Obadiah

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The Divine Call Against Edom

TANAKH

Obadiah's prophecy calls for divine retribution against Edom. The book of Obadiah, the shortest in the Hebrew Bible, focuses on the downfall of Edom, an oppressor of Israel, and is often read in conjunction with the story of Jacob and Esau.

The prophecy of Obadiah.
We have received tidings from GOD,
And an envoy has been sent out among the nations:
“Up! Let us rise up against her for battle.”
Thus said the Sovereign GOD concerning Edom:

Obadiah 1:1

Righteousness in the Court of a Wicked King

COMMENTARY

According to the book of Kings, the misguided northern king Ahab had a righteous steward named Ovadiahu, which some but not all sources identify with the similarly named prophet. This contemporary study discusses Ovadiahu's righteous actions and his relationship with King Ahab, highlighting the moral and textual nuances of their story.

1. Achav employs the righteous Ovadiah as his chief of staff. Rabbi Angel posits that Achav picks Ovadiah to counterbalance the influence of Izevel. While this may or may not be the case, Ovadiah does hide the Nevi’ei Hashem from Izevel and feeds them while in hiding. It is difficult to imagine, in our view, that Ovadiah can do this without Achav becoming aware of his actions. It is very likely that Achav is aware, and turns a blind eye to Ovadiah’s activities.

From David to Destruction, The Failures of Beit Achav, Achav's Good Deeds 10

The Righteous Convert

TALMUD

The book of Obadiah is an unusual prophecy, in being directed not at Israel, but at the foreign nation Edom. In the Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin, the sages speculate on who Obadiah was and why he was particularly suited to preach to the Edomites.

Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Let Obadiah come, who dwells among two wicked ones, Ahab and Jezebel, but did not learn from their actions; and he will prophesy concerning Esau the wicked, the progenitor of Edom, who dwelled among two righteous ones, Isaac and Rebekkah, but did not learn from their actions. Efrayim Miksha’a, a student of Rabbi Meir, said in the name of Rabbi Meir: Obadiah was an Edomite convert. Consequently, he prophesied with regard to Edom…

Sanhedrin 39b:15

From Edomite to Prophet

COMMENTARY

Opinions differ about whether the Obadiah mentioned in the book of Kings is the same as the prophet Obadiah. Don Isaac Abarbanel, a 15th-century Jewish scholar, presents different arguments and evidence about Obadiah's identity.

The Ibn Ezra in his wisdom writes that this Ovadiah cannot be the same one who is found in the book of Melachim because there Ovadiah is labeled as one who "fears Gd" and he isn't called a prophet there. Since prophet is a more respected label it should've been used to label him. But this argument is invalid because maybe Ovadiah hadn't yet received his prophecy while he was still serving the house of Achav, so the pesukim in Melachim only discuss his fear of Gd and his sustaining and hiding and saving the prophets…

Abarbanel on Obadiah 1:1:10

Obadiah's Exceptional Righteousness

MIDRASH

Obadiah, Ahab's steward, is described as 'revering God greatly'. Ein Yaakov, a compilation of Talmudic stories and parables, compares obadiah to other biblical heroes and recounts Obadiah's meritorious act of hiding one hundred prophets to protect them from Jezebel.

(I Kings 18, 3) And Achab called Obadiah, who was the superintendent of the house. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. What was their discussion? R. Isaac said: "Achab said to Obadiah: "Concerning Jacob, it is written (Gen. 30, 27) The Lord hath blessed me for thy sake, and concerning Joseph it is written (Ib. 39, 5) The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for the sake of Joseph. I, however, keep thee in my house, yet I am not blessed for thy sake. Perhaps thou art not fearing God?" Thereupon a heavenly voice was heard, saying: "Obadiah fears the Lord greatly…

Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Sanhedrin 4:26

Faithful Obadiah Defies Evil

MIDRASH

Obadiah's unwavering faith and righteousness shine through, even as he serves the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Louis Ginzberg’s early 20th-century work, Legends of the Jews, weaves together details from many different stories and sources to compose a narrative about Obadiah’s righteousness.

Like his teacher, Elisha was always ready to help the poor and needy, as witness his sympathy with the widow of one of the sons of the prophets, and the effective aid he extended to her. Her husband had been none other than Obadiah, who, though a prophet, had at the same time been one of the highest officials at the court of the sinful king Ahab. By birth an Edomite, Obadiah had been inspired by God to utter the prophecy against Edom. In his own person he embodied the accusation against Esau, who had lived with his pious parents without following their example, while Obadiah, on the contrary…

Legends of the Jews 4:8:6

Obadiah's Dilemma

COMMENTARY

Obadiah, Ahab's steward, had a tense interaction with Elijah the prophet, despite his reverence for the man. The Tze'enah Ure'enah, a Yiddish commentary from the late 16th century on the Torah and haftarah portions, explains this encounter.

“As the Lord your God lives” [18:10]. Obadiah said and swore. There is no kingdom in the world that Ahab did not send to seek you. They made all of them swear that nobody had hidden you. Now, if I were to go and tell Ahab that Elijah is here and in the meantime you will flee anywhere else, and Ahab will not find you, then he will kill me. You Elijah have always been righteous, so how can you allow me to be killed? You know well that I have endangered my life and have hidden a hundred prophets in the caves and fed them.

Tze'enah Ure'enah, Haftarot, Ki Tisa 10

The Downfall of Edom

COMMENTARY

Edom's downfall is attributed to their betrayal and violence against their brother Jacob, leading to their ultimate shame and elimination. The prophet Obadiah delivers a powerful message about justice and retribution, as clarified in this contemporary commentary and translation by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz.

After describing Edom’s downfall, the prophet cites the reason why this will occur: For the villainy done by you to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be eliminated forever.

Steinsaltz on Obadiah 1:10

Obadiah's Encounter with Elijah

TANAKH

Ahab's steward Obadiah's immediate recognition and reverence for Elijah highlight his respect and submission to prophetic authority. In the Book of Kings, Obadiah encounters Elijah on the road and honors him with his speech and behavior.

Obadiah was on the road, when Elijah suddenly confronted him. [Obadiah] recognized him and flung himself on his face, saying, “Is that you, my lord Elijah?”

I Kings 18:7

The Fire and the Flame

KABBALAH

Esau is often portrayed by the tradition as a rival or enemy of Israel. The Zohar, a central text of Jewish mysticism, uses the metaphor from the prophet Obadiah of Jacob and Joseph as a flame and Esau as straw to emphasize the strength of unifying the forces within Israel against the enemy.

But now that Esau is biting him and his children, who will stand up against him? Jacob and Joseph, one on one side and the other on the other side. So Scripture says: “And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, etc.” (Oba. 1, 18).

Zohar, Vayishlach 12:152

Edom's Fall Israel's Triumph

TANAKH

The prophecy of Obadiah foretells the downfall of Edom due to its hostility towards Israel and the future strengthening of Israel. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s introduction to the book of Obadiah gives an overview of its contents.

The prophecy of Obadiah discusses the final days of the kingdom of Edom. The Edomites, who were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, were considered the nation with the closest lineage to Israel. Nevertheless, this did not stop Edom from acting in a hostile manner toward Israel and from causing it much distress. The Edomites collaborated with Israel’s enemies on various occasions, and even attempted to take over the land of Judah. Obadiah prophesies that the sword of Edom, raised over his brother Israel, will bring about his own destruction…

Steinsaltz Introductions to Tanakh, Obadiah, Book Introduction 1

Obadiah, James Tissot, 1896-1902

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Esau

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