Who was Obadiah in the Bible?
The name of several Old Testament Israelites
Hebrew name: עֹבַדְיָה (ovedyah)
Name meaning: “Servant of Yahweh”
a. Governor under Ahab (1 Kings 18:3 ff.)
Obadiah is introduced as the governor of King Ahab’s palace. Ahab was the king of Israel during a period of great spiritual apostasy and idolatry. Despite the ungodly environment in which he served, Obadiah remained faithful to the Lord. He is depicted as a righteous man who feared God, as seen in his actions to protect and provide for the prophets of the Lord during a time of persecution (1 Kings 18:4). In 1 Kings 18:7-16, Obadiah plays a crucial role in the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Despite the risks involved, Obadiah obeys Elijah’s instructions and helps to facilitate the showdown between the true God and the false prophets.
b. Descendant of David (1 Chronicles 3:21)
Obadiah the son of Arnan is listed in the genealogy of King David.
c. Descendant of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:3)
Obadiah the son of Izrahiah is listed as a descendant of Issachar, the ancestral head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
d. Descendant of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:38)
Obadiah the son of Azel is listed as one of the descendants of King Saul.
e. Descendant of Levi (1 Chronicles 9:16)
Obadiah the son of Shemaiah is listed among the descendants of Levi, the ancestral head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
f. A warrior (1 Chronicles 12:9)
Obadiah was one of the warriors who joined David at Ziklag when he was fleeing from Saul.
g. Father of Ishmaiah (1 Chronicles 27:19)
Ishmaiah was a chief of the tribe of Zebulun; Obadiah was his father.
h. Official under Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:7)
Obadiah was an official sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the Law in Judah.
i. An overseer (2 Chronicles 34:12)
Obadiah oversaw the repair of the temple under Josiah, which had fallen into disrepair during the reign of Josiah’s predecessors.
j. An exile returnee (Ezra 8:9)
Obadiah is documented as the leader of a family who returned from exile with Ezra.
k. Signatory of Nehemiah’s covenant (Nehemiah 10:5)
Obadiah is recorded as one of the men who signed Nehemiah’s written covenant to keep the Law of Moses after the exile.
l. A prophet (Obadiah 1 ff.)
Obadiah is a minor prophet in the Old Testament, and his book is the shortest in the Hebrew Bible, consisting of only 21 verses. The book of Obadiah is a prophecy against the nation of Edom, a neighboring nation to Israel. Obadiah’s prophecy focuses on Edom’s pride, violence, and betrayal of their brother nation, Israel. The context of Obadiah’s prophecy is during the time of the Exile and Return of the Israelites, which took place in the 6th century BC. In Obadiah’s prophecy, he delivers a message of judgment against Edom for their mistreatment of Israel and their prideful attitude. Edom’s actions of gloating over Israel’s downfall and participating in their destruction did not go unnoticed by God, and Obadiah declares that Edom will face retribution for their sins.