Obadiah
Purpose
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, a single chapter pronouncing the doom of Edom — the nation descended from Esau, Israel's ancient brother — for its betrayal of Judah at the moment of her greatest catastrophe. When Babylon ravaged Jerusalem, Edom stood by, rejoiced in the destruction, looted the refugees, and cut off the escape routes, and the LORD counts this cruelty as a personal violation of brotherhood. The prophecy reaches beyond Edom, however, to a universal principle: in the day of the LORD, all nations will be judged for their deeds against God's people, "as you have done, it shall be done to you" (v. 15). For Zion, by contrast, there is restoration — the people will return to their possessions, the kingdom shall be the LORD's, and deliverers will rise up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau. The book frames history as a contest over God's justice that ends with the establishment of the LORD's own kingdom.
Author
Obadiah (identity otherwise unknown)
Time Period
Date debated — often placed soon after the fall of Jerusalem, c. 586 BC
Key Themes
- Pride and judgement
- Brotherhood betrayed
- The day of the LORD
- Restoration of Zion
- The kingdom is the LORD's
Outline
Edom's humiliation announced (v. 1–9): the nations summoned against her; her proud cliffs and hidden fastnesses will not save her; her own allies deceive her; and her "wisdom" fails. The charge against Edom (v. 10–14): violence against her brother Jacob; gloating, looting, and ambushing fugitives on the day of distress. The day of the LORD and the measure of justice (v. 15–16): "as you have done, it shall be done to you"; the cup of wrath. Restoration and the triumph of Zion (v. 17–21): Mount Zion holy; the house of Jacob recovers its possessions; the house of Joseph a flame and Esau stubble; the territory restored; deliverers on Zion; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.