Table of Contents – Introduction || HOSHEA | 2 || 14 ||| YOEL | 1 || 2 || 3 ||| AMOS | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 9 ||| OVADYAH ||| YONAH | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 ||| MICHAH | 1 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 |||

NACHUM ||| CHAVAKUK | 1 | 2 || 3 ||| TZEFANYAH ||| CHAGAI | 1 || 2 ||| ZECHARYAH | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 14 ||| MALACHI | 1 || 2 || 3

---

THE BOOK OF OVADYAH

Verse 1:

חזון עובדיה כה אמר ה' אלוקים לאדום שמועה שמענו מאת ה' וציר בגויים שולח קומו ונקומה עליה למלחמה

חזון עובדיה

Ovadyah’s only prophecy was about Edom. Since Ovadyah was an Edomite convert, Hashem felt it fitting that he should prophecy their doom.

Ovadyah was a minister in the house of Achav and Izevel (See Melachim I 18:1-5, which describes how Ovadyah saved 100 prophets from death). He lived together with two wicked people, but was not influenced by their ways; therefore, he is the right person to speak about the punishment due to Esav (Edom), who lived with two righteous people (Yitzchak and Rivkah) but did not absorb their positive influence. (Rashi)

The מתנת חיים, by Rav Matityahu Chaim Solomon, discusses the greatness of Ovadyah, working under the pressures of negative surroundings. See מתנת חיים – מאמרים, p. 292.

The מכתב מאליהו discusses at length the general issue of the influence of one’s surroundings, and how careful we must be not to be influenced negatively. See מכתב מאליהו, חלק א', p. 153.

This prophecy speaks about the evil that Edom will do the Jews in the time of the Second Temple. It also foretells that the return of the Jewish people to their land will spell the downfall of Edom. (Radak)

* The Radak states that it is impossible to identify nations like Edom today. All the nations were moved around and mixed in with other nations. One thing we do know (according to tradition), is that the Roman Empire consisted of Edomites, and so its actions can be related to these prophecies about Edom.

כה אמר ה' אלוקים לאדום שמועה שמענו מאת ה'

“We heard from Hashem” – not only Ovadyah, but many other prophets as well heard prophecies about Edom. (Metzudat David)

וציר בגויים שולח קומו ונקומה עליה למלחמה

All the nations are coming together to fight Edom, and they are sending messengers to other nations to come and join them. (Metzudat David)

Verse 2:

הנה קטון נתתיך בגויים בזוי אתה מאוד

הנה קטון נתתיך בגויים...

In the beginning, Edom was a small nation, despised by others. (Metzudat David)

Verse 3:

זדון לבך השיאך שוכני בחגווי סלע מרום שבתו אומר בלבו מי יורידני ארץ

זדון לבך השיאך שוכני בחגווי סלע מרום שבתו

When Rome developed into a huge empire, the Romans’ power seduced them into thinking that they were the world’s greatest nation. They envisioned themselves as sitting on the top of a cliff, where nobody could touch them. (Metzudat David)

אומר בלבו מי יורידני ארץ

The Romans thought they were invincible – that nobody would be able to bring them down from their lofty perch. (Metzudat David)

Verse 4:

אם תגביה כנשר ואם בין כוכבים שים קינך משם אורידך נאום ה'

אם תגביה כנשר...

1. Even if their dwelling place will be up in the heavens, like that of an eagle, or even amongst the stars, Hashem will bring them down. (Metzudat David)

2. It is as if Hashem is commanding them to have this haughty attitude. Hashem wants them to feel as high and mighty as possible, so that the fall and its impact will be that much greater. (Malbim)

In Bereishit 28:12 the Torah tells us of the dream that Yaakov Avinu had, of angels ascending and descending a ladder that reached up to the heavens. Chazal understood this as an allegory of the different nations that would subjugate the Jewish people. Yaakov saw Babylon ascend 70 rungs of the ladder, Madai ascend 52 rungs, and Greece – 180. Then Edom ascended but did not descend. Yaakov Avinu became very frightened, and Hashem reassured him that even if Edom would ascend all the way to Hashem’s holy throne, he would be brought down. Chazal base this idea on this verse in Ovadyah. (Vayikra Raba 29, quoted in מכתב מאליהו Part III, p. 202.

Verse 5:

אם גנבים באו לך אם שודדי לילה איך נדמיתה הלוא יגנבו דיים אם בוצרים באו לך הלוא ישאירו עוללות

אם גנבים באו לך אם שודדי לילה איך נדמיתה הלוא יגנבו דיים

1. The prophet compares the downfall of Edom to their being victimized by robbers who come at night and take everything, even more than they need. (Metzudat David)

2.* Enemies will come and plunder the land of Edom. The prophet is astounded at Edom’s lack of response to the attack: It is as if Edom is in a stupor, preventing it from driving the attackers away. (Malbim)

אם בוצרים באו לך הלוא ישאירו עוללות

Grape pickers always leave the smaller, unformed grapes on the vines. The prophet expresses amazement at how nothing will be left of Edom – not even insignificant remnants. (Metzudat David)

Verse 6:

איך נחפשו עשו נבעו מצפוניו

איך נחפשו עשו...

Again, the prophet is amazed how the enemies will make off with everything that belonged to Edom – even the most hidden things. (Metzudat David)

Verse 7:

עד הגבול שלחוך כל אנשי בריתך השיאוך יכלו לך אנשי שלומך לחמך ישימו מזור תחתיך אין תבונה בו

עד הגבול שלחוך כל אנשי בריתך

Edom’s allies tricked them: They escorted the Edomites to the border, but did not help them fight the enemy. (Metzudat David)

השיאוך יכלו לך אנשי שלומך

It was the allies who convinced Edom to go to war. (Metzudat David)

לחמך ישימו מזור תחתיך אין תבונה בו

Those who ate Edom’s bread duped the Edomites, bringing them to their downfall. And the Edomites were somehow oblivious of the plot against them. (Metzudat David)

Verse 8:

הלוא ביום ההוא נאום ה' והאבדתי חכמים מאדום ותבונה מהר עשו

והאבדתי חכמים מאדום ותבונה מהר עשו

When the time of troubles comes, all the wisdom that Edom has will disappear – Edom’s wise men will not be able to think of a way to be saved from it. (Radak)

Verse 9:

וחתו גיבוריך תימן למען ייכרת איש מהר עשו מקטל

וחתו גיבוריך

Esav was blessed by Yitzchak that he would live on his sword (Bereishit 27:40); in other words, that his descendants would be brave warriors. But when the troubles come, all the brave warriors will quake and not be able to fight. (Radak)

תימן...

Teiman is one of the sons of Elifaz, the son of Esav. (Radak)

למען ייכרת איש מהר עשו מקטל

The fear that will engulf the people of Edom will prevent them from thinking of ways to save themselves, from acting in self-defense, and so they will be killed by their enemies. (Malbim)

Verse 10:

מחמס אחיך יעקב תכסך בושה ונכרת לעולם

מחמס אחיך יעקב

The reason for this fall of Edom will be the troubles that Edom caused the Jewish people – either after the destruction of the First Temple (as Ibn Ezra explains it), or the actual destruction of the Second Temple, which the Romans perpetrated. (Radak)

Verse 11:

ביום עמדך מנגד ביום שבות זרים חילו ונוכרים באו שעריו ועל ירושלים ידו גורל גם אתה כאחד מהם

ביום עמדך מנגד ביום שבות זרים חילו

1. After the destruction of the First Temple by Nevuchadnetzar, the Edomites did not help the Jews. (Metzudat David)

2. There were still Edomites in Edom at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, and they stood by when the Romans (also from Edom) took over Yehudah. This was especially despicable, considering the fact that when the Children of Israel were going through the desert, they deliberately avoided bothering Edom, because of the family relation between the two nations. (Radak)

The students can note that in this verse, one cannot equate the Edomites with the Romans, since it speaks of standing aside – not of participating in the destruction.

ועל ירושלים ידו גורל

The Edomites drew lots between them, as to who would get the land of Israel. (Metzudat David)

גם אתה כאחד מהם

In not coming to the assistance of the Jews, the Edomites were as bad as the people who did the actual fighting and looting. (Metzudat David)

Verse 12:

ואל תרא ביום אחיך ביום נוכרו ואל תשמח לבני יהודה ביום אבדם ואל תגדל פיך ביום צרה

ואל תרא ביום אחיך ביום נוכרו

The least the Edomites could have done would have been not to watch and gloat over the Jews’ travails, shaming them. (Metzudat David)

ואל תשמח לבני יהודה ביום אבדם

Even more so, they shouldn’t have been glad to see the downfall of the Jews. (Metzudat David)

ואל תגדל פיך ביום צרה

Certainly, they shouldn’t have opened their mouths and mocked the Jews. (Metzudat David)

Verse 13:

אל תבוא בשער עמי ביום אידם אל תרא גם אתה ברעתו ביום אידו ואל תשלחנה בחילו ביום אידו

אל תבוא בשער עמי ביום אידם

The list of Edom’s inappropriate actions goes on: they shouldn’t have shown up at the gates of Jerusalem, as they did in the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, helping in the destruction. (Metzudat David)

אל תרא גם אתה ברעתו

Again, they shouldn’t have witnessed the destruction, thus shaming the Jews. In Sefer Yosippon it says that the people who were living in Edom came especially in order to watch the Romans plunder Jerusalem. (Metzudat David)

ואל תשלחנה בחילו ביום אידו

They shouldn’t have participated in the looting. (Metzudat David)

Verse 14:

ואל תעמוד על הפרק להכרית את פליטיו ואל תסגר שרידיו ביום צרה

ואל תעמוד על הפרק להכרית את פליטיו

1. Edom shouldn’t have stood at the crossroads, in order to catch fleeing Jews and turn them in to the Romans. (Radak)

2. The Romans should not have insisted on the eradication of the refugees, even after the destruction, as they did throughout the centuries that followed. (Metzudat David)

ואל תסגר שרידיו ביום צרה

The Romans should not have jailed the remains of the Jewish people in the centuries that followed. (Metzudat David)

Verse 15:

כי קרוב יום ה' על כל הגויים כאשר עשית ייעשה לך גמולך ישוב בראשך

כי קרוב יום ה' על כל הגויים

1. The nations need to realize that the day of retribution will come soon. They will be punished for all that they did to the Jewish People. (Metzudat David)

2. Although this day of retribution is still far off chronologically, the nations should relate to it as if it is imminent. (Radak)

כאשר עשית ייעשה לך גמולך ישוב בראשך

The nations will be punished not only for what their actual actions, but also for the feelings of hatred that they exhibited while doing them. (Malbim)

Verse 16:

כי כאשר שתיתם על הר קדשי ישתו כל הגויים תמיד ושתו ולעו והיו כלוא היו

כי כאשר שתיתם על הר קדשי ישתו כל הגויים תמיד

1. Just as Yehudah drank from the cup of misfortune and destruction on the Mountain of Hashem, likewise all the enemies will drink from the same cup, until they are completely destroyed. (Metzudat David)

2.* The non-Jews who originally rejoiced and partied when the Temple was destroyed, will now drink from the cup of destruction with the other nations. (Radak)

The students should note the difference between the subject of the verb שתיתם according to each commentator. They should also note how the word על is understood by the two commentators.

ושתו ולעו והיו כלוא היו

They will drink and swallow, and then they will be destroyed as if they had never existed. (Radak)

Verse 17:

ובהר ציון תהיה פליטה והיה קודש וירשו בית יעקב את מורשיהם

ובהר ציון תהיה פליטה והיה קודש

Although many Jews will die in exile, there will still be a large remnant left on Har Tzion – the place they were exiled from. This remnant will be holy – consisting of righteous people. (Radak)

וירשו בית יעקב את מורשיהם

The Jewish people will once again inherit their original land, as well as the neighboring lands – Plishtim, Edom and Moav. (Radak)

Verse 18:

והיה בית יעקב אש ובית יוסף להבה ובית עשו לקש ודלקו בהם ואכלום ולא יהיה שריד לבית עשו כי ה' דיבר

והיה בית יעקב אש ובית יוסף להבה ובית עשו לקש ודלקו בהם ואכלום

1. Just as straw burns quickly and completely, so the Jews will destroy Edom totally. (Metzudat David)

2. According to Chazal, Esav’s fall will be through an encounter with Yosef Hatzaddik, or with one of his descendants. (Radak)

3. Esav will be defeated by Mashiach ben Yosef (Me’am Lo’ez)

A beautiful explanation of the relationship of fire and straw and its relevancy to our lives is found in Rabbi Tatz’s book, The Thinking Jewish Teenager’s Guide to Life, in the chapter “Straw and Fire”, p. 209.

ולא יהיה שריד לבית עשו כי ה' דיבר

Since Hashem decided on this total destruction, it will, of course, come about. (Metzudat David)

Verse 19:

וירשו הנגב את הר עשו והשפלה את פלישתים וירשו את שדה אפרים ואת שדה שומרון ובנימין את הגלעד

וירשו הנגב את הר עשו

The house of Yaakov will inherit the Negev – the south – which is the place of Se’ir (Edom). (Metzudat David)

וירשו את שדה אפרים ואת שדה שומרון

When Yehoshua conquered the land, the people inherited only the mountains, and not the valleys. In the future, they will gain control over everything, including the lower-lying fields. (Metzudat David)

Verse 20:

וגלות החל הזה לבני ישראל אשר כנענים עד צרפת וגלות ירושלים אשר בספרד יירשו את ערי הנגב

וגלות החל לבני ישראל אשר כנענים עד צרפת

The exiles from the tribe of Asher, who had been exiled as far as France. (Rashi)

וגלות ירושלים אשר בספרד

The exiles from the kingdom of Yehudah, who reached Spain. (Rashi)

יירשו את ערי הנגב

All these people – the tribes of Asher and Yehudah –will come back and inherit the southern parts of the land of Israel. (Rashi)

Verse 21:

ועלו מושיעים בהר ציון לשפוט את הר עשו והיתה לה' המלוכה

ועלו מושיעים בהר ציון לשפוט את הר עשו

The “saviors of Har Tzion” are the Mashiach and his officers. They will go to Har Se’ir and judge the people there for the evil that they committed. (Metzudat David)

והיתה לה' המלוכה

1. After this judgment, all the nations will recognize Hashem as their king and accept Him. Hashem will, then, be recognized as the King of the entire world. (Metzudat David)

2.* Only when Amalek is punished, will the kingdom of Hashem be complete. See Shemot 17:16 and Rashi there. (Rashi)

This one-chapter book is the haftara for Parashat Vayishlach. The students should write an essay detailing the connection between the parasha and the haftara.

והיה בית יעקב אש ובית יוסף להבה ובית עשו לקש ודלקו בהם ואכלום ולא יהיה שריד לבית עשו כי ה' דיבר

ועלו מושיעים בהר ציון לשפוט את הר עשו והיתה לה' המלוכה

---

Table of Contents – Introduction || HOSHEA | 2 || 14 ||| YOEL | 1 || 2 || 3 ||| AMOS | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 9 ||| OVADYAH ||| YONAH | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 ||| MICHAH | 1 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 |||

NACHUM ||| CHAVAKUK | 1 | 2 || 3 ||| TZEFANYAH ||| CHAGAI | 1 || 2 ||| ZECHARYAH | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 14 ||| MALACHI | 1 || 2 || 3