A Unique Book
Obadiah is the shortest Old Testament writing in terms of chapters, verses and total number of King James words.
In relation to the entirety of Scripture, Obadiah is tied with four other Biblical books (Philemon, Jude, 2John and 3John) for being the shortest in terms of the number of chapters. In terms of verses it is the third shortest, beaten out by 2John (thirteen verses) and 3John (fourteen verses).
[Timeline of the Minor Prophets]
Four out of the twelve Minor Prophets wrote primarily or entirely about non-Jewish nations. Obadiah is one of these four prophets, as his book centers on the judgment and punishment of Edom. The others are Jonah, with its warning to Nineveh, Nahum, with his warning also against Nineveh, and Habakkuk, who wrote against Babylon.
Obadiah's book, written in 590 B.C., overlaps the ministries and writings of a few other prophetic authors. Jeremiah's book was penned between 627 and 585, Daniel's was recorded between 605 and 530, Ezekiel wrote his work between 597 to 570, and fellow Minor Prophet Joel wrote between 596 and 586 B.C.
[Life of Jeremiah the Prophet]
A Long History of Hate
The animosity and bitterness of the descendants of Esau (Edomites) toward Israel goes much farther back than 590 B.C. when Obadiah was written!
Moses, in 1406 B.C., is tasked to lead the Israelites south of the Dead Sea then take them north on their final approach to entering the Promised Land. Messengers are sent, as the people come to the borders of Edom, requesting the Edomite king allow the Israelites passage through his land following the King's Highway (Numbers 20:14 - 17). The king's response to Moses is short and threatening.
"Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword." (Numbers 20:18).
[Moses' Life from Exodus Until His Death]
The Israelites then respond by promising the king that if they are allowed to pass through his territory they would do so quickly and even pay for any water they drank! The Edomite king not only refused the second request, he underscored his commitment to not let Israel through with a show of force!
And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him (Numbers 20:20 - 21).
The Israelites were forced to take a much longer journey around Edom's land in order to get to their destination.
Cave Dwelling Troglodytes
Perhaps the earliest reference to an area later populated by the Edomites, hinted at in Obadiah 1:3, is found in Genesis 14.
A group of people known as the Horims (Horites), who resided mostly in caves, lived in and around Mt. Seir. Their name, in Hebrew, means "cave dweller" or "troglodyte" (Strong's Concordance #H2752). They were one of the many people overcome and plundered in the Bible's first recorded war (Genesis 14:1 - 6).
Sometime after the above event the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) kicked the Horims out of their home and claimed Mt. Seir as their own (Genesis 36:8, Deuteronomy 2:12, 22).
The term "troglodyte," in modern times, is typically used as an insult toward someone considered really stupid or out of date (Urban Dictionary, Free Dictionary).
[Humorous Quotes on Stupidity!]
Attacks Before Obadiah
Two major attacks by the Babylonian Empire took place against Judah and Jerusalem before Obadiah wrote his book in 590 B.C.
First Attack
The first major attack that took place before Obadiah was written was in 605 B.C. It was in this year, during Nebuchadnezzar's first year of rule (Jeremiah 25:1), that he attacked Jerusalem during the reign of Judah's King Jehoiakim. The reason for the attack was that Jehoiakim, after three years of serving Babylon, rebelled and refused to continue being a vassal state (2Kings 24:1).
[Attacks on Jerusalem Timeline]
[Map of the Babylonian Empire]
Nebuchadnezzar's forces, which included bands of Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites (2Kings 24:2), take Judah and Jerusalem. Daniel and his companions, along with others of noble birth, are taken captive to Babylon (Daniel 1:3). Some of the vessels from Jerusalem's temple are also taken and placed in a Babylonian pagan temple (Daniel 1:2, 2Chronicles 36:7).
Second Attack
The second attack before Obadiah was penned took place in 597 B.C. King Jehoiachin, after King Jehoiakim' death in late 598 B.C., took the throne of Judah. The reign of the eighteen year old ruler, however, would ultimately only last three months and ten days (2Kings 24:8, 2Chronicles 36:9).
[Interior Design of Jerusalem's Temple]
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem a second time and captures it in March of 597 B.C. (2Kings 24, 2Chronicles 36). King Jehoiachin, along with his entire household, including his servants, princes and officers, are taken as prisoners back to Babylon (2Kings 24:12). Nebuchadnezzar then sets up Zedekiah as Babylon's puppet king over the Kingdom of Judah (2Chronicles 36:10).
According to 2Kings 24 all the treasures in Jerusalem's temple were taken as booty. Not only was the temple looted but also a huge number of people, which included the prophet Ezekiel, were taken as captives back to Babylon!
Babylon's king took as prisoner all those of noble birth, along with anyone strong enough to fight, and anyone with a skill or craft who could serve the empire. Only the poorest of the poor were left in the land.
And he (Nebuchadnezzar) carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon (2Kings 24:14 - 16).
It was seven years later, in 590 B.C., that Obadiah wrote his book.