The Book of Obadiah

The name Obadiah means "servant [or worshipper] of YHWH." The book of Obadiah is the shortest of the OT books, and is certainly one of the most overlooked. Most of the contents involve a rebuke of Israel's neighbor, Edom, situated at the southeast of the Dead Sea. Some have slighted the book on the basis of its narrow nationalism and its propagation of hate. Although the book makes allusions to definite historical situations, these are difficult to pinpoint and date. Hence the historical background to the book is vague.