The Minor Prophets

A Study of Obadiah

The Author of Obadiah

● Who was Obadiah?● Who were Obadiah's parents?● Where was Obadiah born?● When and where did he die?● Twelve other “Obadiah's” mentioned

– Many are mentioned in genealogy lists– Nothing links these “Obadiah's” to this book

The Author of Obadiah

● We simply do not know who wrote Obadiah, except that his name was Obadiah!

● I would like to BRIEFLY mention a few possibilities

The Author of Obadiah

● The officer in Ahab's house who hid and fed 100 prophets of Jehovah when Jezebel massacred the prophets of Jehovah (1 Kings 18:3-16)– This event occurred about 25-30 years before the

book of Obadiah was written, if it were written around 845 BC (more on the time of Obadiah later)

● One of the teachers sent out by Jehoshaphat was named Obadiah (2 Chronicles 17:7-9)– Jehoshaphat's reign ended 3-5 years before Obadiah

was written, if 845 BC is the date

The Author of Obadiah

● Obadiah was the name of an overseer of the work of repairing the temple in Josiah's day (2 Chron. 34:12)– The repair began in the 18th year of Josiah, about 622-

623 BC, about 36-37 years before Obadiah was written, if it were written in 586 BC

The Date of Obadiah

● There seem to be two possibilities for the time of Obadiah, about 845 BC and about 586 BC

● Verses 10-14 mention an invasion of Jerusalem that Edom was involved with– This could have been the invasion during the reign of

Jehoram (2 Chron. 21:8-17)– This could have been the invasion of Jerusalem by

Nebuchadnezzar just before the Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 24:1-2)

Date of Obadiah – the Late Date

● Compare Jeremiah 49:7-13● Compare Ezekiel 35:1-10● Compare Psalm 137:7● These texts are referring to the invasion of

Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar● The “we” in Obadiah 1 refers to other prophets,

these other prophets

Date of Obadiah – The Early Date

● Verse 11 “cast lots”; Babylon cast no lots for Jerusalem, they laid claim!

● The passages mentioned previously specify Babylon, Obadiah does not

● If Obadiah was later, then his entire work is basically copied from Jeremiah (Jer. 49:7-22)

The Early Date, About 845 BC

● Keil, Hailey, and Bob accept the early date, and it seems reasonable

● This makes Obadiah the earliest written prophet● This places him in Judah during the reign of

Jehoram● He writes about the event mentioned in 2 Chron.

21:16-17

Jacob and Esau

● Paul gives us a brief synopsis of the enmity between Israel and Edom in Rom. 9:6-13

● They struggled in Rebekah's womb and at birth (Gen. 25:22-26)

● Jacob took Esau's birthright (Gen. 25:27-34)● Jacob stole the blessing from Isaac (Gen. 27)● They had an anti-climactic meeting after this

(Gen. 32-33)

Jacob and Esau

● Edom refused to allow Israel to pass during the wandering (Num. 20:14-21), which caused Israel trouble

● However, Israel was instructed not to meddle with Edom (Deut. 2:1-7)

● David put Edom in subjection (2 Sam. 8:13-14)● Edom revolted, prompting Obadiah's prophecy (2

Chron. 21:16-17; 2 Kings 8:20-21)● Edomites became known as Idumeans; Herod

was an Idumean

Jacob and Esau

● Throughout the Prophets, Edom is used as a symbol for unregenerate men; those in open rebellion against and disobedience to God

● “Esau was a profane man” (Heb. 12:16)

Edom's Judgment is Decreed: Obadiah 1-4

● Who is bringing judgment on Edom?● Edom is smitten with absolute arrogance!● They trusted in their rough terrain● The Lord says, “No matter how high you are, I

will bring you down.”

Edom Will Be Completely Destroyed: Obadiah 5-9

● It will be worse than thieves; nothing will be left in Edom!

● Oh how Esau will be searched out!● Even their friends and confederates will turn

against them, even secretly● The wise men in Edom will be destroyed● “Teman” is a prominent tribe in Edom (Gen.

36:11); used to refer to Edom itself sometimes

The Reason for Edom's Destruction: Obadiah 10-14

● Edom committed violence against Israel, specifically when he took part in an attack on Jerusalem

● Though Edom did not instigate, his participation was complete enough to warrant judgment

● Edom plundered Jerusalem during the attack● Edom killed those who tried to escape Jerusalem● Edom sought out and gave to the enemy those

who did not attempt to escape

The Day of Jehovah Is Near:Obadiah 15-16

● This may be the first use of the term “Day of Jehovah”, though this term is used throughout the prophets to refer to God's judgment

● In the Day of Jehovah, Edom will be completely destroyed

● The other nations will drink and swallow up Edom

● Edom will be as though they had never been

Zion Will Be Exalted Over Edom:Obadiah 17-21

● This portion seems to be Messianic, “On Mount Zion there shall be deliverance... and holiness”

● “Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion... and the kingdom shall be Jehovah's”

● The Edomites were forced out of their land into Southern Judah, and were in subjection under the Macabees. Their identity was lost completely during the Roman empire.

● The only way for Edom to escape is to accept the Messiah, to go to Zion for deliverance

Zion Will Be Exalted Over Edom:Obadiah 17-21

● Notice Acts 15:15-18 compared with Amos 9:11-12; This is how Israel will possess Edom

● The Sepharad in verse 20 is an uncertain location● However, the point is that all of the remnant of

Israel would be remembered, they will hear the gospel as it is preached throughout the world