Obadiah - Introduction

JEROME makes him contemporary with Hosea, Joel, and Amos. It is an argument in favor of this view that Jeremiah would be more likely to insert in his prophecies a portion from a preceding prophet than from a contemporary. If so, the allusion in Obadiah 2:11-14 the former captures of Jerusalem: by the Egyptians under Rehoboam ( 1 Kings 14:25 1 Kings 14:26 ; 2 Chronicles 12:2 Arabians in the reign of Joram ( 2 Chronicles 21:16 2 Chronicles 21:17 of Israel, in the reign of Amaziah ( 2 Chronicles 25:22 2 Chronicles 25:23 reign of Jehoiakim ( 2 Kings 24:1 Jehoiachin ( 2 Kings 24:8-16 to the Jews; and the terms in which that enmity is characterized are not stronger in Obadiah than in Joel 3:19 Amos 1:11 Amos 1:12 is that by Joash and the Israelites in the reign of Amaziah. For as, a little before, in the reign of the same Amaziah, the Jews had treated harshly the Edomites after conquering them in battle ( 2 Chronicles 25:11-23 it is probable that the Edomites, in revenge, joined the Israelites in the attack on Jerusalem [JAEGER].

This book may be divided into two parts: (1) Obadiah 1:1-6 Edom's violence toward his brother Israel in the day of the latter's distress, and his coming destruction with the rest of the foes of Judah; (2) Obadiah 1:17-21 their own possessions, to which shall be added those of the neighboring peoples, and especially those of Edom.