This is the smallest book in the Old Testament.  Obadiah is a name that referred to as least 12 people of the Old Testament and means: “servant of the Lord.”  Nothing is really known about the author.  It may be best thought of having been written sometime after the 586 B.C. invasion of Zion.  It is clearly a response to a time when Jerusalem was overrun by foreign armies.

            Key Thought:  vs. 10 – God’s providential care over the Jews, and the certainty of punishment of those who persecute them.  Num. 20:14-21 – refusal of passage through Edom’s land – comes back to bite this nation later on in history.

            This prophecy is given because of Edom’s attitude toward Judah.  Edomites were descendants of Esau and were bitter enemies of the Jews although related to them.  Edom’s pride is rebuked in this book, and even though they thought they were invincible, God would eventually cause their destruction.  Israel ultimately triumphs under the watchful eye of the Lord!  Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be utterly destroyed as if they never existed. Meanwhile Jerusalem was invaded and plundered four times as recorded in Scripture, but after Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD, Edom completely disappeared from history.

            Many prophets were entrusted with messages against Edom: Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Malachi.  Edom’s self-sufficiency and pride was the root of its sin.  The doom of Edom is equated to the judgment on all nations in the “day of the Lord.”  This book speaks of God’s sovereign rule which will eventually be universally known, as He reveals Himself through judgments against these powerful kingdoms.  The enemy will be condemned; of which Edom is a type.   Vs. 1-16 - The doom of Edom for their pride and wrong against Jacob.  Vs. 17-21 – The deliverance of the chosen people and the inclusion of Edom in the future kingdom.  (Num. 24:18).

            Edom still existed during Jeremiah’s prophecy period, although not mentioned as a nation taken specifically by Nebuchadnezzar.  They may have already subjected themselves to his rule by them.  Jer. 27:6-7 – all those nations would submit to the king.  Other Old Testament writings, from the Exile, prove Edom’s continued existence.  Later on, Moab and Ammon are listed as Judah’s enemies and Edom is no longer among those listed.   So the Arabs replace Edom as the aggressors against Judah to this day.  The prophecy of Malachi (1:3-4 & Ezek. 32:29) speak of Edom’s past history and demise, although (1:4-5) he did envision a continued identity for Edom even in exile.