5. (a) What proves the record of Obadiah to be authentic and true? (b) How did Obadiah fulfill the requirements of a true prophet, and why is his name appropriate?

⁵ Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom was fulfilled​—all of it! In reaching its climax, the prophecy states: “The house of Esau [must become] as stubble; and they must set them ablaze and devour them. And there will prove to be no survivor to the house of Esau; for Jehovah himself has spoken it.” (Vs. 18) Edom lived by the sword and died by the sword, and no trace of her descendants remains.

6. How does Jehovah speak of Edom, and from where will he bring her down?

⁶ Judgment upon Edom (Vss. 1-16). At the command of Jehovah, Obadiah makes known his vision. The nations are summoned to join in war against Edom. “Rise up, you people, and let us rise up against her in battle,” God commands. Then, directing his remarks to Edom itself, he assesses her position. Edom is just a small one among the nations and is despised, yet she is presumptuous. She feels safe lodged in among the lofty crags, sure that no one can bring her down. Nevertheless, Jehovah declares that even if her dwelling were as high as the eagle’s, even if she were to nest among the stars themselves, from there he would bring her down. She is due for punishment.​—Vs. 1.

7. To what extent is Edom to be despoiled?

⁷ What is going to happen to her? If thieves were to despoil Edom, they would take only what they wanted. Even grape gatherers would leave some gleanings. But what lies ahead for the sons of Esau is worse than this. Their treasures will be completely ransacked. The very allies of Edom will be the ones to turn on her. Those who have been her close friends will catch her in a net as one without discernment. Her men known for wisdom and her warriors known for valor will be no help in the time of her calamity.

8. Why is Edom’s punishment so severe?

⁸ But why this severe punishment? It is because of the violence that the sons of Edom did to the sons of Jacob, their brothers! They rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem and even joined with the invaders in dividing up the plunder. In strong denunciation, as if Obadiah is witnessing the vile deeds, Edom is told: You ought not to rejoice at your brother’s distress. You ought not to hinder the flight of his escapees and hand them over to the enemy. The day of Jehovah’s reckoning is near, and you will be called to account. The way you have done is the way it will be done to you.

11, 12. (a) How did those “at peace with” Edom come to prevail against her? (b) By what stages did Edom come to be “cut off to time indefinite”?

¹¹ Obadiah had foretold that “the very men in covenant with” Edom, those “at peace with” her, would be the ones to prevail against her. (Obad. 7) Babylon’s peace with Edom did not last. During the sixth century B.C.E., Babylonian forces under King Nabonidus conquered Edom.b Nevertheless, a century after Nabonidus’ invasion of the land, confident Edom still hoped to make a comeback, and concerning it, Malachi 1:4 reports: “Because Edom keeps saying, ‘We have been shattered, but we shall return and build the devastated places,’ this is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘They, for their part, will build; but I, for my part, shall tear down.’” Despite Edom’s efforts at recovery, by the fourth century B.C.E. the Nabataeans were firmly established in the land. Having been pushed out of their land, the Edomites dwelt in the southern part of Judea, which came to be called Idumea. They never succeeded in reconquering the land of Seir.

¹² According to Josephus, in the second century B.C.E. the remaining Edomites were subjugated by the Jewish king John Hyrcanus I, were forced to submit to circumcision, and were gradually absorbed into the Jewish domain under a Jewish governor. Following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., their name disappeared from history.c It was as Obadiah had foretold: “You will have to be cut off to time indefinite. . . . And there will prove to be no survivor to the house of Esau.”​—Obad. 10, 18.