Brother Betraying Brother: Obadiah, Xenophobia and the Politics of Space in Contemporary South Africa

Abstract

Post-apartheid South Africa continues to grapple with a paradox. Constitutionally, the country is founded on values of human dignity, equality and the advancement of human rights. Socially and politically, however, the country has witnessed recurrent episodes of intra-communal violence, particularly directed at foreign nationals and marginalized groups within its own borders. While scholarship on themes such as justice, Ubuntu, reconciliation and liberation is well developed in South African theology, there remains a need to engage biblical texts that directly address brotherhood betrayal within the rainbow of nations. The Book of Obadiah provides such a resource. Using historical-critical, literary and intertextual exegesis, African biblical hermeneutics and theological reflection, the study seeks to find how Obadiah can be used both as a critique and source of hope in the South African context. The main research question guiding this study is: How can a contextual African reading of Obadiah contribute to theological and ethical reflection on community violence and restoration in contemporary South Africa? From the findings, it is quite clear that the prophetic text resonates with current realities in South Africa, including nationalist gloating, politics of space and xenophobic violence. In light of the message in Obadiah, the study recommends that South Africa needs to rethink kinship, restitution and pan-African solidarity. Just as Edom forgot its shared womb with Jacob, South Africa risks forgetting the assistance it received from fellow African states. The politics of space demands memory work.