Obadiah 1:20

The Deliverance of Israel · Obadiah 1:15–21
Read Obadiah 1

Translations

Modern
And the exiles of this host of the Israelites will possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath; and the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev.
Traditional
And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.
Literal
…and the captivity of this host of the sons of Israel, that of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev.
Latin
Et transmigratio exercitus hujus filiorum Israël, omnia loca Chananæorum usque ad Sareptam: et transmigratio Jerusalem, quæ in Bosphoro est, possidebit civitates austri.

Original

Hebrew
English
And the exiles of this host of the Israelites will possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath; and the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev.

Notes

in Sepharad: This likely refers to a group of Jewish exiles in Asia Minor. They would return to the Negev. The scene matches some real events but also looks forward to the end times.

God's people in the Negev, the foothills of Judah, and Benjamin (three regions of Judah) would take over their neighbors' territories (Edom, the Philistine plains, Gilead). Restored Israel would regain Ephraim and Samaria (territory lost from 722 to 721 BC to Assyria) and expand its borders to the lands promised during the conquest (the Philistine plains, the land of Gilead, the Phoenician coast). See also Ezekiel 47:13–23.

History moves toward a day when the Lord will rule over the whole world as his kingdom. This message gives hope to God’s people and warns the nations that ignore him.

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Negeb: The southern region of Israel, a semi-arid area Sepharad: City in Asia Minor; destination of exiled Jews Zarephath: A Phoenician city where Elijah stayed with a widow

Glossary

Book of Obadiah Sepharad Zarephath

Topics

Esau: Mount of Edom, Called Mount of Esau Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Blessing and Restoration Sepharad: An Unknown Place, to Which the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Were Exiled Zion: Restoration of, Promised