Obadiah

Obadiah, book of the Bible

Obadiah, short prophetic book of the Bible. The prophet is otherwise unknown. The oracle which comprises this book dates from after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The prophecy calls down doom on Edom, who had gloated over the misfortune of Israel, and announces that the exiles of Israel and Judah will be re-gathered and will dominate Palestine, including Edom. Verses 1–9 are closely paralleled in the Book of Jeremiah, and verse 17 is apparently quoted in the Book of Joel.

Bibliography

See H. W. Wolff, Obadiah and Jonah (1986); J. Limburg, Hosea–Micah (1988).

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Obadiah, persons in the Bible

Obadiah (ō'bədī`ə), in the Bible.

1 Prophet, author of the book of Obadiah.

2 Ahab's major-domo.

3 Descendant of David.

4 One of David's mighty men.

5 Prince under Jehoshaphat.

6 Repairer of the Temple.

7 Father of Ishmaiah.

8 Same as Abda (2.)

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Obadiah

(flourished between the 9th and 6th century BC) One of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Bible, traditional author of the book of Obadiah. The shortest book of the Hebrew scriptures, it consists of one chapter of 21 verses. (It is part of a larger book, The Twelve, in the Jewish canon.) Nothing is known of Obadiah, whose name means “servant of Yahweh (God).” He castigates Edom for failing to help Israel repel foreign invaders and announces that the Day of Judgment is near for all nations. The final verses predict the restoration of the Jews to their native land.

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Obadiah Old Testament

1. a Hebrew prophet

2. the book containing his oracles, chiefly directed against Edom