Why would people live among the rocks? (Obadiah 1:3)
The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
Obadiah 1:3
ESV - 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?
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Asked September 30 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
In my opinion, the verse cited in the question is referring to the pride that the Edomites took in the fact that the area in which they lived was inaccessible (and therefore difficult to conquer) due both to its high elevation, and to the fact that the terrain included rocks that could be used as defensive barriers or hiding places, and that would thus similarly increase the difficulty of any opposing nation that was trying to defeat or overrun it. However, as God pointed out through Obadiah's words, He intended to destroy the Edomites because of their pride, and also as a punishment for their harsh treatment of Israel (as noted in Obadiah 1:8-14) during Israel's time of need or misfortune. (As indicated in Obadiah 1:10, this misconduct was all the more egregious because the nations of Israel and Edom were descended from men who had been twin brothers (Jacob and Esau, respectively) as sons of Isaac (Genesis 25:19-26).)
Eddie Mayfield
I think of Petra in Jordan while reading the description of where the Edomites lived. Beautiful temples and buildings literally carved into the side of a cliff. A place of great pride and a place that is difficult to access due the narrow passage leading into it. But their sins of helping to persecute their Hebrew kinsman and their arrogant pride angered God. As a result, they faced terrible judgment, despite their accomplishments, and seeming invincibility.
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