Tale of Two Brothers - Obadiah 1

The Prophet Obadiah tells us the story of two brothers that began their conflict in the womb of their mother, named Rebekah who was married to the Patriarch, Issac.

The names of these famous brothers were Esau and Jacob, Esau was the founder of the city of Edom from where the Edomites descended. Jacob was the founder of the nation of Israel, that’s after God changed his name from Jacob which means “supplanter” to Israel: “governed by God”. 

Well, let’s go forward at least 400 years later, when the Jews were coming to the promised land that God gave to the Jews. They tried to go through Edom, the Edomites denied their brother Jacob passage through their land, located in the south of the dead sea (Numbers 20:14-21). Nevertheless, God instructed Israel to be kind to Edom (Deut. 23:7). The Book of Obadiah tells us that the animosity lasted for nearly two thousand years, until the Roman came in 70 AD and wiped out the last Edomites (King Herod was and Idumean) and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. So, the prophecy of Obadiah verse 10 was fulfilled, and the hatred of Esau lasted for many, many years. Another prophecy was fulfilled as well, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:2-3)