11. Edom . . . did pursue his brother--
(Isa 34:5).
The chief aggravation to Edom's violence against Israel was that they
both came from the same parents, Isaac and Rebekah (compare
Ge 25:24-26;
De 23:7, 8;
Ob 10, 12;
Mal 1:2).
cast off all pity--literally, "destroy compassions," that is, did
suppress all the natural feeling of pity for a brother in distress.
his wrath for ever--As Esau kept up his grudge against Jacob, for
having twice supplanted him, namely, as to the birthright and the
blessing
(Ge 27:41),
so Esau's posterity against Israel
(Nu 20:14, 21).
Edom first showed his spite in not letting Israel pass through his
borders when coming from the wilderness, but threatening to "come out
against him with the sword"; next, when the Syrians attacked Jerusalem
under Ahaz (compare
2Ch 28:17,
with 2Ki 16:5);
next, when Nebuchadnezzar assailed Jerusalem
(Ps 137:7, 8).
In each case Edom chose the day of Israel's calamity for venting his
grudge. This is the point of Edom's guilt dwelt on in
Ob 10-13.
God punishes the children, not for the sin of their fathers, but for
their own filling up the measure of their fathers' guilt, as children
generally follow in the steps of, and even exceed, their fathers' guilt
(compare
Ex 20:5).
JFB.
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