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Minor Prophets, Part 3: Persian Period and Restoration

  1. Lesson One
    Obadiah
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Haggai
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Zechariah
    20 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Malachi
    18 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    OT Wrap-Up (Psalm 119)
    15 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,
    shame shall cover you,
    and you shall be cut off forever.
On the day that you stood aloof,
    on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
    and cast lots for Jerusalem,
    you were like one of them. 
Obadiah 1:10-11 ESV

Remember, the Edomites are the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob who was renamed “Israel.” After Jacob famously “stole” Esau’s birthright, he and his offspring inherited the land, while Esau and his descendants received territory in the mountains southeast of the Dead Sea. 

When Jerusalem is sacked by the Babylonians, the descendants of Esau see an opportunity to take back what they believe is rightfully theirs. Rather than helping their fallen relatives, they seek to cripple them further to their own advantage. When Israelite refugees arrived in Edom, they were sold into slavery, providing the Edomites a way to make money off their relatives’ suffering. It also prevented these refugees from ever returning to Jerusalem. God promises to punish this as a betrayal of one “brother” (the people of Israel) by another (the people of Esau).