What does Obadiah 1:2 mean?

Part of Edom's strength was its strategic location. High mountains, cliffs, and rocky terrain made it easy to defend and difficult to attack. The nation was also located on a major travel route. This made it a common hub for trade. In addition, the land was rich in minerals and natural resources. This combination of defense, commerce, and industry meant Edom was a "big player" in the region. Success was a source of pride for the Edomites; verse 2 warns this will not last.

Historically speaking, Edom was ruined because of a surprise attack by her own allies. The Nabateans, polytheists from Arabia, lulled the Edomites into a false sense of security. When the attack was sprung, Edom was driven from its home and stripped of its wealth. Not only did this make the nation "smaller," geographically, and in terms of population, it also was humiliating. The book of Malachi, written just after those events, notes that Edom's cities were ghost towns (Malachi 1:3–4). The Edomite survivors fled to southern Judea, where they were ill-treated by the Jews. And, in AD 70, they were all but wiped out by Rome.