Obadiah 22565 226115762 2008-07-16T21:55:48Z AdultSwim 885146 Fixed the reference <ref name = "b"/> restoring the missing content using version 225073978 [[Image:Obadiah (Овдий).jpg|thumb|200px|[[Russian Orthodox]] [[icon]] of the Prophet Obadiah, 18th century ([[Iconostasis]] of [[Transfiguration]] [[Orthodox church (building)|church]], [[Kizhi]] [[monastery]], [[Karelia]], [[Russia]]).]] {{Four other uses|people named Obadiah in the Old Testament|prophetic book|Book of Obadiah|a Khazar ruler|Obadiah (king)|the [[Iron Man]] villain (Obadiah Stane)|Iron Monger|other individuals named Obadiah|Abdjesus}} '''Obadiah''' is a [[Bible|Biblical]] [[Theophory in the Bible|theophorical]] name, meaning "[[Yahweh]]'s servant/worshipper." It is [[cognate]] to the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name `Ubaidallah (Obeidallah).{{Fact|date=January 2008}} The form of his name used in the [[Septuagint]] is ''Obdios''. == The Prophet Obadiah ==<!-- This section is linked from [[November 19]] --> === In the Old Testament === The prophet named Obadiah is credited with authorship of the shortest [[Book of Obadiah|book]] in the Old Testament,<ref name = "a">{{Citation | last = | first = | author-link = | last2= | first2= | author2-link= | contribution = | year =1964 | publication-date= | title =Nelson's Compact Illustrated Bible Dictionary | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link= | edition= | volume = | series = | page =191 | place = | publisher =Thomas Nelson Publishers | id = | isbn =0-8407-5636-5 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> consisting of a mere 21 verses in a single chapter. The [[Book of Obadiah#Scholarly Issues|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 [[Nebuchadrezzar II|Nebuchadnezzar]] of [[Babylon]], a date near to 586 B.C.<ref name = "b">{{Citation | last = | first = | author-link = | last2= | first2= | author2-link= | contribution = | year =1998 | publication-date= | title =The Rainbow Study Bible (Illustrated Reference Edition) | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link= | edition= | volume = | series = | page =1040 | place = | publisher =Rainbow Studies, Inc. | id = | isbn =1-58170-025-3 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> 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, ([[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] {{bibleverse-nb||Obadiah|1:1-17|HE}}) and the eventual victory of [[Israel]] is declared in a vision of the future. ({{bibleverse||Obadiah|1:18-21|HE}}) He was born in [[Sichem]], and is said to have been the third centurion sent out by [[Ahaz]] against [[Elijah]].<ref name="HAP"/> 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,<ref name = "c">{{Citation | last = | first = | author-link = | last2= | first2= | author2-link= | contribution =Tract Sanhedrin, Volume VIII, XVI, Part II (Haggada), Chapter XI | year = | publication-date= | title =The Babylonian Talmud | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link= | edition= | volume = | series = | page =376 | place =Boston | publisher =The Talmud Society | id = | isbn = | url = http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t08/t0814.htm | accessdate = }} Translated by Michael L. Rodkinson</ref> a descendant of [[Eliphaz]], the friend of [[Job (Bible)|Job]]. He is identified with the Obadiah who prophesied against Edom, 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.<ref name = "c"/> 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]] {{bibleverse-nb|1|Kings|18:3-4|HE}}). 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.<ref>[[Midrash]] ''Exodus Rabbah'' xxxi. 3</ref> 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.<ref>''Sanh.'' loc. cit.</ref> === In Christianity === [[Image:Russian Icon XVIII century - Amos and Obadiah.jpg|thumb|Russian icon of Prophets [[Amos]] and Obadiah, 18th century.]] He is regarded as a [[saint]] by several Christian 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 Church]]es, and with the other [[Minor prophet]]s in the [[Calendar of Saints (Armenian Apostolic Church)|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: * the servant of king [[Ahab]] of Israel ({{bibleverse|1|Kings|18:3|HE}}). According to the [[Sacred Tradition|tradition]] of the Orthodox Church, this is the same individual as the prophet.<ref name="HAP">{{Citation | last = | first = | author-link = | last2= | first2= | author2-link= | contribution = | year =1998 | publication-date= | title =The Lives of the Holy Prophets | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link= | edition= | volume = | series = | page =4 | place =Buena Vista CO | publisher =Holy Apostles Convent | id = | isbn =0-944359-12-4 | url = | accessdate = }} </ref> * the son of Hananiah, a descendant of king [[David]] of Israel through [[Solomon]] ([[1 Chronicles]] {{bibleverse-nb|1|Chronicles|3:21|HE}}) * the son of Uzzi, a descendant of the [[Hebrews|Hebrew]] patriarch [[Issachar]] ({{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|7:3|HE}}) * the son of Azel, a descendant of king [[Saul the King|Saul]] of Israel through [[David and Jonathan|Jonathan]] ({{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|8:38|HE}}) * the son of Shemaiah, a descendant of the Hebrew patriarch [[Levi]] ({{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|9:16|HE}}) * a warrior descended from the Hebrew patriarch [[Gad (Biblical figure)|Gad]] that served king David ({{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|12:9|HE}}) * the father of Ishmaiah, governor of the tribe of [[Zebulun]] during the reign of king David ({{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|27:19|HE}}) * a prince of the southern kingdom of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] during the reign of king [[Jehoshaphat]] ([[2 Chronicles]] {{bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|17:7|HE}}) * a [[Levite]], overseer of the reconstruction efforts during the reforms of king [[Josiah]] of Judah ({{bibleverse|2|Chronicles|34:12|HE}}) * the son of Joab, one of the individuals who returned from the [[Babylonian captivity]] with the priestly scribe [[Ezra]], and possibly the Levite mentioned in ([[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] {{bibleverse-nb||Nehemiah|8:9|HE}}) as a porter of Jerusalem's gates after the city's reconstruction under [[Nehemiah]] ([[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] {{bibleverse-nb||Ezra|8:9|HE}}) == References == <references/> *Holweck, F. G. ''A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints''. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1924. ==External links== *[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103326 Prophet Obadiah (Abdias)] Orthodox [[icon]] and [[synaxarion]] {{Prophets of the Tanakh}} [[Category:9th century BC people]] [[Category:6th century BC people]] [[Category:Converts to Judaism]] [[Category:Old Testament saints]] [[ca:Abdies]] [[el:Αβδιού]] [[es:Abdías (profeta)]] [[fa:عوبدیا]] [[fr:Abdias]] [[id:Obaja]] [[nl:Obadja (profeet)]] [[ja:オバデヤ]] [[pl:Abdiasz (prorok)]]