B. The Account of Edom’s Destruction (vv.5-7)

The prophet declares that even a thief steals only to meet his needs, then slinks away leaving many things behind. But those who plunder the Edomites will not even have the honor of a common thief. Their own allies, former fair-weather friends, confederates, will turn on Edom and pillage even hidden treasures. They would not, with all their wisdom, be able to detect or prevent the total destruction to come (vv.6-7). Obadiah writes as though this had already happened.