When was Obadiah written?

The prophet Obadiah lived in the ninth century BC, after Israel had split into two kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Obadiah’s prophecy was directed at Judah, but its focus was on neighboring Edom. Obadiah condemned Edom’s violence and gloating over Judah’s suffering. He prophesied centuries before Babylon took Judah into exile. Obadiah wrote the book during or shortly after the events it describes, around 850 to 840 BC.

Obadiah is only 21 verses long, but it gives clues about who wrote it and when. Notably, the book is technically anonymous as it doesn’t include a clear statement identifying its author. In contrast, most other prophetic books do. For example, Jeremiah begins, “The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah” (Jeremiah 1:1), and Hosea starts, “The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri” (Hosea 1:1). Yet Obadiah begins simply, “The vision of Obadiah” (Obadiah 1:1). While the statement attributes the visions in the book to Obadiah, and he is likely its author, the identification is less specific than in many other prophetic books.

Obadiah’s focus on Edom also helps date the book. Edom, a country to the southeast of Judah, took advantage of the southern kingdom during the mid-ninth century BC, when Jerusalem was under attack. According to 2 Chronicles 21:8–17, when the Philistines and Arabians invaded Judah, Edom joined in the assault. In response to the Edomites’ aggression, Obadiah accused them of being opportunists who betrayed their “brother” instead of offering help (Obadiah 1:10). The Edomites, descended from Esau, were related to the Judeans.

Obadiah is straightforward in his criticism of Edom. He writes, “On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them” (Obadiah 1:11). He goes on to accuse Edom of gloating over Judah and plundering their people and land (Obadiah 1:12–14). Many scholars associate this attack on Jerusalem with the Philistine and Arabian invasion recorded in the mid-ninth century BC, which supports the 860 to 850 BC dating of Obadiah’s writing.

Moreover, 2 Kings 8:20–22 refers to events from the middle of the ninth century BC. It reports that Edom turned against Judah and specifies when: “In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king” (2 Kings 8:20). Jehoram ruled Judah from 848 to 841 BC. He tried to stop the rebellion of Edom but failed and had to retreat (2 Kings 8:21).

Because Obadiah is one of the shortest books in the Bible, little is known about the prophet or the book named for him. However, there is enough biblical evidence to give readers confidence in when it was written. As the likely author, Obadiah describes challenging times for Judah, when their enemies took advantage of their suffering. Nevertheless, God’s people could still have hope that He would one day bring justice. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Obadiah wrote, “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head” (Obadiah 1:15).