Nahum 3:10

Hebrew Bible

8 You are no more secure than Thebes—she was located on the banks of the Nile; the waters surrounded her—her rampart was the sea, the water was her wall. 9 Cush and Egypt had limitless strength; Put and the Libyans were among her allies. 10 Yet she went into captivity as an exile; even her infants were smashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her nobility; all her dignitaries were bound with chains. 11 You too will act like drunkards; you will go into hiding; you too will seek refuge from the enemy. 12 All your fortifications will be like fig trees with first-ripe fruit: If they are shaken, their figs will fall into the mouth of the eater.

Obadiah 1:11

Hebrew Bible

9 Your warriors will be shattered, O Teman, so that everyone will be destroyed from Esau’s mountain! 10 “Because you violently slaughtered your relatives, the people of Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be destroyed forever. 11 You stood aloof while strangers took his army captive and foreigners advanced to his gates. When they cast lots over Jerusalem, you behaved as though you were in league with them. 12 You should not have gloated when your relatives suffered calamity. You should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah when they were destroyed. You should not have boasted when they suffered adversity. 13 You should not have entered the city of my people when they experienced distress. You should not have joined in gloating over their misfortune when they suffered distress. You should not have looted their wealth when they endured distress.

 Notes and References

"... I find here two allusions to Obadiah. First, this expression for casting lots is uncommon; more often the Old Testament uses Hiphil לפנ (compare Jonah 1:7; Isaiah 34:17; Psalm 22:18). This particular phrase occurs only in Joel 4:3; Obadiah 11; and Nahum 3:10. Since Obadiah is the only other writing that predates Joel with this phrase, it is at least possible this is an allusion. Second, the expression “return your recompense upon your head” is noteworthy. It often occurs in judgment contexts (compare Isaiah 59:18; 66:6; Jeremiah 51:6), but this particular expression is quite uncommon, occurring only here in Joel and in Obadiah 15 ..."

Forbes, Daniel The Intertextual Impact of Obadiah on the Writing Prophets (p. 39) The Master's College, 2014

 User Comments

Do you have questions or comments about these texts? Please submit them here.