The Book Of Obadiah - Old Testament

[MorphRC]

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[font="Times"][b]Caelum defendet militem, Caelum exercet militem, Caelum docet militem. Amen. Amen.[/b][/font]
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[color=gray][font="Times"][b]The Book of Obadiah - Old Testament[/b][/color][/font]
[b]N J B C -BackGround & Date. *Imprimatur*[/b]

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[b]Note:[/b] All Sources are given, in proper [i]bibliographic setting[/i].

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[color=gray][font="Times"][b]The Book of Obadiah[/b][/color][/font]
[b]INTRODUCTION[/b]

[b]27 (I) Background and Date.[/b]

The Hebrew Bible recognizes bonds of kindship between Edom and Judah, tracing the bloodlines to Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:19-26). The relationship between the two peoples -- as the oracle in Gen 25:23 suggests -- was hardly fraternal. During the exodus Edom refused passage to the Israelites (Num 20:14-21). Although Israel was explicitly instructed not to attack Edom or annex Edomite land in Deut 2:2-8, David made Edom a part of his empire (2 Sam 8:13 [with LXX] and 1 Chr 18:12-13). Joab, David's general, engaged in a campaign of genocide against Edom (1 Kgs 11:15-16) but Hadad, a member of the Edomite royal family, escaped to return later and to rebel against Solomon's rule (1 Kgs 11:25b [with LXX]).
During the period of the monarchy, Judah and Edom seem to have been in constant conflict, with Edom sometimes free, sometimes under the hegermony of Judah. Jehoshaphat seems to have been in control of Edom and the port city on the Gulf of Aqabah (1 Kgs 22:49). This control was lost in the next generation when Edom revolted against Jehoram (2 Kgs 8:20-22). During the 8th cent. Edom was under the control of Amaziah (2 Kgs 14:7) and Uzziah (2 Kgs 14:22).

During the last days of Judah, Edom was involved in a plot against the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Jer 27 reflects an attempted coalition between Judah, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidom against Babylon. The outcome was disastrous. Jerusalem and Judah were destroyed. Josephus mentions the subjugation of Ammon and Moab ([i]Ant.[/i] 10.9.7 [i]S181[/i]-82) but does not mention an attack against Edom. Lam 4:21-22 singles out Edom for its sins and crimes while 1 Esde 4:45 accuses Edom of burning the Temple. While it is not certain that Edom actively took part in the destruction of Jerusalem, its treachery in the aftermath embittered Judah and is the memory behind Obadiah's oracle and Ps 137:7.

The destruction of Jerusalem in 587 can be taken as the [i]terminus post quem[/i] for the book. The conquest of Edomite territory by the Nabateans, which was completed by at least 312 (see Diodrous Siculus 2:48; 19:94-98; Mal 1:2-5; Neh 2:19; 6:1ff.), is the [i]terminus ante quem[/i]. However, as early as the 5th cent. Edom had been expelled from its lands across the Jordan. It is during this period that the main oracle of Obad was most likely written. A slightly later period is reflected in vv 15a, 16-21.

[b]28 (IV) Outline.[/b]

The work may be outlined thus:

(I) Oracle against Edom (1-14,15b)
-- (A) Edom is Doomed (1-9)
-- (B) Reasons for Edom's Destruction (10-14,15b)
(II) Day of Yahweh, Punishment of Nations (15a,16-21)

[b]Source:[/b]

[i]New Jerome Biblical Commentary[/i], 2nd Edition, Published 1990, Reprint: 1995,1996 & 2000. [i]Authors & Editors: Raymond E. Brown, S.S., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J. & Roland E. Murphy, O'CARM[/i]. [b]Nihil Obstat & Impartiur[/b].
[i]NJBC[/i], 2nd Ed. Pub. 1990, Repr: 1995,1996 & 2000. - Page 404, Obadiah (1:1-10), [24:27-31], 27-28.

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[StColette]

Great post Morph

[MorphRC]

Todah.