Outside of this book, we know little about Edom's role during the Babylonian invasions of Judah in 605, 597, and 586 BC. God's law requires responsibility toward one's neighbor (for example, Deuteronomy 22:1–4; compare Matthew 25:41–46), especially when there is a specific covenant of brotherhood (Amos 1:9) or a historical relationship which biblical writers considered a relationship between brothers (see study note on Obadiah 1:6).