Question 1

What is meant by “the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen”?

Accepted Answer

“The day of the LORD” here means a time when God steps in to judge the nations. It is not just about Edom, but about all peoples who have acted proudly, harmed others, and especially harmed God’s people. Saying it is “near” shows that God’s patience has a limit and that His justice is certain. The verse links God’s judgment to people’s actions: as they have done, it will be done to them. This day is both a warning to those who oppress and a comfort to those who suffer.

Question 2

What does “as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee” teach about God’s justice?

Accepted Answer

This line shows that God’s justice fits what people have done. Edom rejoiced over Judah’s fall, looted what was left, and helped the enemies. God says that same spirit of hurt will come back on them. Their “reward” will return on their own head. This does not mean we save ourselves by good works, but that God sees how nations and people treat others, especially His people, and He answers in a way that matches their deeds. No act of cruelty or kindness is ignored.

Question 3

Why does the passage talk about drinking on God’s holy mountain?

Accepted Answer

The picture of drinking on God’s holy mountain points first to how Edom and others laughed and celebrated over Judah’s pain, even on the place that belonged to God. God turns that image around. He says the nations will “drink” in another way: they will drink the cup of His judgment until it is gone. The piling up of words, “drink and swallow down,” shows how thorough this will be. In the end, those who boasted over His people will be brought so low it will be as if they had never been.

Question 4

What does it mean that “upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness”?

Accepted Answer

This promise is the bright side of the prophecy. While other nations face judgment, God says that on mount Zion there will be escape and rescue. He will not let His people be wiped out. “There shall be holiness” means Zion will again be a place set apart for God, where His people are clean and belong to Him. It points to both their return from trouble and to a deeper spiritual rescue, where God gathers a people who share His holy character and live under His care.

Question 5

Why are the house of Jacob and the house of Joseph called a fire and a flame?

Accepted Answer

Calling the house of Jacob a fire and the house of Joseph a flame shows how God will use His restored people as His tool of judgment. Edom is like dry stubble in front of them. Fire easily burns stubble, so the picture is that Edom will not be able to stand when God raises up Israel again. This is not about human cruelty but about God giving strength to His people and removing a long-standing enemy. It underlines that God Himself is backing their victory.

Question 6

What is the meaning of “there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau”?

Accepted Answer

This line shows how complete Edom’s fall will be. The nation that once felt safe and proud will not continue as it was. The prophecy speaks in very strong terms to stress that stubborn pride against God and hatred toward His people lead to ruin. It does not invite personal revenge but points to God’s own act of judgment. The added words “for the LORD hath spoken it” remind readers that this is not empty talk but a sure word from God, who always keeps what He says.

Question 7

Why does the passage list different regions Israel will possess again?

Accepted Answer

The long list of places shows how wide the restoration will be. People from the south will take Edom’s mountain, others will take areas of the Philistines, Ephraim, Samaria, and Gilead. Exiles who were scattered among Canaanites, up to Zarephath, and those in a place called Sepharad will come to hold cities in the south. All this says that God’s people will not only come back, but also regain and even stretch beyond their former land. It is a picture of God keeping His promises of inheritance.

Question 8

Who are the “saviours” that come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau?

Accepted Answer

The “saviours” are leaders God will raise up to help rescue and guide His people. They come up on mount Zion, which shows their work is tied to God’s presence and His rule. Their task is to “judge the mount of Esau,” meaning they will carry out God’s decision against Edom and protect God’s people. They point ahead to the way God often uses human servants to care for His people, and they also hint at the greater ruler to come under whom God’s kingdom is fully seen.

Question 9

What does “the kingdom shall be the LORD’s” tell us about God’s rule?

Accepted Answer

This closing line is the heart of the hope in this passage. After all the talk of judgment, land, and enemies, it ends by saying the kingdom belongs to the Lord. That means all true rule, all lasting power, is in His hands. Earthly nations rise and fall, including proud Edom, but God’s reign stands. For God’s people, this means their future does not rest on their own strength or on which nation is on top, but on God Himself. He will have the final word in history.

Question 10

How can this passage about Edom and Israel speak to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This passage still speaks in a few clear ways. It shows that God sees injustice and will not ignore harm done to His people. It warns against gloating over others’ pain or taking advantage when they are down. It also gives comfort that God can restore what seems lost and that His plans for His people go beyond their current trouble. Above all, the closing words, “the kingdom shall be the LORD’s,” steady believers to trust God’s rule, even when the world around them feels unfair or unstable.

Obadiah 1:15

For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

The Deliverance of Israel

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Obadiah 1:15

For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

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The Deliverance of Israel

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