The fourth book of the Minor Prophets; the thirty-first book of the Old Testament; the thirty-first book of the Bible.
Author: Obadiah, as noted in Obadiah 1:1.
Audience: Obadiah was written concerning the Edomites living in the nation of Edom. These people were descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau and had been in conflict with Israel for centuries. The Lord sent this letter through Obadiah to warn Edom that their prideful sin would soon lead to their destruction. The Edomites lived in what is now known as Petra, a city in a high, rocky mountain range. Though they thought their cities were impenetrable, the Lord accurately predicted they would soon be destroyed.
Date: Uncertain, though most likely between 848 and 840 BC.