Bible Strands
Obadiah 1:19
Those from the Negev will possess the mountains of Esau; those from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Obadiah delivers a prophetic declaration of territorial restoration for the descendants of Jacob following the announced judgment on the house of Esau. The prophecy outlines the future occupation of ancestral and enemy lands by specific Israelite tribal regions.
The words — The text uses יָרְשׁוּ (ya.re.Shu), meaning "they will take possession of," to describe the future occupation of territory. It specifically names the Negev (הַנֶּגֶב) and the Shephelah (הַשְּׁפֵלָה) as the originating regions for these tribal movements.
The thread — This territorial redistribution parallels the restoration themes in Jeremiah 32:44 and Amos 9:12, where displaced Israelites reclaim land and the remnant of Edom falls under their authority. The sequence directly follows the judgment declaration in Obadiah 1:18 and precedes the exiles' occupation of Canaanite territory in Obadiah 1:20.
Why it lands — The verse plainly states that specific Israelite groups will occupy the mountains of Esau, the land of the Philistines, the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Gilead. It demands recognition that divine judgment on hostile nations directly enables the reestablishment of Israel's inheritance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 32:44 Fields will be purchased with silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed, and witnessed in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah—the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev—because I will restore them from captivity, declares the LORD.”
- Amos 9:12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” declares the LORD, who will do this.
- Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
- Jeremiah 31:4 Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out in joyful dancing.
- Ezekiel 36:28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.
- Ezekiel 37:21 you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the Israelites out of the nations to which they have gone, and I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land.
- Malachi 1:4 Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
- Numbers 24:18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
- Joshua 13:2 This is the land that remains: All the territory of the Philistines and the Geshurites,
- Joshua 13:25 The territory of Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;