What does Obadiah 1:14 mean?

Edom not only laughed and looted when Israel was attacked by Babylon, they even captured refugees and turned them over to the invaders. More specifically, as verse 14 shows, they waited along the road, knowing the fugitives would have to pass by. Obadiah 1:5 refers to the spite required to take everything someone has, when even a thief will only take what he wants. Obadiah 1:10 implies that violence against a brother is even worse than that against a stranger. How much more evil, spiteful, and hateful is it to capture those running from an invasion and hand them to their attackers? For as long as Edom had been harassing Israel (Numbers 20:20–21), this was a new low.

Verses 12 through 14 use a common technique of ancient literature. Even though the prophet tells Edom, "do not," these are crimes which Edom has already committed. The prophet calls out a warning, as if looking back in time, to tell the people to stop.