Study questions, maps, charts, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Obadiah.
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Basics
- Author: Obadiah, date unknown. No kings are mentioned in Obadiah, making it hard to date.
- Obadiah probably lived in and ministered to the southern kingdom of Judah. Some think Obadiah was a contemporary of Elisha.
- There are 13 Obadiah’s in the Old Testament.
- Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be cut off forever. Edomites disappear from history with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Edomites
- Edomites are descendants of Esau who lived in the mountianous area of Seir, south of the Dead Sea.
- The Edomites were bitter enemies of the Jews.
- Edom refused Moses’ request to allow the Israelites to pass through their land on the way to Canaan.
- They opposed Saul and were subdued by David.
- They fought against Jehoshaphat and rebelled against Jehoram.
- In the 5th Center BC, the Nabateans forced the Edomites to leave their native country. The Edomites moved to the souther part of Palestine and became known as the Idumeans.
- Herod the Great was an Indumean. He became King of Judea under Rome in 37 BC and ordered the killing of the male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the Messiah.
- The Idumeans aided the rebellion of Jerusalem against Rome and were defeated along with the Jews when Titus conquered Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Genre: Understanding Prophecy
Background
Chart: Bible History at a glance
Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
Chart: Kings of Israel & Judah
Minor Prophets Quotes in the New Testament
Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament
Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Obadiah -Intro
ESV: The Global Message of Obadiah
James van Dine: Analysis of Obadiah
David Malick: An Introduction to the Book of Obadiah
David Malick: An Argument of the Book of Obadiah
JVernon McGee: Amos and Obadiah – Introductory Notes, Outlines
William Orr: Key to Obadiah
Charles Swindoll: Book of Obadiah Overview
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1)
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (2)
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (3)
Conflicts between Israel and Aram-Damascus
The Golden Ages of the 9th & 8th centuries BCE
Phoenician Trade and Civilization
Trade Routes throughout the Middle East
Israel & Judah in the days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah
The Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III
Fall of Samaria and Deportation of Israelites
The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel
Assyrian Districts after the Fall of Samaria
Prophets of the 8th Century BCE
Judah Alone amid International Powers
Hezekiah’s Preparation for Revolt
Sennacherib’s Campaign against Judah
Assyria in the 7th century BCE
The Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
The Districts of Judah under King Josiah
Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaigns against Judah
The Persian Period
World Powers of the 6th century BCE
The Conquests of Cyrus the Great
The Return of the Jewish Exiles to Judah
ESV Study Bible Maps
Key Words
The day (Obadiah 1:11, 12, 13, 14),
Day of the LORD (Obadiah 1:15),
Edom/Esau (Obadiah 1:1, 8)
Esau (Obadiah 1:6, 8, 9, 18, 19, 21),
Jacob (Obadiah 1:10, 17, 18)
Judah (Obadiah 1:12),
Nations (Obadiah 1:1, 1:2, 1:15, 16),
My holy mountain (Mt Zion) (Obadiah 1:16, 17, 21),
Mountain of Esau (Obadiah 1:8, 9, 19),
Declares the LORD (Obadiah 1:4, 8, Obadiah 1:1)
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Baker’s Evangelical: Obadiah, Theology of
American Tract Society: Obadiah
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Obadiah
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Obadiah, Book of ; Obadiah
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Obadiah, the Book of ; Obadiah
Holman Bible Dictionary: Obadiah, Book of
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Obadiah, Book of
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Obadiah
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Obadiah
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Obadiah
McClintock and Strong: Obadiah
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Obadiah
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Obadiah
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica: Obadiah
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Obadiah
Tim Challies Best Commentaries:
Commentary Reviews: Obadiah
Biblehub Commentaries: Obadiah
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Obadiah
Matthew Henry: Obadiah
Albert Barnes Notes: Obadiah
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Obadiah
Geneva Study Bible: Obadiah
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Obadiah
Articles
Inerrancy And The Minor Prophets — Mal Couch
Old Testament Passages Referring To The Day Of The Lord — Warren Vanhetloo
The Kingdom Of God In The Old Testament — Martin J. Selman
The Character Of Israel’s Future In Light Of The Abrahamic And Mosaic Covenants — Robert Vasholz
Obadiah Accountability in Relationships – Bob Spender
The Bible’s Watchword Day of the Lord — Richard L. Mayhue
Christian Friend: Elijah and Obadiah
Don Fornter: Obadiah 1:17 Three Great Promises
Charles Feinberg: The Commanding Importance of the Prophetic Scriptures
J Hampton Keathley: The Minor Prophets
Richard Mayhue: The Prophet’s Watchword: Day of the LORD
Jeff Miller: The Day of the Lord
GotQuestions.org
Book of Obadiah – Bible Survey
What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets?
Who/what is Edom (Obadiah 1:1, 8)?
When were Obadiah’s prophecies against Edom fulfilled (Obadiah 1:18-20)?
Why did God judge Edom so harshly in the book of Obadiah?
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Previous: Amos
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