Obadiah 1:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By stating ‘there is no sense in them,’ he critiques the false prophets and flatterers, the deceivers and those who misrepresent the stars—those who have devolved into such folly that they believe they can gain knowledge of the future through such means. The idolaters were particularly distressed by these events. The Idumeans, facing similar struggles, attempted to foresee the outcomes of the impending conflicts. They gathered experienced men to declare the likely consequences of war; likely they predicted victory. However, they were exposed and lost their credibility, for they possessed no genuine means of divination and, in their desperation, spoke utter falsehoods. He indicated that even those from TeMan, or Idumea, who once displayed courage, would become fearful, noting: ‘And thy soldiers shall fear, which are of Theban, that a man may be weaned from the mountain of Esau,’ implying that all the Idumeans would ultimately perish. The undeniable reason for their ongoing misfortunes is encapsulated in the phrase: ‘for the sake of plague and wickedness against thy brother’; for your act of shedding the blood of one so closely related, that is, Jacob or his descendants, will lead to your devastation by war and utter destruction, bringing shame and disgrace upon you. That this fate is unavoidable and that they will endure such grave tribulations is affirmed in the statement, ‘And thou shalt be rejected for ever.’ When he mentions ‘from this day,’ he recalls the time when the Babylonians conquered and ravaged Judea, besieging all gathered in Jerusalem, while the Idumeans, observing those who fled, killed them and effectively aided the invaders, even as they led the descendants of Jacob into captivity. Thus, they became complicit in the suffering of their brethren and were nearly as cruel as the Babylonians.

Another way to view this is that you, bloodthirsty and cruel Edom, will endure the consequences of all that has been spoken above, as you have slain your brother Jacob with deceitful and lethal teachings and ungodly words against the Lord. In the book of Solomon, it is noted, “there are some who speak and kill as with a sword” (Proverbs 25:18). Furthermore, it is stated, “their tongue is like a snake under their lips” (Psalms 139:4) and, “their tongue is a sharp sword” (Psalms 56:5). Thus, shame will envelop you, and you will declare, “My face is covered with shame” (Psalms 68:8), and your judgment will not last momentarily, but for eternity, as you have inflicted upon your brother an everlasting wound. Moreover, the reason for your punishment will be this: when the foreign invaders laid waste to the army of Jacob and entered the once peaceful Jerusalem, casting lots to divide its treasures, you were counted among the foes. We observe and are consistently aware that during times of persecution against the Church, the Jews and heretics often become far more savage in their persecution of Christians than the Gentiles. Those who invade the gates of Jerusalem can be likened to the wicked thoughts, and by the gates of Jerusalem, which symbolize the tranquil soul contemplating God, we may interpret the five senses as the means by which these enemies breach and divide the spoils of Jerusalem. If we gaze upon a woman with lust (Matthew 5:28), then “death will enter through our windows” (Jeremiah 9:21). If we listen to falsehoods and blood judgments with our ears, then the enemy has intruded by another gate. Should our sense of smell, taste, or touch be seduced by alluring fragrances, delectable foods, or enticing embraces, the enemy has again entered by another gate, taking possession of the distressed Jerusalem. Thus, at times when individuals in the Church falter under the weight of persecution or through a harmful desire for pleasure, the heretics and Jews celebrate, numbering themselves among the persecutors, in alignment with the Gentiles.