Obadiah means servant of the lord and occurs 20 times in the old testament, referring to many other old testament individuals. Obadiah is not only the shortest prophecy, but also the shortest book of the old testament. Book of obadiah encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The book of obadiah is the only one chapter book in the old testament. Obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament, only 21 verses long. The edomites are descendants of esau and the israelites are descendants of. The author was obadiah, whose name means the servant of the eternal. This series is from the book of obadiah and is a message to the nations. Consequent upon the overthrow of edom is the enlargement of the borders of judah and the establishment of the kingship of yahweh.
The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. This is being aired by permission of the holder litchfield associates, all rights. This was created to assess how well you know the book. This book, the shortest among the twelve minor prophets, is a single twentyoneverse oracle against edom. The book of obadiah contains a short message about the country called edom. The commentary is designed for the new student and veteran alike and as a companion to your bible. In hebrew the book is titled hydbu meaning servant of yahweh.
The shortest book in the old testament and among all the writing prophets, obadiah provides an overview of the message presented in each of the writing prophets. It is a warning to all people everywhere that gods eye is on his people. The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the hebrew bible. The defendants are edom which the charge being for its arrogance for what it has done to israel. This was one of the most common names in the hebrew bible. A verse by verse break down of this socalled minor prophet is combined with hebrew and most available english translations. We do not know anything of the book s author but his name obadiah servant or worshipper of jehovah.
If you behead little children in syria because they love jesus gods eyes is on you. Obadiah, book of international standard bible encyclopedia. Obadiah probably lived in the southern kingdom of judah. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. It is primarily speaking of the condemnation and destruction of edom from god. The book of obadiah is a book of prophetic oracles. This book, the shortest among the twelve minor prophets, is a single. 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. Nothing is known of the author, although his prophecy against edom, a neighbor and rival of israel, indicates a date of composition sometime after the babylonian destruction of jerusalem in 587 b. There are obadiahs in the old testament, and one of these may the obadiah who wrote this book. 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 1, new international version niv the bible app. Viewing the 1611 king james version of obadiah obadiah chapter 1, also known as. Study guide for obadiah by david guzik blue letter bible. Watch our overview video on the book of obadiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Point of note this is one of the 7 old testament books that are not quoted in the nt.
Obadiah 17 the first step in the future successes of the jews is the recovery of what was previously their own speakers commentary. 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. What sets obadiah apart from the rest of the bible. The people from edom were relatives of the people from israel. An envoy was sent to the nations to say, rise, let us go against her for battle. Therefore, while twelve other men named obadiah appear in scripture, old testament scholars cannot identify with certainty any of them as the author of this. While others of the prophetic books contain passages of judgment against edom and other nations. Read the background reading below about the events.
The metaphor drinking the cup of gods wrath occurs often in the bible. 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. Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, benhail, obadiah, zechariah, nethanel and micaiah, to teach in the cities of judah. The arrangements of the jewish and christian canons differ. The book of the prophet obadiah is the shortest book of the ot with 21 verses only. The book of obadiah was likely written between 848 and 840 b. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of obadiah. 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.
Exegesis of the book of obadiah christian truth is. 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. Edoms pride and downfall is disclosed in the book of obadiah. Yet, all the prophecies of obadiah have been fulfilled with the exception of vs 21 that is yet to be completely fulfilled. God states that edom is being punished for its arrogance and refusal to cooperate with the house of jacob. Obadiah niv obadiahs vision the vision of bible gateway.
Edom was enemies of israel, even though they were related by blood. Obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament and is not quoted in the new testament. The bible book of obadiah is the shortest in the hebrew scriptures old testament, but the prophecy therein offers hope by means of gods promised kingship. The most popular bible verses from obadiah found 21 verses obadiah 1. As the shortest book in the old testament 21 verses in a single chapter, its purpose is to condemn them in supporting the gentiles against judah. Edoms pride and downfall is disclosed in the book of. Lost somewhere in the dark corner of your bible is a brief, but largely unfamiliar book called obadiah. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is only 21 verses long. The book is named after the prophet who received the vision 1. Obadiah means servant of the lord or one who serves shortest book in the old testament. The translated bible text has been through advanced checking. 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. Book of obadiah overview insight for living ministries. You may, like me, have trouble separating the pages between amos and jonah just to get to it.
Obadiah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. More than ten persons of the ot bear the same name but none of them is identical with the prophet. Obadiah is only one chapter the shortest book in the old testament yet it tells of gods prophet obadiah as he announces gods powerful and authoritative judgment on the nation of edom. The continuing dispute between jacobisrael and esau. This is the vision that the sovereign lord revealed to obadiah concerning the land of edom. The oracle structure for the book of obadiah is set up as a lawsuit. May 07, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of obadiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. It is very difficult to know when obadiah was written because there is nothing in the heading or introduction of the book to pinpoint the date. Thus says the lord god concerning edom we have heard a report from the lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, arise and let. This is what the sovereign lord says about edom we have heard a message from the lord. The majority of the book pronounces judgment on the foreign nation of edom, making obadiah one of only three prophets who pronounced judgment primarily on other nations nahum and habakkuk are the others.
God is the plaintiff, prosecutor, jury, judge, etc. The hebrew bible includes only the books known to christians as the old testament. Its also the least read book of all the books in the bible. Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. This fact makes it difficult to date the time of writing. 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. Charles savelle center point bible institute 1 the book of obadiah message. Two books of the bible have women as lead characters and the story of esther is. 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 short book of obadiah the shortest in the ot is an oracle against the nation of edom.
But the inhabitants of edom refused to help when the people from israel suffered. Obadiah announces edoms downfall to babylon, which is an image of how god will bring down all arrogant and violent nations. This obadiah is in the time of king ahab and elijah is not the same obadiah the prophet that wrote the book named after him. Obadiah announces edoms downfall to babylon, which is an image of how. The christian bible consists of the old testament and the new testament, with the. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins against both god and israel. The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock. Obadiahs prophecy dates to soon after one of the captures of jerusalem, probably the conquest by the babylonians in approximately 586 b. The book concerns obadiah s vision in which he is shown the destruction of edom which was the region south of the kingdom of judah. Its authorship is difficult to date but was possibly written about 853841 b. 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.
In its introduction to the book of obadiah, the oxford annotated bible suggests another explanation for the similarities. And the house of jacob shall possess their possessions. This is what the sovereign lord says about edomwe have heard a message from the lord. Gods judgment on the unbelieving gentiles who opposed gods chosen people israel, and gods grace and ultimate deliverance of the believing israel. Obadiah is writing to show that god is going to judge edom for what she has done. As brief as this book is, scholars raise many questions about it. Obadiah, chapter 1 united states conference of catholic bishops. As we begin our 3rd sermon in this series, i want to remind you that obadiah wrote this shortest book of the old testament probably soon after the armies of babylon destroyed. The holy bible book 31 obadiah kjv dramatized audio.
Like a number of prophetic books, it is both a book of judgment and a book of hope. Bible, the sacred scriptures of judaism and christianity. The form of obadiahs name used in the septuagint is. Obadiah has the dubious distinction of being the shortest book in the old testament. The herods of the new testament are of edomite heritage. The chief difficulty with the prophecy of obadiah is. Obadiah nasb edom will be humbled the vision of bible. The bible does not reveal anything regarding the prophet obadiah. The hatred was so awful, god sent the prophet obadiah to preach judgment on edom. Obadiah is a biblical theophorical name, meaning servant or slave of god or worshiper of yahweh. However it is quoted in several places by the prophet joel and jeremiah. The authors name is obadiah, which means servant or worshiper of the lord. Book of obadiah, the destruction of edom, judahs misfortune.
Dating the book of obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant historical information contained in the book. Gods judgment on the unbelieving gentiles who opposed god. The book of obadiah begins with a promise to bring edom down from their mountain sier, and ends with the deliverers of israel ascending mount zion to judge edom. Quick outline of obadiah the book of obadiah begins with a promise to bring edom down from their mountain sier, and ends with the deliverers of israel ascending mount zion to judge edom. Obadiah 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. Oct 23, 2012 this is the holy book of obadiah, known simply as obadiah. An obadiah was an officer in king ahab of israels court and. I have received a message from yahweh, a herald has been sent throughout the nations. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful recording of the king james. Obadiah is the shortest book of the old testament, and the fourthshortest book of the bible after third john, second john, and philemon. On the other hand, if you care for the old widow or the single mom in your church or in some church in a part of the world you. It is comprised of a single oracle, spoken by a prophet of that name. In judaism and christianity, its authorship is attributed to a prophet who lived in.
Published on may 7, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of obadiah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Obadiah, book of obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament. Even though it could cost obadiah his life he followed elijahs instructions. Purpose the purpose of the book is to announce the destruction of edom because of her pride and sin against judah. The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. Therefore, we must look in the text of the book for historical clues that point to the date.
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