Interpreting Obadiah Chapter One Verse Twelve
Obadiah 1:12 warns against rejoicing over the misfortune of others, specifically Edom's treatment of Judah in its time of calamity. The verse states, "But don't look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don't rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don't speak proudly in the day of distress" [1]. This condemnation is rooted in the familial relationship between Edom and Judah, as Edom was descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob, the ancestor of the Israelites [4].
The context of Obadiah 1:12 is Edom's actions against Judah during the latter's calamity. Verse 11 notes that Edom stood aloof, allowing strangers to carry away Judah's substance and casting lots for Jerusalem [3]. The Edomites' behavior is condemned not just for their actions but for their attitude of superiority and gloating over Judah's misfortune. Keil & Delitzsch, in their Lutheran commentary on Obadiah, emphasize that this warning against rejoicing in a brother's misfortune is a moral condemnation of Edom's lack of brotherly sympathy [5].
The Tyndale House commentary, representing Protestant academic thought, interprets Obadiah 1:12-14 as holding societies accountable for sins such as those committed by Edom against Judah, including plundering and mistreating Judah's fugitives. This commentary highlights the familial bond between Edom and Judah, underscoring the gravity of Edom's actions against its "brother" [4].
The historical context of Obadiah's prophecy is tied to the downfall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and Edom's complicity in this event. Edom's actions were seen as a betrayal, given its familial ties to Judah and its geographical proximity. The prophecy against Edom serves as a warning against the pride and lack of compassion displayed by Edom during Judah's time of distress [2].
The condemnation in Obadiah 1:12 reflects a broader biblical theme of accountability for how one treats others, especially those with whom one has a familial or covenantal relationship. This theme is echoed in other prophetic writings that condemn nations for their treatment of Israel and Judah.
Sources
- Obadiah “But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress. -- Obadiah 1:12”
- Obadiah “Behold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised. -- Obadiah 1:2”
- Obadiah “In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them. -- Obadiah 1:11”
- Obadiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Obadiah 1:12: 1:12-14 All societies are held accountable for sins such as those of Edom (see, e.g., the oracles against Israel’s neighbors in Amos 1:3–2:3). Among the sins that the Edomites committed against Judah were sharing with the Babylonians in plundering the land (Obad 1:13) and either killing or repatriating Judah’s fugitives (1:14). 1:12 The tribes of Israel were Edom’s relatives (literally brother; cp. Num 20:14). • Edom and other local nations had apparently deceived themselves into thinking that rapprochement with Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC would bring them respite. ”
- Obadiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Obadiah 1:12: "And look not at the day of thy brother on the day of his misfortune; and rejoice not over the sons of Judah in the day of their perishing, and do not enlarge thy mouth in the day of the distress. Oba 1:13. Come not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; thou also look not at his misfortune in the day of his calamity, and stretch not out thy hand to his possession in the day of his calamity: Oba 1:14. Nor stand in the cross-road, to destroy his fugitives, nor deliver up his escaped ones in the day of distress." This warning cannot be satisfac”