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“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
(Romans
8:2)
Book
of Obadiah – Britannica
Book of Obadiah
Old Testament
Also known as: Book of Abdias
Britannica Editors
History
Book of Obadiah, the fourth of 12 Old Testament books that
bear the names of the Minor Prophets, in the Jewish canon treated as one book,
The Twelve. Obadiah, with only one chapter consisting of 21 verses, is the
shortest of all Old Testament books and purports to be a record of “the vision
of Obadiah.” Nothing is known of the prophet except for his name, which means
“servant of Yahweh.”
In the book, Edom, a long-time enemy of Israel, is
castigated for its refusal to help Israel repel foreigners who invaded and
conquered Jerusalem. To many scholars this reference suggests a date of composition
after the Babylonian conquest of 586 BC. Others, noting the anti-Edomite
sentiments in II Kings 8:20–22, consider a date as early as the 9th century BC
also probable.
Also spelled: Abdias
The book announces that the Day of Judgment is near for all
nations, when all evil will be punished and the righteous renewed. The final
verses prophesy the restoration of the Jews to their native land.
Gutenberg Bible
More From Britannica
biblical literature: Obadiah