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Background Information
Obadiah’s name means “Servant of the Lord.”
II. The exact date of this book is uncertain, Sampey gives the date as 845 B.C.
III. Addressed to Edom although Judah was intended as the primary readers of the
book.
IV. Message of the book: Condemnation of Edom’s pride and a declaration of the
ultimate victory of Jehovah.
V. Edom: “The country settled by Esau’s descendants. The ruddy hue of the
mountains may have given the name Edom which is red in the original. The
ancient name was Mt. Seir. Seir means rugged. On the E side of W Arabah, from
Elath on the S to Moab on the N, at the brook Zered, about 100 miles long by 20
miles wide. The whole country is wild, rugged and full of deep glens but is also
very fertile on the terraces; while the desert on each side is barren. The people
dwelt amid the rocky heights in caves and houses perched on dizzy crags, like
eagles in their nests, living by their swords; yet, as Isaac promised, this land
possessed ‘the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven.’ The ancient capital
was Bozrah. Sela (Petra) was the stronghold and Ezion-geber its seaport, where
Solomon built a fleet. The crusaders built a fortress 12 miles N of Petra on Mons.
Regalis, now a ruin, called Shobek. The people were always idolaters. The rock
temples and dwellings of Edom were cut in a soft rock; were large, airy, well
lighted and dry, and a safe protection against robbers.” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary).
VI. Two lessons we can learn:
A. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he
will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7).
B. “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from
death.” (Proverbs 11:4).
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