The prophet reveals nothing about himself except his name in the book that he composed in 607 b. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is only 21 verses long. Introduction the author the author of the book is named obadiah which means servant of yahweh. This book, which bears the title the vision of obadiah, consists of but twentyone verses, which are devoted to a prophecy against edom. The apostle paul quotes this verse and builds on this idea in romans 9. 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. The book of obadiah consists of one chapter, concerning edom, its impending doom 1. This summary of the book of obadiah will help with many different forms of bible study.
Some think that obadiah was a steward in the household of king ahab 1 kings 18. Obadiah is a little book, but it is an example of an atomic bomb in the bible. The book of obadiah introduction to the book of obadiah in the bible. However, he explained all this in a manner that his readers could understand. The short book of obadiah the shortest in the ot is an oracle against the nation of edom. Obadiah was the name of a variety of individuals in the ancient world. Thelords message about edom and what edom represents in the end times. 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. A free bible version and commentary on the book of obadiah in easyenglish.
Book of obadiah overview insight for living ministries. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins. As brief as this book is, scholars raise many questions about it. The purpose of obadiah is to show that god will judge all those who are against his children, his chosen people. The name obadiah means servant or worshipper of jehovah. Bartons theory of the composition of obadiah is thus summed up by bewer. There are obadiahs in the old testament, and one of these may the obadiah who wrote this book. The book is named after the prophet who received the vision 1. Edoms pride and downfall is disclosed in the book of obadiah. Obadiah niv obadiahs vision the vision of bible gateway. 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. In a book completed over two centuries earlier, the prophet jonah candidly relates what he personally experienced in connection with his missionary assignment. Obadiah is not only the shortest prophecy, but also the shortest book of the old testament.
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. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is the pronouncement of doom against an ancient and longforgotten nation, the land of edom. Watch our overview video on the book of obadiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Why did god judge edom so harshly in the book of obadiah. When were obadiahs prophecies against edom fulfilled obadiah 1. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins against both god and israel. This relationship began with the two sons of isaac and rebecca, jacob and esau gen. The vision of obadiah the name of this prophet signifies, a servant, or a worshipper, of the lord.
This name has its origins from esau, jacobs brother. The texts of these minor but important prophets receive a fresh and penetrating analysis in this introduction and commentary. 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. Shalawam israel this is a short summary about the fall of esauedom due to all their detestable practices. We do not know anything of the books author but his name obadiah servant or worshipper of jehovah. 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. The book of the prophet obadiah is the shortest book of the ot with 21 verses only. 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 free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Obadiah is a book of recompense and deliverance, ending with the kingdom will be the lords.
The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the hebrew bible. An obadiah was an officer in king ahab of israels court and hid gods prophets in a. The author was obadiah, whose name means the servant of the eternal. 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, book of, servant of yah, the shortest ot book, stands fourth among the minor prophets in the mt, but fifth in the lxx. Obadiah 1, new international version niv the bible app. Obadiah 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. An envoy was sent to the nations to say, rise, let us go against her for battle see, i will make you small among the nations. Some of the ancients imagined him to be the same with that obadiah that was steward to ahabs household 1 ki.
Obadiah means servant of the lord or one who serves shortest book in the old testament. Obadiah probably lived in the southern kingdom of judah. Obadiah nkjv the coming judgment on edom the bible. Its authorship is difficult to date but was possibly written about 853841 b. In favor are the many similarities between the book of obadiah and jeremiah 49. However it is quoted in several places by the prophet joel and jeremiah. The prophesy is entirely against edom, the descendants of esau, the brother to jacob who was the father of the. This fact makes it difficult to date the time of writing. Obadiah jehiel father of obadiah children instances of obadiah 1 kings 18.
Welcome to the study of the shortest book in the word. The book of obadiah is a book of prophetic oracles. In this book, we learn that god will completely defeat his enemies. This is what the sovereign lord says about edom we have heard a message from the lord. Some believe obadiah may have been a contemporary of elisha. This is a lot to take in, so if you want to start with baby steps. Point of note this is one of the 7 old testament books that are not quoted in the nt. Highlights from the books of obadiah, jonah, and micah. Remember that many of the minor prophets are of supreme importance in understanding scripture and prophecy in particular. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn. The book of obadiah is an oracle concerning the divine judgment of edom and the restoration of israel. 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. Their fortified cities included sela petra, teman and bozrah.
Theyre listed in the order they show up in the protestant bible. The authors name is obadiah, which means servant or worshiper of the lord. Obadiah predicts the coming of the day of the lord and the establishment of. 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 pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the. And the house of jacob shall possess their possessions. Obadiah 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. If this is true, then jerusalems destruction obadiah verse 11 is the same as in. Pusey said, god has willed that his name alone and this brief prophecy should be known to the world.
Obadiah means servant of the lord and occurs 20 times in the old testament, referring. 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. The book of obadiah is the only one chapter book in the old testament. The book begins by calling itself a vision which is an indication also shared by isaiah 1. The hebrew name obadiah means worshipper of yahweh or servant of yahweh. Ive written a onesentence overview of every book of the bible. Obadiahs name, meaning worshipper of yahweh, offers an interesting counterpoint to the message of judgment he pronounced on edom, judahs neighbor to. Obadiah 17 the first step in the future successes of the jews is the recovery of what was previously their own speakers commentary. The book of obadiah was likely written between 848 and 840 b. The book of obadiah is based on a prophetic vision concerning the fall of edom, a mountain dwelling nation v. Obadiah the lords message about edom and what edom represents in the end times the book has only this one chapter. Though the ultimate identity of this prophet is shrouded in mystery, obadiah s emphasis on jerusalem throughout this prophecy of judgment on the foreign nation of edom, allows us at least to presume that obadiah came from somewhere near the holy city in the southern kingdom of judah. Obadiah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book of obadiah is a prophecy of two brothers, two mountains, and two outcomes.
Nevertheless, i believe that the prophesy occurred sometime immediately after 586 b. 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. The book of obadiah is a favorite study of modern jews. The theme of this book is the abuse of gods people, gods land, and gods holy hill, the temple mount in jerusalem. 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. This is what the sovereign lord says about edomwe have heard a message from the lord. Obadiah 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Verses 37 in obadiah explain to the reader the reason for the punishment theme, confidence in ones power, intelligence, allies, or the. Book of obadiah bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. David guzik commentary on obadiah 1 describes the vision the prophet obadiah had. Firstly, obadiah means serving jehovah, and we can see from this book how this old covenant book fulfills the scripture, the older shall serve the younger. After i read the book of obadiah with the kids in my childrens church class and i explained the backstory, i asked them to tell me how we can apply obadiahs message to our own. If you want more, ive linked to quick, 3minute guides to every book of the bible, too. Obadiah chapter 1 verse by verse bible commentary matthew.
The author was obadiah, whose name means the servant of the. Obadiah verse 1 identifies the author of the book of obadiah as the prophet obadiah. The prophecy is largely concerned with the condemnation of edom descendants of esau for treachery toward their brother israel descendants of jacob and the resultant punishment. God gave these children to rebecca and told her before they were born that the elder shall serve the younger. This book, the shortest among the twelve minor prophets, is a single twentyoneverse oracle against edom. In it they read the future of their own people and of christendom. Yahweh will judge edom both historically through the nations and eschatologically through israel. May 05, 2020 book of obadiah bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. Some of the ancients imagined him to be the same with that obadiah that was steward to ahabs household. Obadiah announces edoms downfall to babylon, which is an image of how god will bring down all arrogant and violent nations. The book of obadiah is an oracle concerning the divine judgment of edom and the restoration.
Some have thought that this is the same obadiah that was ahabs steward in 2 chronicles 17. The book of obadiah closes with a promise that israel would have their nation restored, unlike edom which would be cut off forever. The book closes with the promise of deliverance for zion. We haveheard a rumour from the lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen,arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Also the requirements needed to cling to israel if. Dating the book of obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant historical information contained in the book. Like so many of the prophets, little is known of obadiah. Historical background in general, the background for the book of obadiah is the relationship between israel and edom. Summary of the book of obadiah the story of the bible. Study guide for obadiah by david guzik blue letter bible. An obadiah was an officer in king ahab of israels court and hid gods prophets in a cave 1 kings 18. God says to the messiah, sit here on the right side of me. Who this obadiah was does not appear from any other scripture. Like a number of prophetic books, it is both a book of judgment and a book of hope.
We do not know anything of the book s author but his name obadiah servant or worshipper of jehovah. All 66 books of the bible in easy, onesentence summaries. The book of obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament, the 4th book of the twelve minor prophets. The villain, the guilty party, will end up belittled, loathed, and devastated. More than ten persons of the ot bear the same name but none of them is identical with the prophet. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make.
It is not improbable that he had other visions, or revelations, from god, besides this which is here recorded, but this only has been preserved for the benefit of future ages. This book of obadiah is only one chapter long, with 21 verses in the king james version. Edoms pride and downfall is disclosed in the book of. Though the ultimate identity of this prophet is shrouded in mystery, obadiahs emphasis on jerusalem throughout this prophecy of judgment on the foreign nation.
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