The Ammonites were also descended from Lot (Gen 19:36-38).
They occupied the region east of the Jordan and north of Moab.
The reasons for their judgment:
Their dispossession of Israel -
When the ten tribes of Israel were taken captive by Assyria, the Ammonites took possession of the land previously occupied by the tribe of Gad.
Thus, the question of v.1: Why does "their king" {ie., Malcom, Milcom, or Molech, the idol of the Ammonites, whose name means "king"} inherit Gad, and his people {ie., the people of Malcom} inherit his {ie., Gad's} cities? (cp. Eze 25:6,7)
Rabbah and Heshbon, chief cities of the Ammonites would be destroyed.
Israel would again return to their inheritance. Today, this region is part of Jordan.
Their confidence in their 'king' (v.3)
Their king {ie., Malcom, their false god} and his priests would go into captivity along with their princes and people.
Their confidence in their wealth (v.4)-
They would be driven out of their possession (v.5).
A promise of restoration "afterward" (v.6)
This promise looks forward to 'the latter days,' as in v.39; cp. 48:47.
Edom was the land of Esau, located south and southeast of the Dead Sea.
Teman, a city of Edom, was known for wisdom (v.7; cp. Obad 1:8,9)
One of Job's counselors was a Temanite (Job 2:11).
However, they had not been wise with respect to Israel (cp. Eze 25:12-14; Psa 137:7).
The calamity of Esau (v.8) would be their complete destruction:
Nothing would remain. Esau would cease to exist. (v.9,10)
However, some widows and fatherless children would survive. (v.11)
Bozrah and her related cities would be a desolation (v.12-18).
These cities were thought to be impregnable because of their rugged territory. For example, Petra, a city carved into the rock of sheer cliffs and accessible only through an easily defensible narrow canyon, was among these cities. (Her setting is described in v.16). Yet, they would be defeated and abandoned, as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah (v.17,18).
This calamity would be a deserved judgment from the LORD. If Israel suffered judgment for their sins, how should Esau think to avoid judgment? (v.12; Jer 25:29; Mal 1:2-5; cp. 1Pet 4:17; Heb 12:16)
The fatherless children and widows who trust in the LORD (v.11) may refer to refugees from Israel's captivities. Alternately, the reference may infer the total annihilation of Edom's adult males.
The conqueror would come suddenly and overtake the land (v.19-22).
Though not identified, the conqueror is Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon). He would make the land desolate, but would not occupy it, and it would not be occupied after he passed through. Even today, the ancient cities of Edom remain unoccupied, except for the tourists who marvel at their ruins.
[The sole subject of the book of Obadiah is the judgment of Edom. See the Book Notes on Obadiah.]
Damascus was the capital of Syria. (Judgment is pronounced upon the whole country.)
Sorrow on the sea {or, 'on the seashore;' or, 'anxiety restless as the sea'}-
Trouble was coming her way. She would be defenseless against it (v.24-26).
The cause for this judgment is stated in Amos 1:3-5.
(Gilead, a region east of the Jordan river, belonged to Israel.)
Amos also names specific places in the troubled region:
'The plain of Aven' (Its location is unknown. But its name means "wickedness" or "idolatry."),
Eden (ie., Beth-Eden, a region of the upper Euphrates),
Kir (a region of Mesopotamia to which captives from Damascus had been deported, by the Assyrians, on an earlier occasion, 2Kin 16:9).
The palace of Ben-Hadad would be consumed (v.27)-
At least two kings of Syria, bearing the title 'Ben-Hadad' {ie., son of Hadad}, are mentioned in their interactions with the kings of Judah and Israel (eg., 1Kin 15:18; 2Kin 13:3,24). These interactions alternated between short-lived alliances and long-standing warfare with one kingdom of Israel or the other.
The headquarters, of Syria's historic glory, would be swept away, by Babylon.
Kedar and Hazor were nations of nomadic Arabs occupying the northern Arabian desert.
The region of Kedar was to the east of Syria and the Ammonites.
The Region of Hazor was nearer to the Persian Gulf.
Judgment would be at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, who would overrun their camps.
These people were warned to flee and relocate to the far reaches of the desert ('dwell deep'),
in order to escape the armies of Babylon.
Arise, get you up to the wealthy nation... which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.. (v.31,32)-
This command, directed to Babylon, instructs them to overtake Kedar and Hazor, which had long been free of outside oppression, because of their isolation. As nomadic peoples, they did not dwell in walled cities. At the time, their wealth was acquired in commerce via camel caravans.
Today, the wealth of this region is measured, not in camels and cattle, but in barrels of oil. (Actually, the words used for camel {HB= gamal, lit., something that serves, benefits, bears} and cattle {HB= miqneh, something bought, a possession} could be applied to any commodity.)
This prophecy concerning Elam came to Jeremiah, at the beginning of Zedekiah's reign (v.34).
Jerusalem fell to Babylon, at the end of Zedekiah's reign.
Elam was a kingdom located at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, east of Babylon and the Euphrates river, and between Media (to its north) and Persia (to its south).
At the height of Nebuchadnezzar's power, Elam was allied with Babylon and played a role in the destruction of Jerusalem (as foretold in Isaiah 22:4-9).
Therefore, Elam would experience the LORD's "fierce anger..."
Their might would be broken... they would be scattered to the four winds... to all nations... (v.35-38).
Though human enemies would play a role, their judgment was ordered by the LORD. As their conqueror, He would depose their king and princes, for "I will set my throne in Elam..."
The rising Medo-Persian empire swallowed up Elam, which later participated in the conquest of the Babylonian empire, by the Medes and the Persians (as foretold in Isa 21:2-9).
Today, the Elamite people are regarded as a unique ethnicity, which has been scattered throughout the world, as foretold.
In the latter days, they will be regathered (v.39).
The Lord's grace toward these people is seen in Acts 2:9, where Elamites were among those who heard the Gospel of Christ when it was first preached.