Who Was Obadiah in the Bible? 
If you’ve ever wondered who was Obadiah in the Bible, you’re not alone. Obadiah is a prophet, descendant of King David, and longtime enemy of Israel. He also converted to Judaism. In this article, you’ll learn the background of this intriguing figure.
Obadiah is a descendant of King David
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, and it is filled with prophecies concerning the Edomite nation. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, a rival of Jacob, and they had a long history of opposing the Jews. One of their most famous enemies was Herod the Great, who murdered all babies under two in Bethlehem because he believed the promised “King of the Jews” had been born there. This nation lived east of the Jordan and had a capital city in the red rock formations known as Petra.
Obad’s book was written between the taking of Jerusalem and the destruction of Idumea, and it tells of the foreigners entering the city and the distress that Judah was feeling. The book is one of the shortest in the Hebrew Canon, with only 21 verses. Yet, despite its short length, it demands attention and contemplation.
The name Obadiah means “servant of Jehovah.” His name was common among Semitic peoples, and it occurs frequently in the Old Testament. It is even recorded on an ancient Hebrew seal. It is not known for sure when Obadiah actually lived, but his prophecy shows that God will never fail to fulfill His promises.
As the eldest son of Josiah and a descendant of Ahab, Obadiah served as an emissary between Ahab and Elijah. He was the father of Shecanian and was also a descendant of Eliphaz, the son of Joab. He was also one of King Jehoshaphat’s officials, sent to teach the law in the cities of Judah.
The sons of David’s royal line are older than the sons of Jeroboam. Their father advises them on how to act as a good king, and in some cases, to punish their enemies. He later suspects the fourth son Adonijah of claiming the throne, and takes out Benaiah for supporting Adonijah. He also takes away Abiathar’s priesthood. This fulfills the prophecy of Eli by restoring the throne to David.
The Israelites had many enemies, including the Edomites. They needed copper and iron from Edom, and they also needed access to the Red Sea for transportation purposes. King David eventually conquered Edom, but did not completely destroy them.
He is a prophet
Obadiah is a prophet in the Bible and is credited with writing the book of Obadiah. He lived during the Assyrian period and is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible. His book is a prophetic account of events that occurred during the Assyrian Empire.
While his prophecy doesn’t specify a date, it shows that God will not forget His promises. This book contains numerous prophecies that are meant to remind people of the future of Israel. Obadiah lived in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The people of Judah were threatened by the Edomites, descendants of Esau and the Hurrians, original inhabitants of Canaan.
Many scholars disagree on the exact date of Obadiah’s prophecy. Although it is not completely certain, scholars have determined that Obadiah lived during the reign of King Jehoram. In 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. In that case, Obadiah would have been a contemporary of Elijah.
Obadiah’s prophecy focuses on the sin of Edom. The Edomites descended from Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah and brother of Jacob. They settled on Mount Seir and absorbed the Horites. In Genesis 36:8-43, the Edomites are called dukes.
During the time of King Josiah, Obadiah oversaw the temple construction. He was a descendant of King David through Zerubbabel. He was one of the first post-exilic leaders of the Jewish people. He was also a priest and gatekeeper of the temple stores.
Israel’s longstanding rivalry with Edom began in the book of Genesis. God promised Abraham a blessing and he passed that blessing on to Isaac. However, this blessing was not enough to keep the Israelites from being destroyed. God’s judgment on Edom is not separate from human decisions, but it does mean that human choices have to be considered.
Obadiah is one of the prophets in the bible, but the title does not mean he was actually a prophet. According to scholars, the name was not a real person, but a symbolic title. He was a prophet who prophesied God’s judgment on Edom.
He is a long-time enemy of Israel
The Bible tells us that Obadiah is a long-time antagonist of Israel. He laments over the destruction of Edom, but does not specifically condemn the nation or its leadership. His prophecy is a warning against putting your faith in power and prosperity, and especially against forming alliances with wicked men. This approach is never beneficial for God’s purposes. Moreover, it is also a warning against trusting in money and wealth. With God, worldly wisdom is foolishness. And while craftiness may be an advantage in this world, it is foolishness before God.
The exact timing of Obadiah’s prophecy is unknown, but scholars have proposed three periods between 845 and 400 B.C. that coincide with three major events in the history of the two nations. During the reign of Jehoram, Edom attacked and revolted against Judah. Later, Edom assisted the Babylonian invasion of Judah. Although scholars are divided on the exact timeframes of these events, it is clear that Obadiah penned the prophetic message during this period.
Although it’s unclear whether he had any contact with Edom, he spoke to the people of Edom, which were a long-time enemy of Israel. The ancient Near East scriptures mention Edom more than any other hostile nation. The little Book of Obadiah focuses on Edom, while the larger Book of Nahum is about Assyria. Another prophet, Jonah, writes about Edom, but his focus is on Assyria’s capital city.
Obadiah was also a loyal servant of the Lord. He had hidden 100 prophets from Jezebel. However, he was summoned by Ahab to look for water. While there, he met the prophet Elijah. The prophet had been in hiding for several years.
A study of the Bible’s prophets can be helpful in understanding the biblical text. There are a number of reference works for the Old Testament. For example, the Macmillan Bible Atlas is a useful tool. It contains maps of the Biblical Lands. Several authors have written books about these books.
The bible also tells us that Obadiah and Ahaziah were the sons of Ahab. Like Ahab, Ahaziah also rebelled and attempted to kill his father and family. As a result, he was made king of Judah at age twenty-two. His mother, Athaliah, had given him evil advice. Ahab followed Ahaziah but did not speak out against Jezebel. The prophet Micaiah had a record of speaking the truth.
He is a convert to Judaism
The Bible describes Obadiah as a convert to Judaism. This young man was born in Edom and was of Edomian descent. His father was a Christian and he later joined the Jewish people. But when the Crusades came, conversions were frowned upon, and Jews were often forced to leave their ancestral faith. Despite this, Obadiah decided to convert and took the name of a biblical prophet who was also a convert.
During his time in the Middle Ages, Obadiah is mentioned in Jewish literature. There are manuscripts and poems connected to this figure, which he copied. He also wrote one page of the siddur and copied several other pages of Jewish liturgical material.
Although Obadiah’s reasons for his conversion to Judaism are unclear, it is thought that he was inspired by the Jews during the First Crusade. He may also have been inspired by the Jewish archbishop of Bari, who converted to Judaism in 1066-1078. His understanding of the Bible might also have had a profound impact.
A website has been set up devoted to Obadiah, bringing together manuscripts from many locations. This allows people to explore Obadiah’s life and religious conversion. While Obadiah was not active in the Crusades, he did have an interest in current events and the lives of people in his time. He also authored a Memoir of his life, which is the first in the Hebrew language for 1500 years. It describes the author’s early years, his travels, and his encounter with a Karaite. In addition, it describes Johannes’ musical traditions in more detail.
Obadiah is a contemporary of Elijah. He was the estate manager of King Ahab and had many followers in the Kingdom of Edom. He prophesied against Edom’s enemies, including its sister nations, whose descendants are descendants of Esau. The Prophet Obadiah refers to the Edomites as partly responsible for the capture of Jerusalem. The Edomites had stood by and watched, but now they were the ones who took it!
The work of Obadiah is now becoming famous thanks to the pioneering work of Professor Norman Golb of the University of Chicago. Golb has helped bring to light the historical background of Obadiah, and he will serve as the conference’s honorary president. Throughout the conference, scholars will present papers and perform the composer’s Hebrew texts as well as other documents and musical works.
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