Obadiah 1:12

Thou shouldest not have looked … have rejoiced … have spoken rather, look not, rejoice not, speak not. In this verse it is the neutrality of Edom, spoken of as "standing on the other side" in the former part of Obadiah 1:11, that is condemned. In Obadiah 1:13 his active cooperation with the enemy, his being "as one of them," is denounced. But in both cases there is a climax. In this verse the complacent looking on deepens into malicious joy, and malicious joy finds expression in derisive mockery. In the following verses, he who before had stood afar, draws near, "enters into the gate" with the victorious foe, "looks on the affliction," as a close spectator of all its horrors, "lays hands on the spoil," does not scruple to take part in the pillage of his brother, nor even to waylay the fugitives and deliver them up into the hand of the enemy. "He dehorts them from malicious rejoicing at their brother's fall, first in look, then in word, then in act, in covetous participation of the spoil, and lastly in murder." Pusey.

looked on the day Comp. "the day of Jerusalem." Psalms 137:7. "Malicious gazing on human calamity, forgetful of man's common origin, and common liability to ill, is the worst form of human hate. It was one of the contumelies of the Cross, They gaze, they lookwith joy upon Me. Psalms 22:17." Pusey.

became a stranger i.e. was treated as a stranger, cruelly and unjustly: or was made a stranger by being carried into captivity. The clause however may mean "in the day of his calamity," or "disaster," R.V.

rejoiced "He that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished." Proverbs 17:5.

spoken proudly lit. "make thy mouth great" in derision and mockery. This may refer either to proud boastful words, or to mocking grimaces and contortions of the mouth.