The author is an unknown prophet of Judah by the name of Obadiah (1:1). A number of Old Testa-ment men were named Obadiah. These include an officer in David’s army (1 Chron. 12:9), Ahab’s ser-vant who hid God’s prophets (1 Kings 18:3), a Levite in the days of Josiah (2 Chron. 34:12), and a leader who returned from the Exile with Ezra (Ezra 8:9). Nothing is known of Obadiah’s home town or family. The fact that his father is not named suggests that he was not out of a kingly or priestly line.
The shortest book of the Bible, containing only 21 verses, bears the distinction of being the most diffi-cult of the minor prophets to date. Regarding the date Ryrie writes:
The question of date relates to which battle against Jerusalem the Edomites were asso-ciated with (vv. 11 -14). There were four significant invasions of Jerusalem in Old Testa-ment times: (1) by Shishak, king of Egypt, during Rehoboam’s reign, in 926 B.C. (1 Kings 14:25-26); (2) by the Philistines and Arabians during the reign of Jehoram, from 848-841 (2 Chron. 21:16-17); (3) by King Jehoash of Israel during the reign of Amaziah, in 790 (2 Kings 14:13-14); (4) by Babylon during the years 605-586 (2 Kings 24 -25). Obadiah prophesied against Edom either in connection with invasion #2 or #4. If the first, this book is the earliest of the writing prophets (see 2 Kings 8:20 and 2 Chron. 21:16-17; then see Joel 3:3-6 compared with Obad. 11-12 and the use of Obad. 1-9 in the extended pas-sage in Jer. 49:7-22 as support for the earlier date).76
The Hebrew name àObadyah means “servant or worshipper of Yahweh.”
The theme of Obadiah is a reiteration of the truth that pride goes before a fall. Obadiah declares that Edom stands judged and under certain doom because of her pride in rejoicing over the misfortunes that befell Jerusalem.
Judgment on Edom. Combined, Edom and Esau occur nine times.
❝ 1:10. “Because of violence to your brother Jacob, You will be covered with shame, And you will be cut off forever.
❝ 1:15. “For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
❝ 1:21. The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion To judge the mountain of Esau, And the kingdom
will be the LORD’S. Formatted
Christ is seen in Obadiah as the judge of the nations (15-16), the Savior of Israel (17-20), and the Possessor of the kingdom (21).77