by Don Swearingen

Created on: October 01, 2009

At 21 verses, Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. That doesn't mean it isn't packed with things to think about.

The book was written by Obadiah in about 840 BC. That's as near as the archeologists and classicists who study those things can figure out.

There had been an invasion of Israel and Jerusalem in around 850-848 BC, and Jerusalem had been sacked. Apparently Edom had not only been in on the invasion, but had blocked the retreat of Israelites and turned them over to their allies to be sold into slavery, which was the common fate of the losers in those days. If they weren't killed.

The Edomites were considered the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, and ever since they had refused to allow the Israelites to cross their land in the days of Moses, there had been enmity between them. This is strange, because Esau forgave the treachery of his brother, and welcomed him home with open arms. So much for "Why can't we all just get along?"

So Obadiah and his people really had a bone to pick with the Edomites, and in this short book, he predicts that Edom will be utterly destroyed. That their mountain stronghold that they considered impregnable was only a dream. That the Edomite's friends, "They that eat thy bread." would treacherously invade Edom and destroy it. That their wise men would be destroyed, their warriors would be terrified and "Every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter." That's exactly what happened. Edom was attacked by her former allies, and the remnant retreated into the Negev desert, where they became known as Idumeans.

The essence of Obadiah can be summed up in verse 15. "As thou has done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."

But there is another strange twist to the story. Herod The Great was an Idumean! The Jews he ruled didn't have a real like for him, either. Never mind that he probably got more freedom for the Jews in the Roman Empire than a lot of other captive nations. Never mind that he rebuilt The Temple. He was "not a Jew." And they resented being ruled by a man they considered an outsider.

Wait! There's more! The Idumeans were destroyed in the Jewish rebellion of 70 AD! Apparently they came in on the side of the Jews in that rebellion.

So the little book of Obadiah is full of things that predicted what would happen in that part of the world over an 800 year span. Fascinating!

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