This is the shortest book in the Old Testament. The name means "servant of Jehovah." Obadiah stands fourth among the minor prophets according to the Hebrew arrangement of the canon, the fifth according to the Greek. Some consider him to be the same as the Obadiah who superintended the restoration of the temple under Josiah, 627 B.C. (2Ch 34:12). But Ob 2:11-16,20 imply that Jerusalem was by this time overthrown by the Chaldeans, and that he refers to the cruelty of Edom towards the Jews on that occasion, which is referred to also in La 4:21,22 Eze 25:12-14 35:1-15 Ps 137:7. From comparing Ob 2:5 with Jer 49:9, Ob 2:6 with Jer 49:10, Ob 2:8 with Jer 49:7, it appears that Jeremiah embodied in his prophecies part of Obadiah's, as he had done in the case of other prophets also (compare Isa 15:1-16:14 with Jer 48:1-47). The reason for the present position of Obadiah before other of the minor prophets anterior in date is: Amos at the close of his prophecies foretells the subjugation of Edom hereafter by the Jews; the arranger of the minor prophets in one volume, therefore, placed Obadiah next, as being a fuller statement, and, as it were, a commentary on the foregoing briefer prophecy of Amos as to Edom [MAURER]. (Compare Am 1:11). The date of Obadiah's prophecies was probably immediately after the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, 588 B.C. Five years afterwards (583 B.C). Edom was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah must have incorporated part of Obadiah's prophecies with his own immediately after they were uttered, thus stamping his canonicity.

JEROME makes him contemporary with Hosea, Joel, and Amos. It is an argument in favor of this view that Jeremiah would be more likely to insert in his prophecies a portion from a preceding prophet than from a contemporary. If so, the allusion in Ob 2:11-14 will be to one of the former captures of Jerusalem: by the Egyptians under Rehoboam (1Ki 14:25,26 2Ch 12:2, &c.), or that by the Philistines and Arabians in the reign of Joram (2Ch 21:16,17); or that by Joash, king of Israel, in the reign of Amaziah (2Ch 25:22,23); or that in the reign of Jehoiakim (2Ki 24:1, &c.); or that in the reign of Jehoiachin (2Ki 24:8-16). On all occasions the Idumeans were hostile to the Jews; and the terms in which that enmity is characterized are not stronger in Obadiah than in Joe 3:19 (compare Ob 1:10 Am 1:11,12). The probable capture of Jerusalem alluded to by Obadiah is that by Joash and the Israelites in the reign of Amaziah. For as, a little before, in the reign of the same Amaziah, the Jews had treated harshly the Edomites after conquering them in battle (2Ch 25:11-23), it is probable that the Edomites, in revenge, joined the Israelites in the attack on Jerusalem [JAEGER].

This book may be divided into two parts: (1) Ob 1:1-6 set forth Edom's violence toward his brother Israel in the day of the latter's distress, and his coming destruction with the rest of the foes of Judah; (2) Ob 1:17-21, the coming re-establishment of the Jews in their own possessions, to which shall be added those of the neighboring peoples, and especially those of Edom.

The Written Prophecy of Obadiah

By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs

I.  Introduction.
    A.  The man.
        1.  We know nothing about Obadiah.
        2.  His name means "Worshipper of Jehovah."
        3.  Persons of the same name are mentioned in scripture.  
            a.  1 Kings 18:3; 1 Chron. 3:21; 7:3; 8:38; 9:16,44; 12:9; 
                27:19; 34:12; 2 Chron. 17:7; 34:12; Ezra 8:9; Neh. 10:5. 
            b.  None of these, however, is the Obadiah who wrote the 
                book of prophecy that bears his name.
        4.  The prophecy shows that Obadiah was of the kingdom of 
            Judah.
    B.  The background.  
        1.  Obadiah is a prophecy of the coming destruction of Edom.
        2.  Edom was founded by Esau (a variation of "Edom", which 
            means "Red" and is derived from "Adam"). Esau was the son 
            of Isaac and a brother to Jacob/Israel.
        3.  There was a long history of antagonism between the 
            Israelites and the Edomites.
            a.  Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their land on 
                their way to Canaan.
            b.  The refusal led to wars with Saul (1 Sam. 14:27) and with 
                David, who killed all their males (2 Sam. 8:13-14; 1 Kings 
                11:15).
            c.  Hadad of Edom (Idumea) was an enemy of Solomon 
                (1 Kings 11:14-22).
            d.  Edom joined with Moab and Ammon to invade Judah 
                during the time of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:22).
            e.  In cooperation with the Philistines Edom invaded Judah 
                during the reign of Jehoram. They robbed the king's palace 
                and killed his sons (2 Chron. 21:8,17).
            f.  Amaziah of Judah led an army against Petra, the principal 
                city of Edom, and killed 20,000 Edomites (2 Chron. 
                20:22).
            g.  Herod the Great was an Idumean and at the birth of Jesus 
                ruled Judah by Roman authority.
        4.  The hatred of these two nations (Judah and Edom) for each 
            other was great.
        5.  Obadiah foretells the utter destruction of Edom, apparently 
            because they joined the Babylonians in their invasion of 
            Jerusalem.
II.  The Book.
     A.  Reasons for the destruction of Edom (1:1-16).
         1.  Announcement of Edom's destruction (1:1-2).
             a.  The word "vision" can denote "divine communication."
             b.  Heathen nations will rise against Edom.
             c.  Edom is despised and made small (will be made small).
         2.  Edom strategic location (1:3).
             a.  Petra of Edom was located in a valley surrounded by 
                 mountains.
             b.  Access was through narrow gorges and restricted passes 
                 which were easy to defend.
             c.  Edom considered herself to be secure.
             d.  She was high up on the mountain like an eagle's nest.
         3.  Her rocky fortress will fall (1:4).
         4.  If invaded by robbers or grapegatherers, something would be 
             left, but Edom is to be scraped clean and even her hidden 
             treasures taken (1:5-6).
         5.  Her allies will not save her, but will betray her  (1:7).
         6.  Her wisdom will not prevent his destruction (1:8-9).
         7.  The cause of Edom's destruction (1:10-14).
         8.  The prophecy of Edom's destruction repeated (1:15-16).
     B.  The restoration of Israel (1:17-21).
         1.  Jacob shall return and possess the possessions of Edom 
             (1:17-20).
         2.  A summation of the prophecy -- mount Zion to judge the 
             mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's (1:21). 
             Truth will prevail.

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.

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).

The date of Obadiah's prophecies was probably immediately after the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, 588 B.C. Five years afterwards (583 B.C). Edom was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah must have incorporated part of Obadiah's prophecies with his own immediately after they were uttered, thus stamping his canonicity.