Obadiah Research Paper

The book of Obadiah was written from a vision Obadiah received from the LORD ca. 586 B.C. while the city of Jerusalem was under attack from the Babylonians. The Sovereign LORD had a message for Edom—the descendants of Esau the brother of Jacob—. The prophet Obadiah by revelation declared that the Edomites would be made small among the nations, and that th ey would be utterly despised. The Edomites lived in the clefts of rocks in the highlands east of the Jordan river, because of their position their pride had deceived them and they thought that nobody could bring them down from the heights, however, the LORD said even though they soar like eagles and make their nest among the stars that the LORD will bring them down. Obadiah prophecies that Edom will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures will be pillaged. Even their friends will deceive and overpower them. In this day, the LORD will destroy the wise men of Edom, the warriors of Teman will be terrified, and so will everyone on the mountains of
Obadiah prophecies that what they have done to Judah will be done to them as well; their deeds will return upon their own heads. Obadiah then switches to an oracle of blessing of Mount Zion, Obadiah declares that there will be deliverance. Mount Zion will be holy and the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance. In contrast to the house of Esau being like a stubble, the house of Joseph will be a flame. In the end there will be no survivors from the house of Esau. To finish, Obadiah declares that the people of the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and the people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. Obadiah brings a word of hope to the Israelites, declaring that the exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land as far as Zarephath, and that the exiles from Jerusalem will possess the towns in the Negev. The kingdom Obadiah concludes will be the