Jensens survey of the old testament adam 247

below, to furnish setting for the prophecy.
(Read all the Bible passages.)
a) Nation was descended from Esau (Gren
25:19-34).
b) Nation settled in the regions of Mount
Seir, between the Dead Sea and Gulf of
Akaba, to the east of the Arabah (Gen
36). (See Map Y.)
c) Nation rejected the Israelites’ request to
travel through Edom on the journey
from Egypt (Num 20:14-21).
d) Antagonism originating with the twin
brothers, Jacob and Esau (Gen 27),
persisted through the centuries involving
Israel (Jacob) and Edom (Esau). Recall
the passages cited earlier in this chapter
about the plundering of Jerusalem. Also
read 2 Samuel 8:14; 2 Kings 14:1-7; 2
Chronicles 28:17.
e) Nation was continually subject to foreign


kingdoms, losing its identity as a nation
before the time of Christ, and finally
disappearing from history in A.D. 70
(Romans’ destruction of Jerusalem).
II. SURVEY
Read the twenty-one verses of Obadiah in
one sitting, aloud if possible. What are your
rst impressions? In your own words, what
is the book mainly about?

Chart
105
shows
the
structural
organization of the text of Obadiah. Note the
following on the chart, referring to the Bible
text as you study the chart:
1. The book is of three main sections:
verses 1-9; 10-14; and 15-21. Note the three
di erent verb tenses shown at the top of the
chart. Read the Bible text to see if these are
the prevailing ones of each section. (Note
that the past tense of such verses as 2 and 7


in the rst paragraph are more correctly
represented as future tense.6
2. What part does Edom play in the book,
according to the outlines shown? Check this
out with the Bible text.
3. What part does Judah play in the book?
(The reference to “Israel” in verse 20 is not
to the Northern Kingdom exclusively, but to
the chosen nation as a whole. This also is
how the name Israel is used on the chart.)
4. Where is the bright section of the book?
5. Compare the beginning (v. 3) and the
end (v. 21) of Obadiah. Relate to this the
title shown at the top of the chart.

6. Note the outline of words beginning
with the letter s. Read the verses in the Bible
text.
7. Note the key verses and key words. Add
to the list of key words as you study the


Bible text further.
III. APPLICATIONS
1. In what ways do people today practice
the sin of arrogant independence of God?
2. What does the Bible teach about the
consequences which fall upon the nation
which oppresses His chosen people? Does
Genesis 12:3 apply to today, and to end
times?
3. Does justice triumph? This question has
been asked by people throughout the ages.
Does the book of Obadiah give any answers?
4. God’s “mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm
106:1, KJV). Why do some people see a
con ict between this truth and the fact of
eternal judgment?
5. Compare these verses which state the
eternal law of returns: