Obidiah's Actions: Lawful Or Not?

The topic of whether Obadiah broke the law is an interesting one, and it is worth noting that there were thirteen men named Obadiah in the Bible. The most notable Obadiah was a minor prophet in the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Obadiah, which is the shortest book in the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Obadiah is a prophecy concerning the divine judgment of Edom and the restoration of Israel. Obadiah lived in the 6th century BC and is believed to have written the book shortly after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC. While the Book of Obadiah focuses on God's judgment and does mention laws and rules, it is not clear whether Obadiah himself broke any laws. However, the topic of Obadiah's potential law-breaking is an intriguing question that invites further exploration and analysis.

Did Obadiah break the law by hiding prophets in a cave?

The Bible mentions 13 different men named Obadiah. One of them, Obadiah the prophet, is said to have safeguarded 100 prophets of Yahweh from Ahab's wife, the wicked Queen Jezebel, by hiding them in a cave. He also brought them food and water.

It is unclear whether Obadiah broke the law by hiding the prophets in a cave. On the one hand, he was protecting them from persecution and providing for their basic needs. This could be seen as an act of compassion and charity. On the other hand, he was going against the wishes of Queen Jezebel, who may have had legal authority to persecute the prophets. It is also worth noting that Obadiah served as an overseer of the household of King Ahab, so he had a duty to obey the king and queen. However, as a devoted servant of God, he ultimately chose to follow his religious beliefs rather than the laws of the land.

Obadiah's actions can be seen as an act of civil disobedience, where he prioritized his religious beliefs over the laws of the land. In this case, the laws of the land may have been seen as unjust or immoral, as they involved the persecution of innocent people. Obadiah's actions can be compared to other acts of civil disobedience throughout history, where people have broken the law because they believed it was morally justifiable or because they were following a higher authority.

In conclusion, while Obadiah may have technically broken the law by hiding the prophets in a cave, his actions can be seen as a courageous and compassionate act of civil disobedience, prioritizing his religious beliefs and the well-being of his fellow prophets over the laws of an unjust ruler.

Did Obadiah break the law by siding with the Edomites?

Obadiah is a biblical prophet and the author of the Book of Obadiah, which is the shortest book in the Hebrew scripture. The Book of Obadiah is an oracle of judgement against Edom.

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, whose descendants made up the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The Edomites and Israelites were enemies, and the Book of Obadiah is a prophecy about the sins and punishment of Edom.

According to the Talmud, Obadiah was a convert to Judaism from Edom and a descendant of Eliphaz, the friend of Job. He is said to have been chosen to prophesy against Edom because he was himself an Edomite. Obadiah is supposed to have received the gift of prophecy for hiding the "hundred prophets" from the persecution of Jezebel. He hid them in two caves so that if those in one cave were discovered, the prophets in the other cave might escape.

Obadiah's prophecy against Edom is rooted in how they took advantage of their old fraternal animosity with Israel. Obadiah writes that Edom "pursue [his] brother with the sword and cast off all pity" (Amos 1:11). He also accuses Edom of taking vengeance on the house of Judah (Ezekiel 25:12) and giving Israel over to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity (Ezekiel 35:5).

The Book of Obadiah predicts Edom's complete doom, stating that Edom will be destroyed and that there will be no one left of the people of Esau (Obadiah 1:18). This prophecy came true when Edom's fortress city, Busaira (Bozrah), was captured and set aflame by the Babylonians in 554 BCE.

Given that Obadiah was himself an Edomite and sided with the Israelites against Edom, it is unlikely that he broke any laws by doing so. However, it is worth noting that the concept of law in the ancient Near East was closely tied to loyalty and kinship, and Obadiah's actions may have been seen as a betrayal by his fellow Edomites.

Did Obadiah break the law by rejoicing at Judah's distress?

The Book of Obadiah is a prophecy about the nation of Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. The book describes the vision of Obadiah, in which God sends a message to the nations to rise up against Edom in battle.

In the vision, God says that Edom will be made small among the nations and despised. Edom's pride has deceived them, and they believe that no one can bring them down from their lofty dwellings in the clefts of the rock. However, God says that even if they soar as high as an eagle and set their nest among the stars, He will bring them down.

Edom's hidden treasures will be searched out and looted. Their allies will deceive them and overpower them, and those who eat their bread will set a trap for them. On the day of God's judgment, God will destroy the wise men of Edom and understanding from the mountain of Esau. Their mighty men will be dismayed, and everyone from the mountain of Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

Edom's violence against their brother Jacob will bring shame upon them, and they will be cut off forever. On the day that strangers carried away Jacob's wealth, and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, Edom stood aloof and did nothing. Instead of helping their brother, they rejoiced in his misfortune and destruction.

God commands Edom not to gloat over their brother's day of calamity and not to enter the gate of His people in their disaster. They are not to gloat over their misery or take their possessions. They are not to stand at the crossroads to cut down those who escape or hand over those who remain in their distress.

The day of the Lord is near for all nations, and as Edom has done, it will be done to them. They will drink from the cup of God's wrath and be destroyed, just as they destroyed others. However, on Mount Zion, there will be deliverance, and the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.

In conclusion, Obadiah's vision reveals God's judgment against Edom for their pride, violence, and rejoicing in the distress of their brother Jacob. They broke the law by failing to show compassion and love towards their brother and actively participating in his destruction.

Did Obadiah break the law by acting against God's people?

The Book of Obadiah is a book of the Bible whose authorship is attributed to Obadiah, a minor prophet in the Hebrew Bible. Obidiah is said to have lived in the 6th century BC and authored the shortest text in the Old Testament, containing only 21 verses.

The Book of Obadiah is a prophecy concerning the divine judgment of Edom and the restoration of Israel. Obadiah describes an encounter with Yahweh, who addresses Edom's arrogance and charges them for their "violence against your brother Jacob". Edom is to be destroyed due to its lack of defence for its brother nation, Israel, when it was under attack. Obadiah writes that the Edomites should have remembered their kinship with the Israelites when they helped the Babylonians loot Jerusalem.

Obadiah's prophecy focuses on God's judgment against the Edomites, a hostile neighbour of Israel, for their part in destroying Jerusalem. Obadiah's message is that God will not forget His people, even in captivity, and will accomplish His purpose through and beyond the harsh conditions they endure.

Obadiah is also known for his actions as an officer in King Ahab's court. He hid God's prophets in a cave, saving them from persecution by Ahab's wife, Queen Jezebel. He also served as an emissary between Ahab and the prophet Elijah.

While Obadiah's actions in hiding the prophets can be seen as a form of disobedience to the king and queen, his motivation was to protect God's people and ensure the continuation of their prophetic work. In this sense, Obadiah was acting in accordance with God's law and will, even if it meant going against the earthly rulers of his time.

Therefore, while Obadiah may have technically broken the law by acting against the king and queen, his actions can be seen as justified and righteous in the eyes of God, as he was fulfilling a higher law and a divine purpose.

Did Obadiah break the law by joining the Edomites in battle?

The Book of Obadiah is a book of the Bible whose authorship is attributed to the prophet Obadiah. Obadiah is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the final section of Nevi'im, the second main division of the Hebrew Bible. The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses with 440 Hebrew words, making it the shortest book in the Tanakh.

The Book of Obadiah is a prophecy concerning the divine judgment of Edom and the restoration of Israel. Obadiah describes an encounter with Yahweh, who addresses Edom's arrogance and charges them for their "violence against your brother Jacob". Edom is to be destroyed due to its lack of defence for its brother nation, Israel, when it was under attack.

The date of the composition of the Book of Obadiah is disputed and difficult to determine due to the lack of information about Obadiah. However, because Obadiah wrote about Edom, there are two generally accepted dates. The first is 853–841 BC, when Jerusalem was invaded by Philistines and Arabs during the reign of Jehoram of Judah. The second is 607–586 BCE, when Jerusalem was attacked by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, which led to the Babylonian captivity.

The Book of Obadiah is considered to have been shaped by the conflicts between Yehud and the Edomites in the fifth and fourth centuries BCE and to have evolved through a process of redaction. It is based on a prophetic vision concerning the fall of Edom, a mountain-dwelling nation founded by Esau. Obadiah said that the high elevation of their dwelling place in the mountains of Seir had gone to their head, and they had become proud.

In the Book of Obadiah, God announces judgment against Edom and her pride. Obadiah gives a report from the Lord, announcing that God will bring nations against Edom in battle. As a result of this coming battle, God will make Edom small among the nations and greatly despised. Edom's sin against Israel is made worse by the fact that Israel and Edom share a common ancestor, Isaac.

Obadiah also addresses the Edomites' inaction during the attack on Jerusalem. They did nothing while strangers carried off the wealth of Judah and foreigners entered his gates. Instead of helping their brother nation, the Edomites rejoiced in Judah's misery and took advantage of their vulnerable state. Finally, they joined in the attack against Judah.

In conclusion, while the Book of Obadiah does mention Obadiah joining the Edomites in battle, it is not clear if this is a reference to a specific historical event or a prophetic vision. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether Obadiah broke the law by joining the Edomites in battle. However, the overall message of the Book of Obadiah is that God will judge Edom for their sins, including their violence against Jacob and their inaction during the attack on Jerusalem.

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