Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
You shouldn't have blocked the roads to catch the people trying to escape, and you definitely shouldn't have handed over the survivors when they were already going through the worst day of their lives.
Don't kick people when they're already down, help them up instead.
📚 Historical Context
The Book of Obadiah was written as a prophetic oracle against Edom, likely during or shortly after the Babylonian invasion of Judah in 586 BC, when Jerusalem was destroyed. Edom, descendants of Esau and historical rivals to Israel, exploited Judah's vulnerability by blocking escape routes and betraying refugees during the chaos. This verse specifically highlights Edom's role in preventing survivors from fleeing and handing them over, emphasizing God's judgment on such treachery.
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