The shortest book of the Old Testament — God's judgment on Edom.
Key themes: judgment, pride, Edom, day of the Lord.
| Author | Obadiah |
|---|---|
| Date Written | c. 586 BC (after Jerusalem's fall) or c. 845 BC |
| Original Audience | Edom; Judah |
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament — just 21 verses — containing a single message of judgment against the nation of Edom (descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob). When Babylon sacked Jerusalem in 586 BC, the Edomites cheered, looted, and handed over fleeing Israelites. Obadiah declares that this treachery against a brother nation will not go unpunished. The central spiritual principle appears in verse 15: 'As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.' Edom as a nation was eventually absorbed by other peoples and ceased to exist. The book ends with the promise that 'the kingdom will be the LORD's.'
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