Book of obadiah, the fourth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, in the jewish canon treated as one book, the twelve. The purpose of obadiah is to show that god will judge all those who are against his children, his chosen people. Thats because, although obadiah is an easy read only 21 verses long, it is in the running for the most forgotten book in our bibles. The chief difficulty with the prophecy of obadiah is where to fit it into the history of the nation israel. Apr 21, 2020 lost somewhere in the dark corner of your bible is a brief, but largely unfamiliar book called obadiah. Obadiah means servant of the lord and occurs 20 times in the old testament, referring to many other old testament individuals. Apr 27, 2017 the smallest book in the old testament may also be one of the least known prophecies. Edoms pride and downfall is disclosed in the book of obadiah.
The book of obadiah is the only one chapter book in the old testament. Some believe obadiah may have been a contemporary of elisha. Obadiah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of obadiah for bible study or sunday school lessons. He is identified with the obadiah who was the servant of ahab, and it is said that he was chosen to prophesy against edom because he was himself an edomite. Overview of the book of obadiah reformed answers to. The authors name is obadiah, which means servant or worshiper of the lord. There are obadiahs in the old testament, and one of these may the obadiah who wrote this book. From the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate cambridge library collection african studies johnson, samuel on. The book begins by calling itself a vision which is an indication also shared by isaiah 1.
Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins against both god and israel. The smallest book in the old testament may also be one of the least known prophecies. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the. The book of obadiah deals with the ancient feud between israel and the nation of edom, between the descendants of. Obadiahs prophecy closely follows the pattern of a covenantlawsuit address. The book closes with the promise of deliverance for zion. John a martin, an outline of obadiah, unpublished class notes in 304 preexlic and exilic prophets, dallas theological seminary. I must point out that there is doubt surrounding this date as there is dispute over whether obadiah is referring to the sacking of jerusalem by nebuchadnezzar in 586 bc or in fact referring to 845 bc when jerusalem was attacked by the philistines and the arabs. According to the talmud, obadiah is said to have been a convert to judaism from edom, a descendant of eliphaz, the friend of job. Viewing the 1611 king james version of obadiah obadiah chapter 1, also known as. Because of this they will suffer gods wrath at the day of the lord that comes on all nations.
The book of obadiah records a prophetic vision given by the lord to a man named obadiah. The book is named after the prophet who received the vision 1. Obadiah verse 1 identifies the author of the book of obadiah as the prophet obadiah. We have heard a rumour from the lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. While several options have been proposed by scholars, the best argument places obadiah in the 840s bc, making him the earliest writing prophet, a few years prior to joel, and a contemporary of elisha.
The animosity between the edomites and the israelites is one of the oldest examples of a discord in human relationships. Freeman, an introduction to the old testament prophets, 14041. From the earliest times to the beginning of the british protectorate cambridge library collection african studies. The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the hebrew bible in judaism and christianity, its authorship is attributed to a prophet who lived in the assyrian period and named himself in the first verse, obadiah. The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the hebrew bible. The form of obadiahs name used in the septuagint is obdios. Pastor paul leboutiller of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the book of obadiah. The book was probably written in the first half of the babylonian exile, after 586 b. The righteous power of god, not the evil plans of the nations, determines the course of history. In their concluding comments on the book of obadiah, authors william lasor, david hubbard and frederic bush state.
Yet it tells the prophet obadiahs mission to carry gods message that the kingdom of edom shall be ultimately destroyed for its sins. This may have been a popular name as with ahabs steward who met elijah cf. Overview of the book of obadiah third millennium ministries. Book of obadiah, the destruction of edom, judahs misfortune. Obadiah with only one chapter and a total of 21 verses is the shortest book of the old testament and is shorter than most of the books in the new testament. Obadiah is a little book, but it is an example of an atomic bomb in the bible. Obadiah, book of international standard bible encyclopedia. The book of obadiah is a book of prophetic oracles. Obadiah unpacks a longstanding history between israel and one of its enemiesand more importantly, the history of gods covenant with israels ancestors.
The book of obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament of the bible, with only 21 verses. The book of obadiah is an oracle concerning the divine judgment of edom and the restoration of israel. Intro to obadiah biblica the international bible society. So, we now have to look at why god said this about these people. Edom rivalry is more than just two nations who dont get along. View smaller size scan of original obadiah chapter 1, view textonly version of obadiah chapter 1, or click to switch to the standard king james version of obadiah chapter 1. Obadiah, book of, servant of yah, the shortest ot book, stands fourth among the minor prophets in the mt, but fifth in the lxx. Thus says the lord god concerning edom we have heard a report from the lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying, arise, and let us rise up against her for battle. Book of obadiah, also spelled abdias, the fourth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, in the jewish canon treated as one book, the twelve. Oct 07, 20 pastor paul leboutiller of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the book of obadiah. Welcome to the study of the shortest book in the word. If the event was preexilic, then a date shortly after the event is given for the book.
Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is only 21 verses long. The purpose of the book of obadiah, therefore, was not to warn edom of imminent judgment but to reassure gods people of his triumphant justice at work for them. This brief book of the hebrew bible is very significant in that it is one of only two of the minor prophetic books that are addressed entirely to a nation other than israel and judah. And whats very interesting about the book of obadiah is that it is the last part of the book when we get to it well see, it is about the time of the end when the messiah comes to set up the kingdom. Their fortified cities included sela petra, teman and bozrah. You may, like me, have trouble separating the pages between amos and jonah just to get to it. Our choice must be between a very early date circa 845 and a date shortly after 587, with the scales almost evenly balanced. To understand this future judgment on the edomites we.
If the events are those of 586, then an exilic, or postexilic date is given to the book. Obadiah nkjv the coming judgment on edom the bible. Obadiah, with only one chapter consisting of 21 verses, is the shortest of all old testament books and purports to be a record of the vision of obadiah. The smallest old testament account, the book of obadiah is a vision written by the lords prophet known as obadiah, who prophesied against israels relative nation edom. This book is not addressed to the jewish people but to the nation of edom who were the descendants of esau who was the oldest son of isaac and rebekah and the brother of jacob. The problem of the date of obadiah has not been solved to the satisfaction of biblical students. The scriptures have that beautiful faculty of appearing to be one thing on the surface, but on a deeper level, yielding rich and mighty treasures. The only thing known about this prophet is his name. This book is wholly concerning edom, a nation nearly allied and near adjoining to israel, and yet an enemy to the seed of jacob, inheriting the enmity of their father esau to jacob. Dating the book of obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant historical information contained in the book. Study obadiah 1 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. An exposition of the scriptures by dallas seminary faculty. Obadiah is to be interpreted as prediction rather than history.
Book of obadiah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Obadiah announces edoms downfall to babylon, which is an image of how god will bring down all arrogant and violent nations. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is the pronouncement of doom against an ancient and longforgotten nation, the land of edom. The edomites are accused of cruelty and supporting israels enemies. This summary of the book of obadiah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of obadiah.
The book of obadiah meaning servant of the lord, a minor prophet in the old testament, is a prophecy written to the southern kingdom of judah and alternates to the nation of edom. Obadiah 17 the first step in the future successes of the jews is the recovery of what was previously their own speakers commentary. An introduction to the book of obadiah related media. The book of obadiah was likely written between 848 and 840 b. Edom and its people edomites are the descendants of esau. The hebrew name obadiah means worshipper of yahweh or servant of yahweh.
This relationship began with the two sons of isaac and rebecca, jacob and esau. Obadiah nkjv the coming judgment on edom the bible gateway. The animosity between edom and the israelites, and edoms punishment because of that, is the literal theme of the book of obadiah. In greek the book is titled obdiou, a transliteration of the hebrew name and title. Human intervention, crucial though it is, is not the ultimate answer to this cry for justice.
Original 1611 kjv book of obadiah viewing the 1611 king james version of obadiah obadiah chapter 1, also known as. The chief difficulty with the prophecy of obadiah is where to fit it into the history. Book of obadiah overview insight for living ministries. In hebrew the book is titled hydbu meaning servant of yahweh. Interesting facts about obadiah biblical facts and. Lost somewhere in the dark corner of your bible is a brief, but largely unfamiliar book called obadiah.
And the house of jacob shall possess their possessions. Obadiah predicts the coming of the day of the lord and the establishment of. The date of obadiah can be determined only when vv. Interesting facts about obadiah biblical facts and comments. The first known use of obadiah was in the 14th century. People still chafe under injustices in this world, and yearn for a day when things will be as they should be. Historical background in general, the background for the book of obadiah is the relationship between israel and edom. Obadiah probably lived in the southern kingdom of judah. As brief as this book is, scholars raise many questions about it. Edoms pride and downfall is disclosed in the book of. An obadiah was an officer in king ahab of israels court and hid gods prophets in a cave 1 kings 18. Obadiah, with only one chapter consisting of 21 verses, is the shortest of all old testament books and purports to be a record of the vision of. Obadiah was sent to declare gods judgment on edomthe descendants of esau. They debate its author and date of composition, and they point to the striking similarity between passages in obadiah and jeremiah to question whether obadiah.
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