Oded
“Restorer, one who encourages”
Summary
Oded was the name of two prophets in Scripture: the father of the prophet Azariah, and a prophet who urged Israel to release Judean captives.
☩Father of Azariah
Oded was the father of the prophet Azariah, who prophesied to King Asa of Judah. After Asa's victory over the Ethiopians, Azariah son of Oded met the king and exhorted him to put away the abominations from the land. This prophecy prompted Asa's religious reforms. Some passages refer to "the prophecy of Oded the prophet," possibly indicating that Oded himself was also a prophet or that his son spoke on his behalf.
☩Prophet in Samaria
A different Oded was a prophet in Samaria during the reign of Pekah of Israel. When the Israelite army returned from defeating Judah with 200,000 captives, Oded confronted them. He declared that although God had given them victory because of Judah's sins, they had killed with a fury that reached to heaven and now intended to enslave their kinsmen. He warned that God's wrath was upon them and urged them to send the captives back. His bold message was heeded, and the captives were returned with provisions and care.