Obadiah
Obadiah | |
---|---|
Prophet | |
Died | Unknown |
Venerated in | Judaism Christianity Islam |
Feast | 19 November (Catholic, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches) 15 Tobi (Coptic) |
Attributes | Prophet with his index finger of his right hand pointing upward[1] |
Major works | Book of Obadiah |
Obadiah (/oʊbəˈdaɪ.ə/; Hebrew: עֹבַדְיָה – ʿŌḇaḏyā or עֹבַדְיָהוּ – ʿŌḇaḏyāhū; "servant of Yah", or "Slave of Yah [YHWH]"), also known as Abdias,[2] is a biblical prophet. The authorship of the Book of Obadiah is traditionally attributed to the prophet Obadiah.
Biblical account
Dating
The date of composition is disputed and is difficult to determine due to the lack of information regarding the prophet Obadiah. However, because Obadiah wrote about
The other is 607–586 BC, when Jerusalem was attacked by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, which led to the Babylonian exile of Israel (recorded in Psalm 137). The later date would place Obadiah as a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah. The Interpreters' Bible states that:
The political situation implied in the prophecy points to a time after the Exile, probably in the mid-fifth century B.C. No value can be attributed to traditions identifying this prophet with King Ahab's steward (... so Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 39b) or with King Ahaziah's captain (... so Pseudo-Epiphanius...).
- — The Interpreters' Bible.[5]
Rabbinic tradition
According to the
Obadiah is supposed to have received the gift of prophecy for having hidden the "hundred prophets"[7] from the persecution of Jezebel.[6] He hid the prophets in two caves, so that if those in one cave should be discovered those in the other might yet escape.[8]
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.[9] 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.[6]
Christian tradition
In some Christian traditions he is said to have been born in "Sychem" (Shechem), and to have been the third captain sent out by Ahaziah against Elijah.[10][11] The date of his ministry is unclear due to certain historical ambiguities in the book bearing his name, but is believed to be around 586 B.C.
He is regarded as a
He is celebrated on 28 February in the
According to an old tradition, Obadiah is buried in Sebastia, at the same site as Elisha and where later the body of John the Baptist was believed to have been buried by his followers.[12]
Islamic tradition
Some Islamic scholars identify the prophet Dhu al-Kifl with Obadiah.[13]
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Stracke, Richard (2015-10-20). "The Prophet Obadiah". Christian Iconography.
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Abdias". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Obadiah". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
- ^ Job 4:1
- ^ The Interpreter's Bible, 1953, Volume VI, pp. 857–859, John A. Thompson
- ^ a b c "Tract Sanhedrin, Volume VIII, XVI, Part II (Haggada), Chapter XI", The Babylonian Talmud, Boston: The Talmud Society, p. 376 Translated by Michael L. Rodkinson
- ^ 1 Kings 18:4
- 1 Kings 18:3–4
- ^ Midrash Exodus Rabbah xxxi. 3
- ^ 2 Kings 1
- ISBN 0-944359-12-4
- ^ Denys Pringle, The Churches of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: A Corpus. Vol. 2: L-Z (excluding Tyre), p. 283.
- ^ Quran 38:48
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hirsch, Emil G.; Ochser, Schulim (1905). "Obadiah". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 369.
- Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1924.
External links
- Prophet Obadiah (Abdias) Orthodox synaxarion