Ahab’s steward 1Ki 18:3-16.
Obadiah (Heb. ]badyáh, “servant of Yahweh”; appears on ancient Heb. seals and on the ostraca of Samaria). See Abda; Obadiah. 1. Steward of King Ahab’s palace, described as a man fearing the Lord. He saved the lives of 100 prophets by hiding them in caves in 2 groups of 50 each (1Ki 18:3, 4). At the end of the long drought predicted by Elijah, Ahab sent Obadiah to find pasture to keep alive the horses and mules in the royal stable. During the search he met Elijah, who sent him to the king to announce the arrival of the prophet (1Ki 18: 5-16). 2. Post-exilic descendant of David (1Ch 3:21). 3. Zebulonite whose son Ishmaiah was chief of the tribe of Zebulun during the reign of David (1Ch 27:19). 4. Prince of Judah whom King Jehoshaphat sent to teach in the cities of Judah (2Ch 17:7-9). 5. A Merarite Levite, an overseer of the workers who repaired the temple during the reign of Josiah (2Ch 34:12). 6. Minor prophet, author of the shortest book of the OT (Oba_1). See Obadiah, Book of. Obadiah, Book of. Fourth of the so-called Minor Prophets. I. Author and Setting. The author is Obadiah, who, unlike most other prophets, does not date his message. Therefore, dates ranging from the 8th to the 6th centuries BC have been suggested. Although the record of the revolt of Edom in the days of King Joram (2Ki 8:20-22) does not refer to an Edomite occupation of Jerusalem, the similarity of Obadiah’s denunciations against Edom (Oba_10-16) with those of Jeremiah (Jer 49:7-22) and Ezekiel (Eze 25:12-14; 35) seems to fit very well the events of 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem. According to Psa 137:7, the Edomites approved of the devastation of Jerusalem and rejoiced at the calamities that befell Judah. II. Literary style. It is classic and vigorous. His motto is the destruction of Edom because of his violence against the Jews (vs 10-14), a situation that will be reversed on the day of the Lord because Edom – blood relative of the Jews – will be treated as he treated others (v 15). That the message refers to Edom (region south of Judah), along with specific references to Jerusalem and Judah (vs 11, 12, 17, 20, 21), implies that the prophet presented his message to the kingdom of Judah (had been A long and bitter war developed between the 2 peoples; 2Sa 8:13, 14; 1Ki 11:14-22; 2Ch 20:22; 21:8-10; 25:11, 12; 28:17). III. Outline and Content. Obadiah’s brief message falls naturally into 2 parts: 1. Predicting the fate of Edom (vs 1-16). 2. Triumph and restoration of Israel (vs 17-21). Obadiah invites the pagan nations to attack Edom (vs 1, 2) because of his pride (vs 3, 4); it must be plundered and its people exterminated (vs 5-9). His crime has been violence against his brother Jacob, “on the day when you stood before him, strangers led his army captive, and strangers entered his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem” (vs 10, 1 1 ). Instead of showing mercy, the Edomites stalked the fleeing Jews, killing some and imprisoning others (vs 12-14). But the day of Jehovah is near, the day when the people of Edom will receive their just payment and “they will be as if they had not been” (vs 15, 16; his cruelty towards Judah during a period of national crisis will receive its just reward ). That day there will be salvation on “mount Zion”, “the house of Jacob” will be delivered and will inherit the land of Edom (vs 17-20) and the kingdom will be Jehovah’s (v 21; see CBA 4:1011, 1012) .
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Yahweh’s servant. Proper name found several times in the Holy Scriptures. The fourth of the minor prophets, considered the author of the prophetic book of Obadiah, about which little is known. Of this little book, twenty-one verses, some affirm that it is a fragmentary compilation of oracles from different times against the Idumeans; as the date of its writing, the 8th or 5th centuries are given, since there are two historical events that could have inspired it: the Idumean rebellion in the reign of Joram of Judah 2 R 8, 20-22, and the Arab and Philistine invasion of Judah 2 Cr 21, 16 ss, or the participation of Edom in the destruction of Jerusalem Ps 137 (136), 7; Lm 4, 21. A., perhaps, was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who prophesied against Edom Jr 49, 14-16.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Heb., †™ovadhyah, Jehovah’s servant).
1. The manager of Ahab’s palace (1Ki 18:3-16).
2. The head of a family of David’s descendants (1Ch 3:21).
3. A chief of Issachar (1Ch 7:3).
4. One of the six sons of Azel, a Benjamite (1Ch 8:38, repeated in 9:44).
5. A Levite who returned early from captivity (9:16); also called Abda (Neh 11:17).
6. One of the Gadite warriors who joined David in the desert (1Ch 12:9).
7. Father of Ishmaias (1Ch 27:19).
8. One of the five princes of Judah whom Jehoshaphat sent to teach the law of the Lord to the people of Judah (2Ch 17:7).
9. A Levite and overseer of the temple repair work (2Ch 34:12).
10. A Jew who led the return of 218 men in Ezra’s return from captivity (Ezr 8:9). 1
1. One of the co-signing priests of a covenant with Nehemiah (Neh 10:5). 1
2. A gatekeeper to Jerusalem (Neh 12:25). 1
3. The prophet who wrote the book of Obadiah.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
The fourth minor prophet, who wrote the shortest book in the Old Testament. It predicts the fall of the people of Edon: (Esau), and so it happened: (1-14). The restoration of Israe is also predicted: (Jacob) in the day of Jahvé.
(15-21).
There are five other Obadiahs: (“Servant of Yahweh”) in the Bible.
1Ki 18:3-16; 1Ch 3:21, 1Ch 27:19; 2Ch 17:7, 2Ch 34:12.
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
(Servant of Jehovah). Name of people from the OT.
1. King’s steward †¢Ahab. He was † œin a great way fearing the Lord †. “When †¢Jezebel was destroying the prophets of Jehovah† , A. hid a hundred of them in caves †œand sustained them with bread and water† (1Ki 18:1-4). In the days of the drought brought about by Elijah’s prayer, Ahab sent A. “throughout the country” in search of “springs of water” to see if they could keep “horses and mules” alive. Fulfilling that mission he met Elijah, who sent him to arrange an interview with the king. From that meeting came the call for Elijah’s meeting with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:4-20).
. Character in the descendants of David (1Ch 3:21).
. Chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of David (1Ch 27:19).
. One of the officials sent by King Jehoshaphat as educators who “having the book of the law of the Lord with them … went through all the cities of Judah, teaching the people” (2Ch 17:7-9).
. Levite in the times of †¢Josías, who participated as steward in the repair work of the †temple (2Ch 34:12).
. Prophet whose vision is recorded in the book that bears his name (Abd 1:1). †¢Obadiah, Book of.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG SACE PROF FUNC HOMB HOAT HSHA Proper name that means “worshiper or servant of the Eternal.” (a) Steward of Ahab’s house (1 Kings 18:3-16). (b) Descendant of David (1 Chron. 3:21). (c) Father of Ishmaiah, prince of Zebulun (1 Chron. 27:19). (d) Prince of Judah (2 Chron. 17:7). (e) Levite in the time of King Josiah (2 Chron. 34:12). (f) Prophet who wrote the book of Obadiah.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Name of a prophet of those who wrote “minor prophetic books”. It literally means “Servant of Yahweh”.
The book attributed to him, perhaps made up of various oracles against Edom, is difficult to date, although it is common to place it at the beginning of the 7th century BC. But it could well be dated to the 5th century, cursing the joy of Edom before the destruction of Jerusalem and announcing God’s punishments for that enemy’s joy.
The message is centered on the hope that God always protects his people and will punish those who rejoice in their evils.
(See Prophets 5.3.4.)
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
Critics have written a lot about this book, which is the shortest in the Old Testament (it has 21 verses).
Apart from the name we know nothing about Obadiah. It speaks of a time when “foreigners” have conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple of the Lord (and 17). Edom, the brother town. he has joined the invader, he has taken advantage of the defeat, he has rejoiced at the destruction, he has committed numerous crimes against him. This description corresponds well to the situation that was created in 587 with the Babylonian invasion. The book is divided into two parts: vv. 1-15 are an oracle against Edom; the vv. 16-21 are an oracle against the nations in connection with the “day of Yahweh† . The book is a passionate cry for revenge, whose nationalistic spirit contrasts with the universalism of Deuteroisaias. But this fragment also exalts the terrible justice and power of Yahweh, who acts as a defender of the law.
G.Lorusso
Bibl.: L. Alonso Schokel – J L. Sicre, Prophets, II, Christianity, Madrid 1980, 995-1006; E. Olavarri, Chronology and literary structure of Obadiah: Est. Bíbl. 22 (1963) 303-313.
PACOMIO, Luciano, Encyclopedic Theological Dictionary, Divine Word, Navarra, 1995
Source: Encyclopedic Theological Dictionary
SUMMARY
I. The person and the time.
II. The writing.
I. THE PERSON AND THE TIME. Obadiah (in Hebrew `Obadyah, “servant of Yhwh”) is one of the twelve minor prophets; We don’t know anything concrete about him. He is credited with a book, which is the shortest prophetic writing we know: it consists of a single chapter of 21 verses. According to an ancient Jewish tradition, the prophet would have been an Idumean converted to Judaism, who would then have followed the prophet Elijah. He would then be the prophet mentioned repeatedly in the court of King Ajab (874-853), whose impious behavior, however, he did not share, rather supporting the religious line of the great Thesbite. This, then, would be the Obadiah spoken of in 1Ki 18:2ff. In reality, this identification is unlikely, as can be deduced from the writing that bears his name.
II. THE WRITING. According to some critics, these are fragments that go back to different authors and times; according to others, it is a writing to which its own author later made some additions. The writing is really too short and lends itself badly to artificial subdivisions, although two sections can be distinguished in it: 1-14 and 15-21.
In the first section we have a threat against Edon for the attitude he maintained at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem (in 587 BC). Since until…