Obadiah Background

Date
Because he does not mention names of people or clear and specific events, Obadiah is the most difficult prophet to date. Thus dating of the book must be based on the content of the book. Obadiah mentions an invasion of Jerusalem (v. 11), but does not mention who the invaders were, and records that the Edomites took advantage of Jerusalems plight. He goes on to prophecy the destruction of Edom and the restoration of Jerusalem. Liberal critical scholars often date Obadiah to sometime after the exile (i.e. after ~516 BC, when the Jews exiled by Nebuchadnezzar were allowed to return following the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Persians). The reason for dating the book at the age is that Liberal Critical scholars do not believe in the accuracy of prophecy, and so because Obadiah prophecies the fall of Edom and the restoration of Israel, they believe it must date from when both of these events had actually occurred. This would mean that the earliest date could be 516 BC. On the other hand, conservative, evangelical scholars do believe in the accuracy of genuine prophecy, and hence believe that the book could be dated before the destruction of Edom and the restoration of Israel. In the historical record four attacks on Jerusalem are recorded (see Table 1). As Obadiah refers to an invasion in the past tense, it must be subsequent to one of the known invasions of Judah in the Table 1. Table 1: Invasion of Judah Invasion By Shishak, king of Egypt (1 Kgs. 14:25-28; 2 Chr. 12:2-12) The Philistines (2 Kgs. 8:20-24; 2 Chr. 21:16-22:1) Jehoash of Israel (2 Kgs. 14:8-14; 2 Chr. 25:14-24) Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (2 Kgs. 25:1-21; 2 Chr. 36:11-21; Jer. 39:1-10) 586 B.C. 796-782 B.C. 845 B.C. In 925 B.C. Judean King Reign of Rehoboam (931-913) Reign of Jehoram (848-841) Reign of Amaziah (796-767) Reign of Zedekiah (597-586)

Though many conservative scholars take a 586 BC date, the invasion of the Philistine and Arabs in 845 B.C., is considered to be more likely for the following reasons: The description in verse 11 depicts several groups casting lots to divide up the city for the purpose of plunder. This does not fit the complete destruction of the city at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC as in this case there was just one invading army. It does, however, accord well with the description in 2 Chr. 21:16 of the invasion--but not complete destruction--by the Philistines (who were a group of 5 independent city states) and Arabians (who were a collection of several different tribes). Verse 13 of Obadiah, when correctly translated, predicts future opportunities to invade and plunder Jerusalem. Verses 17-19 infer that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was still in existence, and so this must date Obadiah before 720 BC.

The literary parallels in Jeremiah indicate a dependency between Jeremiah and Obadiah; i.e. one borrowed from the other. As Jeremiah has a habit of using older prophecies, it is more likely that Jeremiah referred to Obadiah than vice versa. Thus, Jeremiah is describing the destruction of his day (586 BC) in terms of the past event described by Obadiah:

Obadiah 1-9 1 We have heard a message from the LORD: An envoy was sent to the nations to say, "Rise, and let us go against her for battle"14

Jeremiah 49:7-16 I have heard a message from the LORD: An envoy was sent to the nations to say, Assemble yourselves to attack it! Rise up for battle! Now I will make you small among the nations, despised among men.

See, I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, Who can bring me down to the ground? Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night--Oh, what a disaster awaits you--would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged!

15

16a

The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill.

16b

Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. If grape-pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? If thieves came during the night, would they not steal only as much as they wanted?

10

But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his hiding-places, so that he cannot conceal himself. His children, relatives and neighbours will perish, and he will be no more. Concerning Edom: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?

"In that day," declares the LORD, "will I not destroy the wise men of Edom, men of understanding in the mountains of Esau?

The prophet Joel, who was a Northern Israelite who prophesised to Assyria before the rise of Babylon (circa 775 BC), is probably referring to Obadiahs prophecy when he predicts the destruction of Edom in Joel 3:19; this would date Obadiah prior to 775 BC.

None of the six characteristics of the Babylonian invasion of 586 BC are mentioned: (1) the razing of the wall; (2) the burning of the royal palace and all the houses; (3) the burning of the Temple; (4) the capture and deportation of the king to Babylon; (5) the deportation of the entire nation to Babylon; (6) the immigration of some Jews to Egypt.

Edom
Edom was located south of Judah. Its capital city was Petra, located in Mount Sier. This prophecy has been termed an oracle of two mountains; Mount Zion, where Jerusalem is located and Mount Sier. Jerusalem is 754m (2,474 ft) above sea level; Petra is 810m (2,657 ft) above sea level. This really makes sense of some of the language Obadiah uses, such as you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, Who can bring me down to the ground? (verse 3), and Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down (verse 4). The nation Edom took its name from its progenitor and father of the nation Esau, who was also known as Edom (Gen. 25:30) Edom means red and Esau is associated with this name because he wanted the red pottage that Jacob had cooked in preference to his birth right (Gen. 25:30-35), and because his skin was a reddish colour (Gen. 25:25). The rivalry between Israel and Edom dated back to the days of Jacob and Esau. Esau, the eldest was a man of the country, who had no sense of long term planning, but rather lived for the moment (Look, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me? Gen 25:32). Jacob, on the other hand was a long term strategist. In his early life he was a schemer and a deceiver. Even on his return home he strategized around self-preservation as he knew of the enmity his brother held for him. Jacob sent messengers ahead, then split up his possessions into groups, with cattle and flocks going ahead, then his wives and children, and then last he himself made up the rear. The night before meeting his brother, Jacob met an angelic messenger (many belief this messenger to be a Old Testament appearance of Jesus). This was a life changing encounter, in which the angelic being renamed Jacob (which means deceiver), to Israel (which means one who contends with God). The rivalry continued for many, many generations, with Israel at times ruling over Edom, and Edom at times taking advantage of Israels misfortunes.