The leaders of the city of Zoan are fools. Pharaoh’s “wise advisors” give bad advice. They say they are wise. They say they are from the old family of the kings, but they are not as smart as they think.
Like a boomerang, they changed directions, but they did not come back to me. Their leaders bragged about their strength, but they will be killed with swords. And the people in Egypt will laugh at them.
It will be a dark day in Tahpanhes when I break Egypt’s control. Her proud power will be finished! A cloud will cover Egypt, and her daughters will be taken away as prisoners.
Later, Hoshea sent messengers to the king of Egypt to ask for help. That king’s name was So. That year Hoshea did not pay tribute to the king of Assyria as he did every other year. The king of Assyria learned that Hoshea had made plans against him. So he arrested Hoshea and put him in jail.
They entered the country through the Negev and went to Hebron. (The town of Hebron was built seven years before the town of Zoan in Egypt.) Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai lived there. These men were descendants of Anak.
I heard a message from the Lord: He sent this messenger to the nations. This is the message: “Gather your armies together! Get ready for battle! March against the nation of Edom!
This is the vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord GOD says about Edom: We heard a report from the Lord. A messenger was sent to the nations. He said, “Let’s go fight against Edom.”