OBADIAH In a Nutshell. . .
FDate -- 850-845 B.C.
FName means. . . worshiper of Jehovah
FContemporary Kings -- Jehoram, Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Joash (S)<-- Judah
FContemporary Prophets -- Joel
FRelated Scripture -- II Kings 8-12; II Chronicles 28:8-10,16-17
FProphesied to. . . "Edom", "Judah"
FTheme -- Retribution (Key word)A. The Prophet
This man, who identifies himself only as "Obadiah", does not have a lot of biographical information on himself in the Biblical text. There is no evidence to prove that this minor prophet is one of the other 12 men named Obadiah in the Scriptures.B. Historical Setting
Just as the authorship question, this also is debatable.1. 850-845 B.C. (During King Jehoram's reign)
5 Evidences for an early dating of Obadiah
A. The historical context of Obadiah fits the demands of the prophecy.
B. At this time, Edom was a bitter enemy of Judah.
C. Amos, who lived later, shows literary acquaintance and parallels with Obadiah.
D. Jeremiah shows literary parallels with Obadiah.
E. Placement in the Canon suggests Pre- Exile origin.
2. 586 B.C. (After the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem)
*The events of Obadiah 11-14 could picture the carnage of the Babylonian invasion.C. Miscellaneous
1. Shortest O.T. Book (1 chapter)
2. Never quoted in N.T.D. Content of Obadiah
1. The destruction of Edom for the treatment of the Jews.
2. The Restoration of Zion.E. Outline
1. The Doom of Edom (vs. 1-9)
Edom
The nation and its people were the descendants of Esau. He founded the country, so his name is equated with Edom (Gen. 25:30; 36:1,8). The country was also called Seir, or Mt. Seir and was located SE of Judah -- east of the Jordan River, from Moab in the north to the Gulf of Agaba in the south. The major cities of Edom were Teman in the south, Bozrah in the north, and Sela (Petra).It was the city of Petra that Edom relied upon as her defense:
'For years the extraordinary nature of her defenses was unknown to biblical scholars due to the fact that the real stronghold of Edom at Petra was lost to the western world. Widely known in ancient times and greatly admired, it was lost to western knowledge for nearly one thousand years until rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burkhardt in 1812.
. . . The city is entered through a narrow winding gorge or canyon, called a siq. This is about a mile long and is in no place really wide. On the average it is about fifteen feet from towering wall to towering wall. A conduit for a small stream runs along its length, and as one makes his way through this breath-taking canyon . . . he notes remnants of ancient pavement, a carved aqueduct, and the beginning of many thousands of ornately carved caves in the walls. The caves served as homes for those who once lived there . . .
Rounding another bend the traveler is in Petra itself. It is a level valley of slightly less than one square mile surrounded by many mountains. In it are the ruins of the several successive civilizations that have occupied the spot, the last and most impressive being Roman. There are homes, temples, and treasuries. In the mountains there are additional safe areas for defense.
How impregnable it all seems! Experts say that because of the configurations of the siq through which Petra is entered, it would be possible for a dozen men to hold it against an army. Again, even if the siq were breeched, it would be possible for the inhabitants to carry on a successful defense from the mountains. From a human perspective it is hard to imagine a safer spot than Edom and its capital city of Petra.'excerpt from The Minor Prophets, by J.M. B.
--They refused passage to "Moses" (Num. 20:14-21) and were always ready to help the enemies of Israel/Judah launch an attack.
--King "Saul" fought against the "Edom[ites]" (I Sam. 14:47) and King "David" conquered them and "put garrisons" "throughout" the land (II Sam. 8:13,14). "Judah" lost "Edom" in the reign of Jehoram in a revolution (II Kings 8:20).
--Edom helped plunder Judah at least 4 times. . .1. During reign of Jehoram (853 B.C.)
2. During reign of Amaziah (796 B.C.)
3. During reign of Ahaz (735 B.C.)
4. During reign of Zedekiah (597 B.C.)DOOM OF EDOM
(Isaiah 63:1-3)a. To be made insignificant among the nations (vs. 2)
b. Despised of God and man (vs. 2)
c. To be cut off (vs. 5-9)
1) By man (vs. 7)
L men of thy confederacy -- Allies
L men who were at peace with these -- Friendly Nations
L they that eat thy bread -- Desert Tribes (about Edom)
2) By God (vs. 8,9)2. Charges brought against Edom (vs. 10-14)
a. Pride (vs. 3)
b. Violence against their brother-- Israelites (vs. 10)--"Jacob"
c. Stood aside while others attacked the Jews (vs. 11)--"Jerusalem"
d. Acted as an enemy (vs. 11)
e. Rejoiced in destruction of the Jew (vs. 12)--"Judah"
f. Plundered _ of the Jews (vs. 13)
g. Hindered the exscape of fugitive Jews (vs. 14)
h. Delivered fugitive Jews to the enemy (vs. 14)*Note -- The point of reference here is the uprising of the Philistines and the Arabians during Jehoram's reign. (II Kings 8:20; II Chronicles 21:8-20)
L End of Edom
1. 582 B.C. -- Ruined and desolated by Babylon
2. Nabathaeus took over Edom
Arabian tribe that moved into Edom between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C.
3. Remnant Edomites settled in south Judah
4. 126 B.C. -- Subdued by John Hyrcanus (Macabean Rule)
5. Roman occupation of Palestine in 63 B.C. Family of Herod (Idumean) in control of Judea -- last of the Edomites.
6. A.D. 70 -- Destruction of Jerusalem -- disappeared from history.3. God will judge all the heathen nations (vs. 15-16)
4. Jehovah will restore the House of Jacob (vs. 17-21)
J Comfort for Judah -- a recurring theme among the prophetsa. Possession of the land (vs. 17)
b. Victory over enemies (vs. 18)
c. Land divisions and possessions named (vs. 19-20)
d. Kingdom will be the Lord's (vs. 21)