What makes Obadiah special?

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament—so short that it has no chapter divisions. The name “Obadiah” was a common one in ancient Israel and means “worshiper of the Lord.” All that we know about Obadiah the person comes from this book, which was probably written some time after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Other prophetic books, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, have passages condemning the sins of many nations (see Isa 13, 15–21; Jer 46–51), but Obadiah singles out the sins of just one nation. That nation is Edom, which bordered the land of Judah on the south near the Dead Sea.

Why was Obadiah written?

Obadiah condemns Edom, the descendants of Esau (verse 9), because of the way they mistreated their own relatives (Israel), descendants of Esau’s brother Jacob (verses 10,12). More than that, Obadiah speaks out against Edom’s pride. Even though Edom was a small nation it felt confident that no enemy could destroy its fortress cities built high on rocky, mountainous land. But Obadiah made it clear that no nation which disobeyed God, including Edom, could be protected against God’s judgment. Obadiah’s prophecy also describes a future victory for the Lord’s people, who will capture and rule over many neighboring lands, including Edom (verse 21).

What’s the story behind the scene?

Obadiah is part of the story of a long-lasting bitterness between two families: the family of Jacob (the ancestor of the Israelites) and the family of Esau (the ancestor of the Edomites). Hundreds of years before Obadiah’s time, Jacob had cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance (Gen 25.27-34; 27.1-41; 36.1,9-14). Esau hated Jacob, but forgave him in later life (Gen 33.1-16). But trouble between the descendants of Jacob and Esau started again in the time of Moses (Num 20.14-21). It continued in the time of King David when Edom was conquered by Israel (2 Sam 8.13-14), and in the time of King Ahaz (736-716 B.C.), when the Edomites regained their independence from Judah. Israel’s troubles with Edom are also mentioned in the writings of other prophets (Isa 34.5-15; Jer 49.7-22; Ezek 25.12-14; Amos 1.11,12; Mal 1.2-4).

No historical date or name is given in Obadiah to provide a clue about when Obadiah lived. But the invasion of Jerusalem mentioned in verse 11 is most likely the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in 587 or 586 B.C. The Edomites did nothing to help Judah, but stood by and celebrated the enemy victory. More than that, the Edomites moved north into southern Judah and took land and property (verse 13), and they captured Judean refugees and handed them over to the Babylonians (verse 14). Obadiah declared that no natural defenses or treaties with friends could preserve Edom from God’s coming judgment. One day Edom would be destroyed (verses 9, 15, 18), and Israel would capture Edom’s land (verse 19). By the fourth century B.C., the land of Edom had been taken over by the Nabateans, an Arab people who lived in the northwestern Arabian Desert.

How is Obadiah constructed?

This short book can be divided into two main sections:

• God’s judgment on Edom and the nations (1-16)
• Israel’s expansion and victory (17-21)

God’s Judgment on Edom and the Nations

Obadiah announces God’s plan to judge Edom, and then lists Edom’s sins. Obadiah sees God’s judgment on both Edom and Judah (God’s own people), as a warning to every nation: Those who remain disobedient will face the judgment of God.

Israel’s Expansion and Victory

Edom’s judgment will come at the hands of Israel, which will not only conquer the land of Edom to the south, but other surrounding lands. Jerusalem will become the center of God’s new kingdom.

Questions about Obadiah

1. What did Edom do (or not do) to God’s people that was worthy of judgment? (10-14)

2. Why did Edom think that it was safe from any harm? (4,8) Why did Obadiah say that Edom was not safe at all?

3. The Babylonians defeated Judah, destroy-ed Jerusalem, and took many of Judah’s people away into exile. According to Obadiah, how would this situation be re-versed? What would happen to God’s people (Israel) and to their enemies, such as Edom? (17-21)

4. Summarize the key message of Obadiah in one or two sentences.