Obadiah
“Servant of Yahweh”
Summary
Obadiah is the name of several Old Testament figures, most notably the prophet who wrote the shortest book of the Old Testament, and the godly steward who hid prophets from Jezebel.
☩The Prophet
The prophet Obadiah authored the shortest book in the Old Testament, containing only twenty-one verses. His prophecy is directed against Edom, the nation descended from Esau, pronouncing judgment for their pride and their mistreatment of Judah during the time of Jerusalem's calamity. Obadiah's message culminates in the promise that "the kingdom shall be the Lord's." The exact date of his ministry is debated, with scholars placing it anywhere from the ninth to the sixth century BC.
☩Governor Under Ahab
A prominent Obadiah served as governor of King Ahab's household, a position of great authority and responsibility. Despite serving under the wicked Ahab and Jezebel, Obadiah "feared the Lord greatly" from his youth. When Jezebel sought to kill all the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah risked his life to hide one hundred of them in caves, providing them with bread and water. He later served as an intermediary between the prophet Elijah and King Ahab before the confrontation on Mount Carmel.
☩Other Men Named Obadiah
Several other individuals in Scripture bear the name Obadiah, meaning "servant of the Lord." These include a descendant of David; a chief of Issachar under David; a Levite overseer of temple repairs under Josiah; a gatekeeper in David's time; and various priests, Levites, and leaders who returned from Babylonian exile or signed Nehemiah's covenant.
Related Verses19 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Obadiah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).