Obadiah

A Bible study on the Book of Obadiah

Prelude:

Before getting into the details of the book of Obadiah (The smallest book in the Old Testament), let us understand the background in which this book was written

Names to know before reading the book of Obadiah

Jacob (Israel) Esau ( Edom) Location of the two countries Relationship between the two countries

Jacob -Israel Jacob is the younger brother of Esau. He cheated his brother and received blessings from his father -Isaac God changed his name to Israel. Israel was the promised country of God to his children. The tribes of the 12 sons of Jacob settled in this country Israel was a small country surrounded by rivers, sea, mountains and deserts.

Esau- Edom

Edom is the other name of Esau (The son of Isaac and the brother of Jacob) Edom means Red because Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a red-bean soup Edom was a country discovered by Esau. Edom was a mountainous country

Location of the two countries

• Edom was located south East of Israel.

• Israel is the western most country of Asia

• Edom is at present located in the country- Jordan

Relationship between the 2 countries Edom and Israel had constant rifts throughout the

history Edom did not allow Israel to cross their territory

to enter the promised land (During Moses Time). Hence Israel had to cross the Jordan river to enter Canaan [Numbers 20:14-22]

Almost every King of Israel fought with Edomites (Saul, David …)

Edom coaxed Babylon to destroy Jerusalem (Israel) [Psalm 137:7] and even went on to loot Israel

Obadiah

Now we will study about the book of Obadiah Though there are almost a dozen Obadiah’s

mentioned in the Bible, the author of the Book of Obadiah doesn’t have any possible links to any of them

Obadiah is a dramatic example of God’s response to anyone (Edom) who would harm his children (Israel)

It is more likely that Obadiah prophesied in the early 500 BC.

The book of Obadiah

21 verses Divided into three sections 1-9 : Announcement of disaster to

Edom is prophesied 10-14 : Reason for the destruction of

Edom is also given 15-21 : Obadiah goes on to prophecy

about the day of the Lord.

Pointers to be noted

In verse 9, the word Teman is used. Teman was the Grandson of Esau. One of Job’s three friends “Eliphaz” [Job 2:11] was from the land of Teman

Edom was proud of their lofty mountainous location and they enjoyed when ever Israel suffered

Negev – A desert region of southern Israel [verse 19]

Negev

The Fulfillment of the prophecy of Obadiah Obadiah’s prophecy is reassured by

Prophet Ezekiel in Eze 35 :3-9 Eventually Nebuchadnezzer raided Israel

for the second time and emptied Edom also

Edom as a nation disappeared During the time of the Greeks and

Romans, the region was known as Idumea The territory is currently controlled by

Jordan

A concluding Note

"He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished"

[Proverbs 17:5]-Words from the wise man Solomon

About the Author

If you want to share anything regarding this presentation, please write to the author [Prason] at prason@chronicwriter.com

The author comes from a very small town in the southern most

part of India.

He had a good education and he was brought up in Christian faith. But he went with the ways of the world in his late teens and fell for all the vices.

Still God chose him; broke him and molded him and has made him to be a steward for his sheep.

Now the Lord is imparting him with his wisdom and is training him to be an Apostle with a Prophetic Calling .

Praise God! for his Yoke is easy and his burden is light