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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