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Obadiah is a biblical prophet who wrote the shortest book of the Old Testament, consisting of only 21 verses. The book of Obadiah is a prophecy of judgment against the nation of Edom, which was a longtime enemy of Israel. But who was Obadiah himself, and when did he live and write his book? Here are some facts and insights about this mysterious prophet.

The name Obadiah means “servant of Yahweh” or “worshipper of Yahweh”. This name was quite common in ancient Israel, and there are at least 12 other men named Obadiah mentioned in the Bible. However, none of them can be positively identified with the author of the book of Obadiah. The prophet Obadiah did not give any personal details about himself, such as his family, hometown, or occupation. He only introduced himself as “Obadiah the prophet” (Obadiah 1:1).

Some Jewish traditions suggest that Obadiah was an Edomite convert to Judaism, and a descendant of Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends. They also identify him with the Obadiah who was a faithful servant of King Ahab, and who hid 100 prophets from the wrath of Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 18:3-16). However, these traditions are not based on any biblical evidence, and are likely to be speculative or legendary.

The date of Obadiah’s prophecy is also uncertain, because he did not mention any specific kings or events that could help us pinpoint his time period. However, most scholars agree that he wrote sometime after the division of Israel into two kingdoms (Judah and Israel) in 930 BC, and before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Within this range, there are two main possibilities for dating his book:

  • The early date: Some scholars date Obadiah’s prophecy to the 840s BC, during the reign of Jehoram of Judah. This was a time when Judah was invaded by a coalition of Philistines, Arabians, and Edomites, who plundered Jerusalem and carried away many captives (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-20). Obadiah may have written his book shortly after this event, to denounce Edom’s treachery and violence against their brother nation Judah (Obadiah 1:10-14). This would make Obadiah the earliest writing prophet, before Joel and Amos.
  • The late date: Other scholars date Obadiah’s prophecy to the 580s or 570s BC, after the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This was a time when many Jews fled to Edom for refuge, but were betrayed and handed over to the Babylonians by the Edomites (Psalm 137:7; Lamentations 4:21-22; Ezekiel 25:12-14). Obadiah may have written his book during or after this event, to predict Edom’s downfall and Judah’s restoration (Obadiah 1:15-21). This would make Obadiah a contemporary of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Both dates have their strengths and weaknesses, and there is no conclusive evidence for either one. However, the late date seems to fit better with the overall tone and message of Obadiah’s book, which reflects a situation of exile and hope for restoration.

The main theme of Obadiah’s book is God’s judgment on Edom for their pride and hostility against Judah. Edom was a nation descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Therefore, Edom and Israel were related by blood, but they were also rivals throughout their history. Edom often oppressed and attacked Israel, especially when Israel was weak or vulnerable. Obadiah condemned Edom for their arrogance, cruelty, and betrayal, and announced that God would punish them severely for their sins. He also declared that God would restore Judah from their exile, and give them victory over their enemies. He envisioned a day when God’s kingdom would be established on Mount Zion, and all nations would worship Him.

The purpose of Obadiah’s prophecy was to comfort and encourage the people of Judah who had suffered at the hands of Edom and other nations. He wanted them to know that God had not forgotten them, but was still in control of history. He also wanted them to learn from Edom’s example, and avoid the same mistakes of pride and violence. He urged them to trust in God’s justice and mercy, and to hope for His salvation.