Obadiah 1:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the phrase “there is no sense in them,” false prophets and deceivers are condemned—flatterers who ensnare with misleading predictions and those who pursue astrological fictions, vainly believing they can discern the future through such folly. The idol worshippers were deeply troubled by these events. The Idumeans, sharing the same plight, sought to predict the looming conflicts, gathering those skilled in divination to declare the outcomes of the impending warfare. They likely promised triumph; yet they were ultimately revealed as frauds, losing all credibility due to their lack of genuine foresight, revealing their desperation and deceit. Furthermore, it was noted that those from Theman or Idumea, once brave, would become cowardly and afraid. It was observed, “And thy soldiers shall fear, which are of Theban,” suggesting that until the Idumeans faced complete destruction, they would be consumed by fear. The root of their ongoing misfortunes is attributed to their actions, “for the sake of plague and wickedness against thy brother.” Because you have harmed one of your own, that is, Jacob or his descendants, you are destined for destruction by warfare and total ruin, laden with shame and humiliation. That these calamities would inevitably befall them and lead to severe tribulations is emphasized, noted as, “And thou shalt be rejected for ever.” The phrase “from this day” refers to the time the Babylonians invaded and ravaged Judea, besieging those who gathered in Jerusalem. The Idumeans, watching the fleeing, killed them and effectively sided with the foreign oppressors, contributing to the captivity of Jacob’s descendants. Thus, they share culpability in the suffering of their brethren, demonstrating cruelty nearly on par with that of the Babylonians.

In a different interpretation, you, bloodthirsty and cruel Edom, will endure all that has been declared above, for you have slain your brother Jacob through deceitful and deadly teachings and ungodly utterances against the Lord. Solomon has declared, “There are some who speak and kill as with a sword” (Proverbs 25:18). Moreover, it is said, “Their tongue is an asp under their mouth” (Psalms 139:4), and “Their tongue is a sharp sword” (Psalms 56:5). Thus, shame will cover you, leading you to lament, “My face is covered with shame” (Psalms 68:8), and you will perish, not briefly, but for eternity, due to the everlasting wound you inflicted on your brother. This shall also be a reason for your punishment: when enemies ravaged Jacob’s forces and entered the formerly peaceful city of Jerusalem, casting lots to divide its spoils, you were among those who opposed him. We observe, daily confirmed, that when persecution is directed at the Church, Jews and heretics typically forge a fiercer opposition to Christians than the Gentiles. The strangers entering the gates of Jerusalem can be understood as the wicked thoughts, and the gates represent the peaceful soul that contemplates God, which is accessed through the five senses that the enemies invade to divide the spoils of Jerusalem. If one gazes lustfully at a woman (Matthew 5:28), “death will enter through our windows” (Jeremiah 9:21). If our ears are attuned to lies and bloodthirsty judgments, the enemy has breached yet another gate. Similarly, should our sense of smell, taste, or touch be ensnared by various fragrances, delightful foods, or tender embraces, the adversary has infiltrated through different entrances and is plundering the sorrowful Jerusalem. Consequently, in moments of persecution or when indulging in a destructive desire for pleasure, if someone within the Church stumbles, heretics and Jews alike take joy in their shared role as persecutors, identifying themselves amongst the Gentiles.