Prophet
Obadiah
Prophet Against Edom
c. 586-580 BC
Biography
Obadiah probably prophesied in the years immediately after Jerusalem's fall in 586 BCE. Edom, Israel's cousin-nation (descended from Esau), had not only failed to help Judah but had joined in the looting and celebrated the destruction (Ps 137:7; Lam 4:21-22). Obadiah's oracle promises Edom's own destruction: "As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head" (Ob 15). The prophecy concludes with restoration promise: "saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's" (Ob 21). The eschatological reversal is part of the Day-of-the-Lord tradition.
As you have done, it shall be done to you
Obadiah 15
More key verses
“in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape”
“the kingdom shall be the LORD's”
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Compact prophetic force; clear eschatological vision.
Weaknesses
None recorded.
Lessons
God holds nations accountable. Cousin-betrayal is especially grievous. Judgment on oppressors is also salvation for the oppressed.
Spiritual significance
Obadiah's judgment on Edom applies the principle that God holds nations accountable for their treatment of his people.
How Obadiah points to Jesus
The eschatological "kingdom shall be the LORD's" anticipates Christ's kingdom.
Obadiah in Scripture
20 verses use this name, in 6 books. Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, some of these verses may speak of another person called Obadiah.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament6 books · 20 mentions
1 Kings7 mentions
- 1 Kings 18:3and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
- 1 Kings 18:4for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)
- 1 Kings 18:5Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”
- 1 Kings 18:6So they divided the land to explore. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.
- 1 Kings 18:7Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
2 further mentions in 1 Kings — read them in the book.
1 Chronicles7 mentions
- 1 Chronicles 3:21The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.
- 1 Chronicles 7:4Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs. In addition to them, according to their genealogy, they had 36,000 troops for battle, for they had many wives and children.
- 1 Chronicles 8:38Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
- 1 Chronicles 9:16Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
- 1 Chronicles 9:44And Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
2 further mentions in 1 Chronicles — read them in the book.
2 Chronicles2 mentions
- 2 Chronicles 17:7In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah,
- 2 Chronicles 34:12And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments,
Ezra1 mention
Nehemiah2 mentions
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