Obadiah / Question
Obadiah says Edom looked on, rejoiced, and boasted over Judah in the day of disaster (Obadiah 1:12). It also entered the gate of God’s people, looted their wealth, and stood at the crossroads to cut off fugitives and hand over survivors (Obadiah 1:13–14).
Obadiah 1:12–14 lists a string of actions Edom is told not to do when Judah is being crushed. These verses sit inside the charge that Edom acted violently against “Jacob” during Jerusalem’s disaster (Obadiah 1:10–14). Verses 12–14 function as a catalogue: a rapid series of “don’t” statements describing what Edom did or was tempted to do.
Obadiah 1:12–14 presents a tightly packed list of forbidden actions connected to one historical crisis (“in the day of…”). The text portrays Edom as Judah’s “brother,” so the wrongdoing is not only political opportunism but betrayal of kinship obligations.
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with Obadiah 1:12, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
12But don`t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don`t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don`t speak proudly in the day of distress.