Yehudah, until routed by Yehudah Maccabeus in 185 BC. Later in Jewish history, the Roman Empire came to be identified with Esau and "Edom".The Edomites see to have disappeared altogether in the first century AD. The Petra (from "petra", rock in Greek; Arabic: البتراء, al-Bitrā) became the seat of a Christian Patriarchate until the country was taken by the Mohammedans in the 7th Century AD. Today there has yet any trace of any who could be genuinely identified as an Edomite. Ovadyah's prediction that there would be no survivor has been fulfilled.

Janet Ellen Shen visited the land of the Seir, descendence of Esav

The brief History of Petra

Ovadyah - servant of Elohim the 4th of the 12 minor Neviim

(1) The steward or prime minister of Ahav, who did his best to protect the Neviim  Elohim against Yezevel's persecution. He met Eliyahu on his return from Zarefath, and bore to Ahab the news of Elijah's reappearance (1 Kings 18:3-16).

(2) Ha Navi (Ovadyah 1:1).

(3) A descendant of David (1 Chronicles 3:21).

(4) A chief of the tribe of Yissakhar (1 Chronicles 7:3).

(5) A descendant of Shaul (1 Chronicles 8:38; 1 Chronicles 9:44).

(6) A Leviim descended from Yeduthun (1 Chronicles 9:16), identical with Avda (Nechemyah 11:17).

(7) A chief of the Gadites (1 Chronicles 2:9).

(8) A Zevulunite, father of the chief  Yishmayah (1 Chronicles 27:19).

(9) One of the princes sent by Yehoshafat to teach the Torah in Yehudah (2 Chronicles  17:7).

(10) A Merarite employed by Yosiyah to oversee the workmen in repairing Ha Mikdash (2 Chronicles 34:12).

(11) The head of a family who went up with Ezra from Bavel (Ezra 8:9).

(12) One of the men who sealed the Brit with Nechemyah (Nechemyah 10:5).

(13) A gate-keeper in the days of NechemYah (Nechemyah 12:25).