The Time of Esau’s Trouble

There is a passage in the Bible that describes a unique day, a day unlike any preceding day. It will be the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” or tribulation. (Jeremiah 30:7)

The small Book of Obadiah is about “the time of Esau’s trouble,” and the reasons why. The Lord clearly states that He is speaking of the land of Esau, which is Edom. There is no guessing. The Lord stated that the pride of Esau’s heart deceived him, and even though (the descendants of) Esau lived high in the clefts of the rocks of mountainous Edom, He would bring them down.

The reasons for the destruction of Esau’s lineage are given in Obadiah 1:12-14. The occurrence is probably the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, but the conquerors are not named. There are seven reasons for the Lord’s anger, forming a complete list.

  1. They should not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day he became a stranger (the day of his unexpected calamity – please see Strong’s H5235)
  2. They should not have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction
  3. They should not have spoken proudly in the day of distress
  4. They should not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity
  5. They should not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity
  6. They should not have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape
  7. They should not have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress
The people of Edom looked on the calamity of their brother Jacob with glee, and rejoiced at his destruction. They spoke proudly that it “couldn’t happen to them.” Then they entered the defeated city, probably to pillage. The people of Edom looked on Jacob’s affliction, but did nothing to help. In fact, they blocked those attempting to escape the destruction, and captured the refugees to return them to the conquerors.

Immediately following these seven reasons for the Lord’s anger against Esau’s descendants, the Lord declares that the “Day of the Lord” is near for all the world (verse 15). This is not an ordinary day, but the time of the Lord’s justified wrath. This is the time when the Lord gathers all nations to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2-3).

Despite this ominous sounding prophecy, the Lord declares that there will be deliverance on Mount Zion (verse 17). The Hebrew word translated as deliverance (pelata Strong’s H6413) implies escape. The people of Judah will escape to Mount Zion. This may correspond to the Day of the Lord described in Zechariah 12:8.

Then Obadiah records a statement of finality against Esau.

“there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.” – Obadiah 1:18
There are two parts to the Day of the Lord. One part is the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” but he will be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7). The second part is the “time of Esau’s trouble,” and he will be destroyed as noted above.

The concluding passage of the Book of Obadiah confirms the complete finality of the Lord’s statement against not just Esau, but the world. The number seven is the number of completion. The Israelites will occupy and possess seven lands or regions.

  1. the mount of Esau
  2. the plain the Philistines
  3. the fields of Ephraim
  4. the fields of Samaria
  5. the land of Gilead
  6. the land of the Canaanites
  7. the cities of the south
“And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.” – Obadiah 1:21
In this final verse of the Book of Obadiah, the word translated as “saviours” is the root of the Hebrew name of Jesus, Jeshua. The clear finality of the prophecy is “the Kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” I look forward to the day. Praise His name, always!

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