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Post by alon on Nov 26, 2015 4:34:10 GMT -8
Obediah 1:1-21, haftara for Parshah Va'yishlach
The book of Obadiah is read as the haftarah for Va'yishlach. Gen chs. 32-33 tell of Jacob’s meeting with Esau upon Jacob’s return from his stay with Laban. This haftarah continues the theme of God’s hatred of our self-reliant arrogance seen in in last week’s haftarah.
The main topics are the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BCE, and the actions of Edom against Judah. The Edomites were relatives of the Israelites since they were descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother.
Genesis 25:30 (ESV) And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.)
Edom refers both to the nation of Edom and to nations in general. So contemporary Jews identify Edom with Rome, and later with Christendom as a whole. This perception isn’t helped by the fact medieval and later Christians are convinced they are the true Israel.
Romans 9:6-13 (ESV) But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Sadly, this last verse seems to compare Israel with Esau and “Christians” with Jacob. This of course is not what Rav Sha’ul is saying (though you almost have to be Messianic to see this). He is in fact speaking of us (Gentile believers) as adopted heirs to the promises.
Romans 11:23-24 (ESV) And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Obadiah was Edomite, an official in the court of Ahab and Jezabel. He was also a proselyte to Judaism. When Jezabel tried to murder the prophets of God, Obadiah, at great risk to himself, hid and sustained 100 of them. It is traditionally thought that it was in this merit he was given this short but powerful prophecy.
1 Kings 18:3-4 (ESV) And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
Edomites did not behave as brothers to the people of Judah in their hour of need. When the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites rejoiced and helped the enemy instead of helping their brethren. Psalm 137:7-9 (ESV) Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
Obadiah presents a confrontation between Hashem and Edom, and therefore the nations it represents. It contrasts God’s relations with Judah (and Israel as a whole), which will enjoy the Olam Haba, and the fate of the nations which so persecute God’s people. The conflict between Esau and Jacob may also be seen as a repetition of the ages old battle between the flesh and the Spirit.
Edom, because it mocked when Jerusalem was destroyed, was utterly doomed. We should never rejoice when God punishes a brother. In fact, EB Meyer says one lesson of this chapter is “Malice harbored in any form contains the seed of (our own) future suffering.”
Luke 10:31-32 (ESV) Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
The priest and the Levite crossed to the other side of the road when they saw their brother lying beaten on the side of the road. How many times have we acted cruelly, standing “on the other side” when our brothers and sisters needed our help? If it is in our power we must help.
Proverbs 24:11-12 (ESV) Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
We furthermore must not fall into the trap of substituting words for actions.
James 2:14-17 (ESV) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. OK, that is the introduction …
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Post by alon on Nov 26, 2015 4:47:19 GMT -8
… now to the text!
Obadiah 1:1 (ESV) The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”
The introductory sentence, “The vision of Obadiah” is interesting The word is chazon, which can mean:
H2377 חזון châzôn khaw-zone' From H2372; a sight (mentally), that is, a dream, revelation, or oracle: - vision.
Vine’s describes the terms as synonymous: vision- prophecy. And either term may refer to the entirety of a prophet’s work.
The JPS says “The prophecy of Obadiah” because “visual elements do not figure prominently in the book.” This is not however the only anomaly in translating this 1st chapter. “Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom” is placed as the last sentence in the JPS because contextually it makes more sense. However the Hebrew places this sentence first after the introductory “The prophecy of Obadiah.” This to me supports the claim that this is indeed a prophecy. Also I have a problem with reordering God’s Word if it can be helped.
Obadiah 2-4 (ESV) Behold, I will make [have made] you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, [Sela] in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.
Edom is associated with wisdom in the Bible:
Obadiah 8 (ESV) Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?
Jeremiah 49:7 (ESV) Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?”
Teman is a grandson of Esau (Gen 36:11).
Edom had come to rely on their own wisdom and political acumen rather than Elohim Tzevaot. They think neither God nor man can reach them in their mountainous lairs, yet they still aspire to reaching the celestial realm.
In verse 3 the Hebrew word for “rock” is “selah,” which can mean to send forth as a missile; and is similar to the word “salah” meaning to set afire. This is also a word-play on a major Edomite city of Selah. It is also a common refrain in Psalms:
Psalm 4:2 (ESV) O men, how long shall my honor be turned into ? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
Obadiah 1: 5-7 (ESV) If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers [vintagers] came to you, would they not leave gleanings? How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out! All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you— you have no understanding.
The alliances they thought they were so clever to make will turn against and utterly destroy the Edomites. The word “vintagers” is another word-play for a major Edomite city. The term here is the plural “botzrim,” referring to the city of “Botzrah.”
Also, to break bread with someone was to enter into a covenant relationship which in the Near East was taken very seriously. If you broke bread in an honorable man's tent, he would die before allowing harm to come to you while under his roof.
Obadiah 1:8-14 (ESV) 8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? 9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. 10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. 13 Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. 14 Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress.
These verses speak of the actions of Edom and their consequent destruction. The main idea here is that as we do, so will it be done to us.
Galatians 6:7 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Obadiah 1:15 (JPS) As you did, so shall it shall be done to you; your conduct shall be requited. Yea against all nations The day of the LORD is at hand.
This verse both sums up the last section (8-14) and transitions into the end of the book. I like the JPS version here because it does both these things better than most others.
Obadiah 1:16 (ESV) For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.
This compares Israel which has already drank from the cup and the nations which will drink from the cup forever, forgotten in the Olam Haba. Here we are no longer talking about Edom, but Israel versus all the nations of the world.
Obadiah 1:17 (ESV) But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
It is Tzion which is holy, not the remnant.
Obadiah 1:18 (ESV) The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken.
This is understood to refer to the Olam haba as well as Sheol (as a place for those whose deeds are as Esau). Even in (most) Jewish thought this doesn’t mean a place for all Gentiles. Meshiachim of course believe it refers to the distinction between all who believe and trust in God (Jews and Gentiles adopted in) and unbelievers- those who rely on themselves instead of the God of Israel.
An interesting note here; go back to vs. 3 where the word for rock or crag, selah, and the city of Selah sounds similar to salah (or salach) which means to set fire; and can also mean to shoot a missile, such as a fire arrow. The Edomite can be seen as having set themselves ablaze with their own fire missiles. Sadly, I can relate to their plight here.
Obadiah 1:21 (ESV) Saviors [liberators]shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau [to judge; to wreak judgement on Mt. Esau], and the kingdom [the office of the king] shall be the Lord's.
This is language of the time of the judges, sometimes referred to as liberators or deliverers.
Judges 3:9 (ESV) But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
Yeshua came once as our deliverer, but He will return one day to judge us:
Matthew 25:31-32 (ESV) The Final Judgment “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Dan C
Sources: JPS Study TNK, Stone’s Tanach, W Wiersby, EB Meyer, Strong’s, Vines Expository Dictionary, Jewish Encyclopedia, NTC Hebrew English Dictionary, my father and others
I apologize for the long post(s), but this one sort of got my attention. I was intrigued; and it just seems that the shorter the passage (this is the shortest book in the entire Bible), the more God packs into it! It was difficult to pare this study down as much as I did.
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 30, 2015 20:36:26 GMT -8
Really insightful and very challenging to come to terms with. Life is so short and I spend so much time struggling with the balance of separating myself from the world but somehow staying connected enough for whatever purpose I am in it. I wouldn't just cross the road to avoid someone in need, but I feel like I am too distant to make much of a difference anyhow. I am just not sure how to balance this Messianic walk with serving in the world because in all honesty I really don't want to have much to do with it lately. It's a thin line for me because I have a hard time even putting up with the music they play at grocery stores lately. I have found myself getting angry and frustrated at how much people just seem to accept or not notice a lot recently. I just want to have nothing to do with it and that has perverted my focus. I used to be better at connecting with people, but for some reason I have a hard time being anything but annoyed by the culture that surrounds me lately. I realize now I am missing out on the person because of my own weakness as a person. I hate to say it, but though I wouldn't avoid helping someone hurt on the sidewalk, maybe I am someone who would be so distant from ( or annoyed by) what is happening around me that I wouldn't even see them. What good am I then? and no different really then someone who crossed to avoid helping as the result is the same. Anyway, this hit a chord with me and helped me more completely identify my problem as more than just feeling disconnected from people. So this is me circling around back to just remember what G-d already taught me. I have to separate myself from the world, by remaining in tune enough with Him to still be available to serve His purpose in it. There is no other way to do this life His way. His purpose is for other people and I am ashamed to say I lost that concern. Going to try and redirect. Try to pay more attention to the people around me than the music from the speakers. Trying to keep G-d close means doing so in a manner that actually pleases Him. I haven't been doing that very well lately. Thanks for the post.
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Post by alon on Dec 1, 2015 2:22:41 GMT -8
... I wouldn't just cross the road to avoid someone in need, but I feel like I am too distant to make much of a difference anyhow. I am just not sure how to balance this Messianic walk with serving in the world because in all honesty I really don't want to have much to do with it lately. It's a thin line for me because I have a hard time even putting up with the music they play at grocery stores lately. I have found myself getting angry and frustrated at how much people just seem to accept or not notice a lot recently. I just want to have nothing to do with it and that has perverted my focus. I used to be better at connecting with people, but for some reason I have a hard time being anything but annoyed by the culture that surrounds me lately. I realize now I am missing out on the person because of my own weakness as a person. I hate to say it, but though I wouldn't avoid helping someone hurt on the sidewalk, maybe I am someone who would be so distant from ( or annoyed by) what is happening around me that I wouldn't even see them. What good am I then? and no different really then someone who crossed to avoid helping as the result is the same. Anyway, this hit a chord with me and helped me more completely identify my problem as more than just feeling disconnected from people. So this is me circling around back to just remember what G-d already taught me. I have to separate myself from the world, by remaining in tune enough with Him to still be available to serve His purpose in it. There is no other way to do this life His way. His purpose is for other people and I am ashamed to say I lost that concern. Going to try and redirect. Try to pay more attention to the people around me than the music from the speakers. Trying to keep G-d close means doing so in a manner that actually pleases Him. I haven't been doing that very well lately. ... I know what you mean. I spent two tours overseas in places that were 3rd world conditions. Coming home from places where you had to brush clouds of flies off meat to see what you were getting, just walking into a supermarket was difficult as I experienced sort of a reversed culture shock. All the things we take for granted were strange and excessive to me. And this was a common reaction. Now I see we as Meshiachim experience the same sort of thing. As we become more quickened to sin we are put off and disgusted by the things of this world, including our own society and its excesses, its unconcern, and its boastful self reliance on our political acumen and our military might. We are also put off more by the arrogance and idolatry of Christianity.
We also have the problem of how we help; and even who we help. We simply do not have the resources to help everyone. If they are laying on the sidewalk dying then yes, we should render 1st aid and call 911. And we would use whatever resources we had to keep them alive, even if it meant sacrificing something to do it. But I can't dole out money to everyone I meet who is in need. I'd be broke within 1-2 blocks! My charitable giving is also limited. So how do I know where to give? Well, I start with the example set by Rav Sha'ul and the early believers. Every time they took up a collection it was for other communities of Nots'rim who were in trouble. So that is where my extra giving is focused. My tithes support my synagogue, and almost all my extra giving goes to our missions in places like India and Pakistan. Giving through my synagogue I know 100% of the money goes where it is needed; not to admin costs and fees. I also give to people locally who I know are in need, or even who just need a little help.
Having this model to guide me helps so I do not feel guilty, especially this time of year. Everyone is asking for special donations, and it is hard to say no. Bell ringers are especially difficult to walk past. But donations to even such good causes are spent teaching an anti- bias to people, so I can't give to them. And inside the stores the excesses of the Christmas holiday are now strange and difficult to walk past. I feel once again like I am a sojourner in a strange land, quickened to the sin around me.
I think the answer is though that we must know where we stand. Hold to our values and have clear guidelines based on scriptural principle s in place, and as always just do the best we can. And while we can't opt out of the culture we live in, we can make the home and Shabbat a sanctuary. For those of us living in divided households even this is denied us completely. But we can make a peace with our spouses and still hold some things sacred. Those things where we absolutely must compromise come under grace.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Dec 14, 2016 15:47:05 GMT -8
Ovadyah (Obediah) 1:1-21 is this week's haftara, so I am giving this a bump. Bit of a long read for such a short passage, but a lot of information. Worth the time to read it.
Dan C
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