AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF OBADIAH

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. Though there are thirteen different men with this name mentioned in the Old Testament, none of them can be identified with this prophet with certainty. Obadiah means "servant of Yahweh" (HSN5662).

No definite conclusions can be drawn as to the date, though prophecies regarding the destruction of Edom and references to the captivity of Jerusalem within the book have caused many scholars to date it after 586 B.C. Obadiah's prophecy predicts the fall and utter destruction of Edom (compare Isa.34v5-15; Jer.19v7-22; Eze.25v12-14; Am.1v11-12). It seems to have been written for the encouragement of the Israelites, rather than to bring Edom to repentance. Edom, the sons of Esau, was the perennial enemy of Judah. Edom openly rejoiced at the plight of Judah (Ps.137v7) and filtered into the vacuum created by Babylon's victory. Though they were proud of their mountain strongholds, which seemed to be invincible, they would not be able to stand against the day of the Lord. When Malachi (Mal.1v2-5) was written, Edom had already been severely defeated. Nabatean Arabs vanquished Edom and occupied their territory, which was later called Idumea.

The Herods of New Testament times were from the Edomite remnant in Idumea. After the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Edomites finally passed from the pages of history.

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