Discovering Obadiah
Background Information
Obadiah is the shortest, smallest book in the Old Testament, containing only twenty-one verses. About the messenger, named Obadiah, we know almost nothing. His name means “servant (or worshiper) or Yahweh.” Though at least twelve other men in the Old Testament (OT) have this name, we are unable to identify the writer of this book as any of them. He doesn’t even provide his father or parent’s names.
The most concrete and intriguing element of this book, though, is not the author but the primary antagonist. Though this message was likely given to the people of Israel as the primary audience, it focuses not on them but on the neighboring nation of Edom. The nation of Edom had a complex and colorful relationship with the nation of Israel.
To begin with, Genesis identifies Edom as the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s (Israel’s) older twin brother (Gen 25:25-26; 36:1, 9, 19, 40-43). According to their birth story, Jacob grabbed ahold of Esau’s heel either during his delivery or very soon after, foreshadowing a tense relationship between the two brothers, something which played out not only in their lives but even more so through their descendants.
When Israel traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Edomites refused permission to allow Israel safe passage on their roads into the Land (Num 20:14-21). Saul would eventually fight against Edom (1 Sam 14:47), then David would conquer them (2 Sam 8:13-14). A young Edomite royal, Hadad, then fled to Egypt, only to return after David’s death to harass Solomon during his reign (1 Kgs 11:25).
During Jehoram’s reign (848-841 BC), Edom rebelled against Israel, increasing their hostility towards them. Later on, during the reign of Zedekiah (594 BC), Edom allied themselves with Israel briefly to resist Babylonian invasion (Jer 27:2-7). It seems, however, that they reneged on this alliance, though, and took an antagonistic, opportunistic stance at the point of invasion (Jer 49:7-22; Psa 137:7; Lam 4:18-22; Ezk 25:12-14; 35:1-15).
The date of Obadiah’s message remains unclear since internal clues and evidence are sparse and vague. Though a range of possible dates have been proposed, the two most likely seem to be either an early date of 848-841 BC. If this is the case, then this is a divine response to Edom’s rebellion against Israel during Jehoram’s reign, making this the older prophetic book in the OT. When Edom rebelled against Jehoram, the Arabians and Philistines invaded Judah, too (2 Kgs 8:20-22; 2 Chron 21:16-17). Though Scripture doesn’t clearly say that Edom participated in this invasion, Obad 1:10-14 portrays them as bullying and plundering the Israelites as they fled from their invaders.
The other serious possible date of Obadiah seems to be sometime soon after the Babylonian invasion, so 587-584 BC. Some suggest this option because while most OT prophets associate their book with the reign one or more kings of Israel and/or Judah, Obadiah makes no mention of such a king, indicated the possibility that no true descendant of David was reigning at the time of this message. If this is a good observation, then that fits best with this period after Babylon’s invasion of Judah. And if this is the case, then Obadiah portrays Edom as bullying and plundering the Israelites as they were being led into captivity in Babylon.
Purpose for the Book
Obadiah presented this message for a twofold purpose. The most obvious purpose was to pronounce God’s judgment on the nation of Edom as a consequence of its shameful treatment of Israel. This reason serves a second purpose as well, one of comforting and encouraging Israel that the enemy (and “brother” nation) who had humiliated and mistreated her would be punished justly by God. Dr. Timothy Berrey states the central, theological message of this book as “Poetic Justice for Edom: God Judges His Enemies according to Their Sins.”
Beyond these two immediate purposes, this book serves another “bigger picture” purpose as well, indicated by the shift in focus at the halfway point (Obad 1:15):
The day of the Yahweh upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
This reference to the “Day of the Lord” is a clear reference to that great, prophetic “Day of the Lord,” which the prophet Joel emphasizes most extensively but which other OT prophets also acknowledge. It is a future, eschatological (end times) period in which God will once-for-all purify the hearts of his chosen people, Israel and punish all other nations who mistreated her. This will be what Scripture describes elsewhere as that period extending from the seven-year Tribulation through a 1,000-year Millennium, culminating in the final climactic judgment of mankind.
By shifting to this focus here, Obadiah utilizes God’s judgment on the small but hateful and ungodly nation of Edom as an appetizer, foretaste, or sample or what he will do to all the nations of the world in that future, terrible Day of the Lord.
Outline and Content
In format and style, with the exception of the brief title, the entire book is written as poetry. The arrangement of Obadiah’s message is relatively straightforward, as follows:
In the first section, we find two emphases in view: (a) the unavoidableness of Edom’s coming doom (vv. 2-4) and (b) the totality of Edom’s coming doom. This section also underscores the root cause of Edom’s disappointing behavior, namely arrogance and pride.
To make his point, Obadiah alludes to the actual topography of Edom, which consisted of multiple mount peaks rising high above sea level, featuring abundant crevasses and caverns in which their defending armies could hide. Several of Edom’s cities were situated in such nearly inaccessible sites, giving Edom – though small in number – an oversized feeling of impenetrability and safety. Obadiah uses these realities as a backdrop to point out Edom’s real problem, which was not an elevated, lofty location but an elevated, lofty heart.
In the second section, Obadiah emphasizes the ultimate cause for Edom’s coming judgment, which was malice against Israel. This malice, though terrible in its own right, seemed all the more grotesque and embarrassing since it had been directed against Edom’s own “brother” nation, towards whom the nation should have sensed some degree of familiar closeness and obligation.
In the third section, Obadiah turns attention from the more immediate judgment on Edom to the future, eschatological judgment of God poured out on all rebellious nations. In this judgment we see two key aspects: (a) judgment and recompense on Israel’s enemies and (b) restoration and triumph for Israel.
Personal Takeaways
Though brief and mostly focused on distant past or still yet future events, this book provides some serious present-day relevance for readers today, impressing upon our hearts several key lessons:
Obadiah is the shortest, smallest book in the Old Testament, containing only twenty-one verses. About the messenger, named Obadiah, we know almost nothing. His name means “servant (or worshiper) or Yahweh.” Though at least twelve other men in the Old Testament (OT) have this name, we are unable to identify the writer of this book as any of them. He doesn’t even provide his father or parent’s names.
The most concrete and intriguing element of this book, though, is not the author but the primary antagonist. Though this message was likely given to the people of Israel as the primary audience, it focuses not on them but on the neighboring nation of Edom. The nation of Edom had a complex and colorful relationship with the nation of Israel.
To begin with, Genesis identifies Edom as the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s (Israel’s) older twin brother (Gen 25:25-26; 36:1, 9, 19, 40-43). According to their birth story, Jacob grabbed ahold of Esau’s heel either during his delivery or very soon after, foreshadowing a tense relationship between the two brothers, something which played out not only in their lives but even more so through their descendants.
When Israel traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Edomites refused permission to allow Israel safe passage on their roads into the Land (Num 20:14-21). Saul would eventually fight against Edom (1 Sam 14:47), then David would conquer them (2 Sam 8:13-14). A young Edomite royal, Hadad, then fled to Egypt, only to return after David’s death to harass Solomon during his reign (1 Kgs 11:25).
During Jehoram’s reign (848-841 BC), Edom rebelled against Israel, increasing their hostility towards them. Later on, during the reign of Zedekiah (594 BC), Edom allied themselves with Israel briefly to resist Babylonian invasion (Jer 27:2-7). It seems, however, that they reneged on this alliance, though, and took an antagonistic, opportunistic stance at the point of invasion (Jer 49:7-22; Psa 137:7; Lam 4:18-22; Ezk 25:12-14; 35:1-15).
The date of Obadiah’s message remains unclear since internal clues and evidence are sparse and vague. Though a range of possible dates have been proposed, the two most likely seem to be either an early date of 848-841 BC. If this is the case, then this is a divine response to Edom’s rebellion against Israel during Jehoram’s reign, making this the older prophetic book in the OT. When Edom rebelled against Jehoram, the Arabians and Philistines invaded Judah, too (2 Kgs 8:20-22; 2 Chron 21:16-17). Though Scripture doesn’t clearly say that Edom participated in this invasion, Obad 1:10-14 portrays them as bullying and plundering the Israelites as they fled from their invaders.
The other serious possible date of Obadiah seems to be sometime soon after the Babylonian invasion, so 587-584 BC. Some suggest this option because while most OT prophets associate their book with the reign one or more kings of Israel and/or Judah, Obadiah makes no mention of such a king, indicated the possibility that no true descendant of David was reigning at the time of this message. If this is a good observation, then that fits best with this period after Babylon’s invasion of Judah. And if this is the case, then Obadiah portrays Edom as bullying and plundering the Israelites as they were being led into captivity in Babylon.
Purpose for the Book
Obadiah presented this message for a twofold purpose. The most obvious purpose was to pronounce God’s judgment on the nation of Edom as a consequence of its shameful treatment of Israel. This reason serves a second purpose as well, one of comforting and encouraging Israel that the enemy (and “brother” nation) who had humiliated and mistreated her would be punished justly by God. Dr. Timothy Berrey states the central, theological message of this book as “Poetic Justice for Edom: God Judges His Enemies according to Their Sins.”
Beyond these two immediate purposes, this book serves another “bigger picture” purpose as well, indicated by the shift in focus at the halfway point (Obad 1:15):
The day of the Yahweh upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
This reference to the “Day of the Lord” is a clear reference to that great, prophetic “Day of the Lord,” which the prophet Joel emphasizes most extensively but which other OT prophets also acknowledge. It is a future, eschatological (end times) period in which God will once-for-all purify the hearts of his chosen people, Israel and punish all other nations who mistreated her. This will be what Scripture describes elsewhere as that period extending from the seven-year Tribulation through a 1,000-year Millennium, culminating in the final climactic judgment of mankind.
By shifting to this focus here, Obadiah utilizes God’s judgment on the small but hateful and ungodly nation of Edom as an appetizer, foretaste, or sample or what he will do to all the nations of the world in that future, terrible Day of the Lord.
Outline and Content
In format and style, with the exception of the brief title, the entire book is written as poetry. The arrangement of Obadiah’s message is relatively straightforward, as follows:
- The Coming Destruction of Edom (vv. 1-9)
- The Cause for God’s Judgment of Edom (vv. 10-14)
- The Coming Judgment of the Nations in the Day of the Lord (vv. 15-22)
In the first section, we find two emphases in view: (a) the unavoidableness of Edom’s coming doom (vv. 2-4) and (b) the totality of Edom’s coming doom. This section also underscores the root cause of Edom’s disappointing behavior, namely arrogance and pride.
To make his point, Obadiah alludes to the actual topography of Edom, which consisted of multiple mount peaks rising high above sea level, featuring abundant crevasses and caverns in which their defending armies could hide. Several of Edom’s cities were situated in such nearly inaccessible sites, giving Edom – though small in number – an oversized feeling of impenetrability and safety. Obadiah uses these realities as a backdrop to point out Edom’s real problem, which was not an elevated, lofty location but an elevated, lofty heart.
In the second section, Obadiah emphasizes the ultimate cause for Edom’s coming judgment, which was malice against Israel. This malice, though terrible in its own right, seemed all the more grotesque and embarrassing since it had been directed against Edom’s own “brother” nation, towards whom the nation should have sensed some degree of familiar closeness and obligation.
In the third section, Obadiah turns attention from the more immediate judgment on Edom to the future, eschatological judgment of God poured out on all rebellious nations. In this judgment we see two key aspects: (a) judgment and recompense on Israel’s enemies and (b) restoration and triumph for Israel.
Personal Takeaways
Though brief and mostly focused on distant past or still yet future events, this book provides some serious present-day relevance for readers today, impressing upon our hearts several key lessons:
- Repent from sin before it’s too late – especially the sin of arrogant, self-confident pride.
- Don’t kick your brother (or sister) when they’re down!
- Regardless of the nation of Israel’s behavior or spirituality at the moment, it is never a good idea to fight against Israel, God’s chosen people.
- God will judge and punish all nations just as he judged Edom.
- If you are a follower of Yahweh by faith, then no matter how you are treated in this life, rest assured that all God’s will be justly and thoroughly judged in the end.
Posted in Bible Talks
Tagged with Obadiah, Old Testament, Minor Prophets, Prophecy, Judgment, Israel, Edom, Pride, Babylon
Tagged with Obadiah, Old Testament, Minor Prophets, Prophecy, Judgment, Israel, Edom, Pride, Babylon
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