A Study Guide for the Book of Lamentations by John Teague, ThD - HTML preview

71

(1)

The particularly bitter antagonism toward

Edom came as a result of their cruelty

toward the Israelites as Jerusalem was being burned.

(a)

In the day the Babylonian army

ransacked Jerusalem and marched its

emaciated, naked inhabitants in a

chained line away from their

homeland, the Edomites cheered the

heathen invaders, shouting “Raze it!

Raze it! Even to its foundations”,

(Ps.137:7).

(b)

The Edomites were rejoicing in the

utter destruction of their old

adversary, all the while boasting of

their own security, (Obad.10-12).

(2)

A prime motivation for their joy was that

they envied the Jews because of the land

given them by God.

(a)

They saw the destruction and

captivity of both Israel and Judah

and fully expected to possess the

abandoned territories which, as they

saw it, used to belong to Jehovah,

(Ezek.35:10-12).

(b)

They believed Jerusalem’s

destruction was also their victory

over the God of Abraham, Isaac and

Jacob.

(3)

God said, “Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the

heathen, and against all Idumea (Edom),

said the Lord through Ezekiel, who have

appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds”, (Ezek.36:5).

(4)

God also condemned them for several other

hateful actions.