Obadiah is a Biblical theophorical name, meaning "servant of Yahweh" or "worshipper of Yahweh."[1] It is cognate to the Arabic name ‘Abdullah. The form of his name used in the Septuagint is Obdios; in Latin it is Abdias.
The Prophet Obadiah
In the Old Testament
The prophet named Obadiah is credited with authorship of the shortest book in the Old Testament,[2] consisting of a mere 21 verses in a single chapter. The date of his ministry is unclear due to certain historical ambiguities in the book bearing his name. The events recorded in his writings may refer to the invasion of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, a date near to 586 B.C.[3] The main thrust of the prophet's ministry, reflected in the themes of his book, is the ultimate victory of the people of God if they maintain their faith. Edom is used as an example of failure to manifest love toward one's neighbor in times of need, (Obadiah 1:1-17) and the eventual victory of Israel is declared in a vision of the future. (Obadiah 1:18-21)
In some Christian traditions he is said to have been born in "Sychem" (Shechem), and to have been the third centurion sent out by Ahab against Elijah.[4]
See main entry on the Book of Obadiah.
In Rabbinic tradition
According to the Talmud, Obadiah is said to have been a convert to Judaism from Edom,[5] a descendant of Eliphaz, the friend of Job. He is identified with the Obadiah who was the servant of Ahab, and it is said that he was chosen to prophesy against Edom because he was himself an Edomite. Moreover, having lived with two such godless persons as Ahab and Jezebel without learning to act as they did, he seemed the most suitable person to prophesy against Esau (Edom), who, having been brought up by two pious persons, Isaac and Rebekah, had not learned to imitate their good deeds.
Obadiah is supposed to have received the gift of prophecy for having hidden the hundred and twenty eight prophets from the persecution of Jezebel.[5] He hid the prophets in two caves, so that if those in one cave should be discovered those in the other might yet escape (1 Kings 18:3-4).
Obadiah was very rich, but all his wealth was expended in feeding the poor prophets, until, in order to be able to continue to support them, finally he had to borrow money at interest from Ahab's son Jehoram.[6] Obadiah's fear of God was one degree higher than that of Abraham; and if the house of Ahab had been capable of being blessed, it would have been blessed for Obadiah's sake.[7]
In Catholicism
Russian icon of Prophets
Amos and Obadiah, 18th century.
He is regarded as a saint by several Catholic churches. His feast day is celebrated on January 10 in the Coptic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite celebrate his memory on November 19 (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, November 19 currently falls on December 2 of the modern Gregorian Calendar). He is celebrated on February 28 in the Syriac and Malankara Churches, and with the other Minor prophets in the Calendar of saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 31.
According to an old tradition, Obadiah is buried in Samaria.
Other Obadiahs in the Old Testament
Other individuals named Obadiah in the Old Testament are listed as:
References
- ^ New Bible Dictionary, second edition. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL, USA.
- ^ Nelson's Compact Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1964, p. 191, ISBN 0-8407-5636-5
- ^ The Rainbow Study Bible (Illustrated Reference Edition), Rainbow Studies, Inc., 1998, p. 1040, ISBN 1-58170-025-3
- ^ a b The Lives of the Holy Prophets, Buena Vista CO: Holy Apostles Convent, 1998, p. 4, ISBN 0-944359-12-4
- ^ a b "Tract Sanhedrin, Volume VIII, XVI, Part II (Haggada), Chapter XI", The Babylonian Talmud, Boston: The Talmud Society, p. 376, http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t08/t0814.htm Translated by Michael L. Rodkinson
- ^ Midrash Exodus Rabbah xxxi. 3
- ^ Sanh. loc. cit.
- Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1924.
External links
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