Obadiah 1

Obadiah 1:1

A Rumour] namely; God having stirred up the Chaldeans, and other Nations, to the destruction of the Idumeans; which as it appeareth by the other Prophets, happened after the ruine and captivity of the Jewes. And Obadiah prophesied before either of them.

Obadiah 1:3

In the clefts] he hath a relation to the strong and mountainous scituation of Idumea.

Obadiah 1:7

Have brought thee] the Italian, Have accompanied thee] have joyned their forces to thine, to goe and withstand the enemies invasions: but just at the instant that thou hadst need of them, they have forsaken thee And prevailed] he seemes to meane the Egyptians, who by powerfull perswasions, and by reason of interest of state; had brought the Idumeans to declare themselves enemies to the Chaldeans They that eat thy bread, &c] the Italian, They have laid thy bread for a snare for thee] a terme taken from hunters, who with baits draw the boasts into their traps. The meaning is; the victuall which thou hast had out of Egypt, hath been as it were a bait to thee, to insnare thee in the league against the Chaldeans, which hath beene the cause of thy ruine: which with all thy famous wisdome thou couldest not perceave.

Obadiah 1:9

Teman] the name of a City and Countrey in Idumea.

Obadiah 1:10

Thy brother] namely; the Israelites and Jewes, which were descended from Jacob, brother of Esau, the father of the Idumeans.

Obadiah 1:11

That thou stoodest] not only like an idle spectator, yeelding no assistance, nor pittying the Jewes calamities: but feeding also thine eyes therewith, as with a pleasing object His forces] the men of war taken with Zedekiah in his flight, Jeremiah 39:4-5. Or plainely; the whole multitude carried away captive into Babylon Upon Ierusalem] to part both the spoile and persons.

Obadiah 1:12

That he becam] or in the day of his strange chance. See Job 31:3 Spoken proudly] by scoffing them.

Obadiah 1:16

For as ye] as You, my people have drunke of the cup of my judgements; so your enemies shall drinke up the very dregs, and shall be utterly destroyed thereby. See Jer. 25. 29. & 49. 12.

Obadiah 1:17

Their possessions] which they were dispossessed of by their enemies. A figure of the right to the eternall inheritance which the Devill and Sinne had gotten away from the Church, to which it was restored by Christ. Others, their possessions: namely; the possessions of those Nations which were their enemies.

Obadiah 1:18

Shall be a fire] the Church by the power of Chri〈…〉, and of his Spirit, shall consume all her enemies: (represented under the person of the Idumeans) as easily as fire consumeth flaxe Shall kindle] as fire doth kindle, when it takes hold of some combustible matter.

Obadiah 1:19

Possesse] the Jewes shall be put into full possession of their Countrey; with great addition and enlargement of their ancient bounds; as of Idumea, on the South side, and the Philistines Land on the side of the plaine. See of these countries of Judea, Jer. 17. 26. and 32. 44. and 33. 13. the meaning is the same; as v. 17.

Obadiah 1:20

Of this Host] See upon v. 11 Zarep hath] it is thought to be a City or Countrey of Caldea.

Obadiah 1:21

And Saviours] this may according to the Letter, and in part; be understood of the Maccabecs, who subdued the Idumeans, 1Ma 5:3. but spiritually and fully, it is referred to the Apostles, and other of Christs Ministers; who were to preach the Gospell, for the salvation of the Elect, and condemnation of the wicked. See 1 Timothy 4:16 The Kingdome] Christ, true God, shall by his Father be established everlasting King of his Church, and of all the World.