And the Lord told her,“ The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”

耶和华对她说：“两国在你腹内；两族要从你身上出来。这族必强于那族；将来大的要服侍小的。”

耶和华对她说：两国在你腹中；两族要从你身上分立。这族必强于那族；将来大的要服侍小的。

耶和华对她说：两国在你腹中；两族要从你身上分立。这族必强于那族；将来大的要服侍小的。

耶和华对她说：“你腹中有两个国家，你要生出两个敌对的民族，一族要比另一族强大，将来大的要服侍小的。”

耶和华回答她：“两国在你肚里，两族从你腹中要分出来；将来这族必强过那族，大的要服事小的。”

耶和华对她说：“两国在你的腹中，两族将从你里面分出来；一族要比另一族强，将来大的要服事小的。”

耶和華對她說：兩國在你腹內；兩族要從你身上出來。這族必強於那族；將來大的要服事小的。

耶和華對她說：兩國在你腹中；兩族要從你身上分立。這族必強於那族；將來大的要服侍小的。

耶和華對她說：兩國在你腹中；兩族要從你身上分立。這族必強於那族；將來大的要服侍小的。

耶和華對她說：「你腹中有兩個國家，你要生出兩個敵對的民族，一族要比另一族強大，將來大的要服侍小的。」

耶和華回答她：“兩國在你肚裡，兩族從你腹中要分出來；將來這族必強過那族，大的要服事小的。”

永恆主對她說：『兩國在你腹內，從你肚腹中就有兩族分立着，這族必強過那族，大的必服事小的。』

耶和華對她說：「兩國在你的腹中，兩族將從你裡面分出來；一族要比另一族強，將來大的要服事小的。」

耶和華曰、爾胎所懷、乃為二國、自腹而出、分為二民、此強於彼、長事其幼、

耶和華曰、胎所懷者、有二民焉、其後所出、成為二國、此必強於彼、長將事其幼。○

主曰、二國在爾胎中、二族出自爾腹、此族強於彼族、長者將事幼者、

The Lord said to her,“ Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

The Lord said to her,“ Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger one.”

And the Lord said to her,“ Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

And the LORD said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two peoples will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.

And the Lord said to her,“ Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people will be stronger than the other; And the older will serve the younger.”

And the Lord said to her:“ Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”

And Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels: And the one people shall be stronger than the other people; And the elder shall serve the younger.

And the Lord said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two people will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.

And the LORD said unto her, Two nations[ are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and[ the one] people shall be stronger than[ the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

and the LORD said to her,“ Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Yahweh said to her,“ Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.”

May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”

You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.”

He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God.( This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told,“ Your older son will serve your younger son.”In the words of the Scriptures,“ I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

“ I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort,“ Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies,“ This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob,but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”Esau’s descendants in Edom may say,“ We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies replies,“ They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again. Their country will be known as‘ The Land of Wickedness,’ and their people will be called‘ The People with Whom the Lord Is Forever Angry.’When you see the destruction for yourselves, you will say,‘ Truly, the Lord’s greatness reaches far beyond Israel’s borders!’”

“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Edom have sinned greatly by avenging themselves against the people of Judah.Therefore, says the Sovereign Lord, I will raise my fist of judgment against Edom. I will wipe out its people and animals with the sword. I will make a wasteland of everything from Teman to Dedan.I will accomplish this by the hand of my people of Israel. They will carry out my vengeance with anger, and Edom will know that this vengeance is from me. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent ambassadors to the king of Edom with this message:“ This is what your relatives, the people of Israel, say: You know all the hardships we have been through.

They gave her this blessing as she parted:“ Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies.”

After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported,“ We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you— with an army of 400 men!”

This message was given concerning Edom. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:“ Is there no wisdom in Teman? Is no one left to give wise counsel?Turn and flee! Hide in deep caves, you people of Dedan! For when I bring disaster on Edom, I will punish you, too!Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. If thieves came at night, they would not take everything.But I will strip bare the land of Edom, and there will be no place left to hide. Its children, its brothers, and its neighbors will all be destroyed, and Edom itself will be no more.But I will protect the orphans who remain among you. Your widows, too, can depend on me for help.”And this is what the Lord says:“ If the innocent must suffer, how much more must you! You will not go unpunished! You must drink this cup of judgment!For I have sworn by my own name,” says the Lord,“ that Bozrah will become an object of horror and a heap of ruins; it will be mocked and cursed. All its towns and villages will be desolate forever.”I have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say,“ Form a coalition against Edom, and prepare for battle!”The Lord says to Edom,“ I will cut you down to size among the nations. You will be despised by all.You have been deceived by the fear you inspire in others and by your own pride. You live in a rock fortress and control the mountain heights. But even if you make your nest among the peaks with the eagles, I will bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.“ Edom will be an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will gasp at the destruction they see there.It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns,” says the Lord.“ No one will live there; no one will inhabit it.I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, leaping on the sheep in the pasture. I will chase Edom from its land, and I will appoint the leader of my choice. For who is like me, and who can challenge me? What ruler can oppose my will?”Listen to the Lord’s plans against Edom and the people of Teman. Even the little children will be dragged off like sheep, and their homes will be destroyed.The earth will shake with the noise of Edom’s fall, and its cry of despair will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.Look! The enemy swoops down like an eagle, spreading his wings over Bozrah. Even the mightiest warriors will be in anguish like a woman in labor.

These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites:

Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength?“ It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes?“ I have been treading the winepress alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. Their blood has stained my clothes.For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors.I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm, and my wrath sustained me.I crushed the nations in my anger and made them stagger and fall to the ground, spilling their blood upon the earth.”

But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant, and I will wipe my feet on Edom and shout in triumph over Philistia.”Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will bring me victory over Edom?

He placed army garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say,“ Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!”The Lord says to Edom,“ I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised.You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains.‘ Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully.But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.“ If thieves came at night and robbed you( what a disaster awaits you!), they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely!Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken.“ All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace while plotting to deceive and destroy you. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and you won’t even know about it.At that time not a single wise person will be left in the whole land of Edom,” says the Lord.“ For on the mountains of Edom I will destroy everyone who has understanding.The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter.“ Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever.When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies.“ You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune. You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble.You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity.You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape. You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.“ The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history.

Again a message came to me from the Lord:“ Son of man, turn and face Mount Seir, and prophesy against its people.Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:“ I am your enemy, O Mount Seir, and I will raise my fist against you to destroy you completely.I will demolish your cities and make you desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.“ Your eternal hatred for the people of Israel led you to butcher them when they were helpless, when I had already punished them for all their sins.As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, since you show no distaste for blood, I will give you a bloodbath of your own. Your turn has come!I will make Mount Seir utterly desolate, killing off all who try to escape and any who return.I will fill your mountains with the dead. Your hills, your valleys, and your ravines will be filled with people slaughtered by the sword.I will make you desolate forever. Your cities will never be rebuilt. Then you will know that I am the Lord.“ For you said,‘ The lands of Israel and Judah will be ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care that the Lord is there!’Therefore, as surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will pay back your angry deeds with my own. I will punish you for all your acts of anger, envy, and hatred. And I will make myself known to Israel by what I do to you.Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard every contemptuous word you spoke against the mountains of Israel. For you said,‘ They are desolate; they have been given to us as food to eat!’In saying that, you boasted proudly against me, and I have heard it all!“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The whole world will rejoice when I make you desolate.You rejoiced at the desolation of Israel’s territory. Now I will rejoice at yours! You will be wiped out, you people of Mount Seir and all who live in Edom! Then you will know that I am the Lord.

As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home.

Yes, this was their unanimous decision. They signed a treaty as allies against you—these Edomites and Ishmaelites; Moabites and Hagrites;Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites; and people from Philistia and Tyre.Assyria has joined them, too, and is allied with the descendants of Lot. InterludeDo to them as you did to the Midianites and as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.They were destroyed at Endor, and their decaying corpses fertilized the soil.Let their mighty nobles die as Oreb and Zeeb did. Let all their princes die like Zebah and Zalmunna,for they said,“ Let us seize for our own use these pasturelands of God!”O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind!As a fire burns a forest and as a flame sets mountains ablaze,chase them with your fierce storm; terrify them with your tempest.

( There was no king in Edom at that time, only a deputy.)

Come here and listen, O nations of the earth. Let the world and everything in it hear my words.For the Lord is enraged against the nations. His fury is against all their armies. He will completely destroy them, dooming them to slaughter.Their dead will be left unburied, and the stench of rotting bodies will fill the land. The mountains will flow with their blood.The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled up scroll. The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree.And when my sword has finished its work in the heavens, it will fall upon Edom, the nation I have marked for destruction.The sword of the Lord is drenched with blood and covered with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of rams prepared for sacrifice. Yes, the Lord will offer a sacrifice in the city of Bozrah. He will make a mighty slaughter in Edom.Even men as strong as wild oxen will die— the young men alongside the veterans. The land will be soaked with blood and the soil enriched with fat.For it is the day of the Lord’s revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.The streams of Edom will be filled with burning pitch, and the ground will be covered with fire.This judgment on Edom will never end; the smoke of its burning will rise forever. The land will lie deserted from generation to generation. No one will live there anymore.It will be haunted by the desert owl and the screech owl, the great owl and the raven. For God will measure that land carefully; he will measure it for chaos and destruction.It will be called the Land of Nothing, and all its nobles will soon be gone.Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles and thistles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for owls.Desert animals will mingle there with hyenas, their howls filling the night. Wild goats will bleat at one another among the ruins, and night creatures will come there to rest.There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs. She will hatch her young and cover them with her wings. And the buzzards will come, each one with its mate.Search the book of the Lord, and see what he will do. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the Lord has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true.He has surveyed and divided the land and deeded it over to those creatures. They will possess it forever, from generation to generation.

Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.

Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him.

“ This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!

This is what the Lord says:“ The people of Edom have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They chased down their relatives, the Israelites, with swords, showing them no mercy. In their rage, they slashed them continually and were unrelenting in their anger.So I will send down fire on Teman, and the fortresses of Bozrah will be destroyed.”