Obadiah Study: part 1

Map of Edom

Welcome to Part 1 of a study on the Book of Obadiah. Other parts will be coming in future days or weeks. Part 1 is concerned with an overview of the book. Future posts will present a commentary on the book.

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, and is largely concerned with the destruction of the nation of Edom.

WHO WAS OBADIAH?
The name Obadiah means “servant of Jehovah.” It is a common name in the OT (13 people), but it could also be a title for an anonymous author.

One Jewish tradition identifies the author as the Obadiah who hid 100 prophets of the Lord from King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3-12).

He may have also been the Obadiah who was sent by Jehosophat to teach in the towns of Judah (2 Chr 17:7).

Or he may have been one of the overseers of the rebuilding of the Temple under Josiah. (2 Chr. 34:12)

WHEN WAS OBADIAH WRITTEN?
The Tyndale Commentary suggests that, while several dates are possible, immediately post-exile is the most likely (586 BC). During this time 2 Kings 25:4-6 records that those fleeing the destruction of Judah were captured by the Babylonians as they were headed in the direction of Arabia (a route that would take them through Edom). Personally, this is shaky because the Kings’ passage does not explicitly mention the presence of the Edomites involved in this issue, though they were certainly pleased at the outcome and may well have had involvement.

Another website (http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/mp/mp_02.htm) advocates a slightly earlier date – 845 BC. This was when Jehoram ruled Judah and Philistines & Arabs attacked, just after Edom rebelled (2 Chr 21:8-10, 16-17). Further, since the destruction of the Temple (586) is not mentioned, it might suggest the earlier date is correct – though arguments from silence are pretty weak in my estimation.

MY THOUGHTS (best guess)
The only real way to date Obadiah is from the text itself. Verses 10-14 suggest a catastrophic event that Edom did nothing to prevent, and in fact made worse. This most likely leads itself to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

A LITTLE ABOUT EDOM
The Bible tells us that Edom was founded by Esau. Edom was Esau’s nickname. It is implied that it might be because he was covered in red hair (Gen 25:25), but the Bible explicitly states that the nickname came about because of Esau’s request for red stew (Gen 25:30), an event which led to Esau’s abandoning his rights as the firstborn.

Geographic evidence suggests that the land of Edom is covered with red rock, which is how secular archeologists suggest that the Edomites got their name.

Edom is also called Seir, or Mt. Seir, which is a location in Edom, possibly of religious significance to the Edomites. Except for a couple of fertile spots along the Dead Sea, Edom is a very inhospitable region where it is difficult to grow anything. Edom’s importance had to do with the trade routes that passed through, making it important to commerce in the ancient world.

Historically, scholars were troubled with the Bible’s suggestion that Edom was a powerful nation during the time of Saul and David. But recent archeological evidence has uncovered a copper mine, indicating Edom had the blacksmiths and a sophisticated culture as early as the 1200’s. References to them as a people also are found in the annals of Egypt during this same time, indicating their presence. The Bible is clear that Edom existed as a nation before Israel did, and this archeological evidence matches the biblical record.

It is suggested that Job was Jobab, an Edomite king, who lived just prior to the Exodus. For full details, see web article at http://www.nabataea.net/edomch4.html.



THEMES IN OBADIAH
The book is divided into two sections – prophecies concerning Edom, and prophecies concerning Israel and other nations.

It is primarily a message of hope to God’s people – that God has not forsaken His people, even in the midst of their recent troubles.

A major theme is that what is sowed will be reaped. Verse 15b is the key to this theological theme, relating to Edom. But also the proud (v3) are humbled (v2), those who watch a nation get ransacked (v11-14) will themselves be ransacked (v5-9), those harassing survivors (v14) will have none (v18), and those helping with a dispossession (v14) will be dispossessed (v7,19).

Other Sources for this study include the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series (Obadiah, Jonah, Micah volune by Baker, Alexander, & Waltke) & the Complete Biblical Library Series & http://www.nabataea.net/edomintro.html