The Prophet Obadiah, expounded by Charles Paul Caspari [pp. 226-240]

by Charles Paul Caspari.
Edom's enmity against Israel was not of recent origin, nor
displayed merely in occasional acts of hostility. It began in
the very earliest period of their history, and had its root in the
jealousy felt on account of Israel's superior advantages. The
most marked display of it was naturally in the time of Jerusalem's deepest humiliation. When it had fallen a prey to
foreign invaders, and was suffering their barbarities, Edom
insolently triumphed over its downfall, and lent their aid to
complete its ruin. Hence, passing by less marked instances,
the prophet portrays this in its aggravations, and denounces
upon them in consequence the judgment of God.
The event described, v. 11, and Edom's conduct on that
occasion, identifying himself with the foreign invaders, was yet
future according to the view adopted by Caspari, but from the
certainty with which it is foreseen, is spoken of as past. The
exhortations that follow, vs. 12-14, he considers to have
reference to the same event, now conceived of as future or as
in progress, the identity being established by the similarity of
the terms employed. Those who regard v. 11 as historically
past, either refer tlese exhortations to a course of subsequent
hostility, or suppose the prophet to conceive of the event which
he had just mentioned as having taken place, with the vividness of an event passing before his eyes.
This dissuasion from the injurious treatment of Israel is
enforced by an appeal to the approaching day of the Lord
upon all the heathen. This day of the Lord is variously represented by the prophets as one of judgment, of punishment, and
of battle. It is designed for the illustration of the attributes
of the Most High, especially his righteousness in the destruction
of his people's enemies and of his own. Although in prophetic
representation "a day," it proves in actual fact to be not a single point of time, in which judgment shall be simultaneously
executed upon all nations, but a continuous period, in the
course of which all shall in succession receive the punishment
that they merit. This day is "near," not from the historical
position of Obadiah, but from the ideal prophetic one which he
has taken in the future. When each nation has completed its
deeds of iniquity, the time of retribution is not far distant.
That which here appears as the matter to be avenged on that
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