Edom and Babylon: Archetypal Enemies of God and His People. A Comparative Analysis of Obadiah and Isaiah 13:2-14:23

Abstract

The similarities between Obadiah and Jer 49:7-22 are well-known and discussed thoroughly in scholarly literature. The thematic and linguistic links associating Edom and Babylon are equally well known and treated, particularly in H.G.M Williamson's The Book Called Isaiah: Deutero-Isaiah's Role in Composition and Redaction. However, Edom, as depicted in Obadiah, is seldom mentioned or compared with Babylon in Isa 13-14. Through similarities in motif, linguistics and thematic development, Obadiah intentionally differs from Jer 49:7-22 to cast Edom as a type of Babylon as seen in Isa 13:2-14:23. Thus, Obadiah should not be viewed merely as a variation of Jer 49 but rather as an oracle against Edom in Isaianic style.