Book of Obadiah

General Information

The Book of Obadiah is the fourth book of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible. This brief collection of sayings reflects the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC. Obadiah ("servant of the Lord") is particularly vehement toward the Edomites, long - standing enemies of Israel who cooperated with the Babylonian conquerors. He calls down divine judgment on the Edomites and predicts a final day of return from exile and triumph over Edom. The date of final compilation is uncertain.

Book of Obadiah

Brief Outline

Obadi'ah

Obadiah, servant of the Lord.

• (1.) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord's prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4, 13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5, 6, 7). The last notice of him is his bringing back tidings to Ahab that Elijah, whom he had so long sought for, was at hand (9-16). "Go," said Elijah to him, when he met him in the way, "go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here."
• (2.) A chief of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chr. 7:3).
• (3.) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38).
• (4.) A Levite, after the Captivity (1 Chr. 9:16).
• (5.) A Gadite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:9).
• (6.) A prince of Zebulun in the time of David (1 Chr. 27:19).
• (7.) One of the princes sent by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7).
• (8.) A Levite who superintended the repairs of the temple under Josiah (2 Chr. 34:12).
• (9.) One who accompanied Ezra on the return from Babylon (Ezra 8:9).
• (10.) A prophet, fourth of the minor prophets in the Hebrew canon, and fifth in the LXX. He was probably contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Of his personal history nothing is known.

Book of Obadi'ah

The Book of Obadiah consists of one chapter, "concerning Edom," its impending doom (1-16), and the restoration of Israel (17-21). This is the shortest book of the Old Testament. There are on record the account of four captures of Jerusalem, (1) by Shishak in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25); (2) by the Philistines and Arabians in the reign of Jehoram (2 Chr. 21:16); (3) by Joash, the king of Israel, in the reign of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:13); and (4) by the Babylonians, when Jerusalem was taken and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586). Obadiah (11-14) speaks of this capture as a thing past. He sees the calamity as having already come on Jerusalem, and the Edomites as joining their forces with those of the Chaldeans in bringing about the degradation and ruin of Israel.

We do not indeed read that the Edomites actually took part with the Chaldeans, but the probabilities are that they did so, and this explains the words of Obadiah in denouncing against Edom the judgments of God. The date of his prophecies was thus in or about the year of the destruction of Jerusalem. Edom is the type of Israel's and of God's last foe (Isa. 63:1-4). These will finally all be vanquished, and the kingdom will be the Lord's (comp. Ps. 22:28).

Obadiah

In all probability this prophet's period was just after the conquest of Judah by Babylon, and prior to that of Edom by the same people, which it is his mission to proclaim (1). Of all the nations afflicting the Jews the chief were the Assyrians, the Babylonians and Edomites; and although the last-named were their close relatives, they were the greatest enemies of all. The Edomites descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob, the ancestor of Israel. Examine the map to familiarize yourself with their territory, and by the aid of the concordance or Bible dictionary, refresh your recollection of their relations with Israel in the past. Compare also Jeremiah 49: 7-22. The Edomites were not throught of very highly by their neighbors (2), but were conceited in their own eyes.

Why (3)? Would their supposedly impregnable situation save them (4)? What figures of speech are used to show, by contrast, the thoroughness of the destruction to fall upon them (5, 6)? Of what were they proud in addition to the physical features of their territory (8, 9)? Why is this judgment to fall upon them (10)? Note what they did in the case of Judah in her day of need: (1) They stood aloof (verse 11); (2) they rejoiced in her calamity (verse 12): (3) they boasted against her (same verse); (4) they shared in her spoiling (verse 13); (5) they prevented the escape of some of her people (verse 14); and (6) they actually delivered up some of them as prisoners (same verse).

Is it to be wondered at that God should speak as He does (15, 16)? And now mark the difference. Judah has been carried into captivity and her land was deserted, but was that condition in her case to continue (17)? On the contrary, what would be true of Edom (18)? In the day to come observe that while she will be swallowed up, Judah and Israel shall arise again, and possess not only their own land but that of Edom and Philistia as well (19, 20. It will be the day of the Messiah (21).

Questions 1. What was Obadiah's period? 2. What is his mission? 3. What relation existed between the Edomites and Israelites? 4. Have you identified the territory of the first names on the map? 5. How did they show enmity toward Israel? 6. What contrast will be seen in Edom and Israel in the time to come? 7. When will that be?