Obadiah: The Shortest Book in the Bible Promises Genocide

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament — twenty-one verses — and every verse is about one thing: God's absolute destruction of Edom. The Edomites are descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. When Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, Edom cheered. They stood at the crossroads, cutting down the survivors. They handed over the fugitives. For this, God promises: 'There will be no survivors from Esau's house.' 'Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified, and everyone in Esau's mountains will be cut down in the slaughter.' The entire nation will cease to exist. Edom did eventually vanish as a people. Historians debate whether the prophecy caused it.