When Was Obadiah Written?
The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, but its date is one of the most debated in biblical studies.
To understand when Obadiah was written, readers need to weigh historical events, prophetic language, and the relationship between Obadiah and other biblical texts.
That dating question matters because Obadiah’s message is tightly tied to a real conflict between Judah and Edom, and the timing shapes how the prophecy is read.
What the Book of Obadiah Is About
Obadiah is an oracle against Edom, the nation descended from Esau and long associated with conflict against Israel and Judah.
The prophet condemns Edom for violence, pride, and betrayal, especially in the wake of Jerusalem’s suffering.
The book focuses on themes that are central to the Hebrew Bible: divine justice, judgment on arrogant nations, and restoration for God’s people.
Because the content is so closely connected to a specific historical crisis, scholars often use the political setting to narrow the date.
Main Theories for When Obadiah Was Written
There are two primary scholarly proposals for when Obadiah was written:
- Early date: sometime in the 9th century BCE, during or after the reign of Jehoram of Judah.
- Late date: after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, during the Babylonian destruction and exile.
Both views rely on how Obadiah 1:10–14 is connected to a time when Jerusalem was attacked and Edom took advantage of Judah’s weakness.
Why Many Scholars Favor a Post-586 BCE Date?
The most common modern view is that Obadiah was written after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.
The strongest reason is the description of Jerusalem’s downfall and the Edomites’ failure to help, which appears to fit the Babylonian crisis well.
Several details support this reading:
- The language about foreign invaders entering Jerusalem resembles the devastation described in other exile-era texts.
- Edom’s actions look like opportunistic betrayal after Judah’s collapse.
- The prophecy’s tone matches other exilic and post-exilic writings that interpret national disaster as divine judgment.
In this view, Obadiah reflects the trauma of the exile and turns that event into a broader statement about God’s judgment on hostile nations.
Arguments for an Earlier Date
Other scholars argue that Obadiah was written earlier, perhaps in the 800s BCE, after the Philistine, Arab, and Philistine invasion described in 2 Chronicles 21:16–17 during Jehoram’s reign.
This interpretation suggests that the reference to violence against “your brother Jacob” could point to a different historical raid on Jerusalem or Judah.
The early-date position often emphasizes the possibility that Obadiah is using general prophetic language rather than referring to the Babylonian destruction specifically.
Supporters also note that some of the book’s ideas may overlap with language found in Jeremiah, raising questions about literary dependence and chronology.
Still, this view faces a challenge: the descriptions in Obadiah are vivid enough that many readers think they fit the 586 BCE disaster more naturally than an earlier attack.
Obadiah and Jeremiah: Which Text Came First?
One of the biggest clues in the dating debate is the overlap between Obadiah 1:1–9 and Jeremiah 49:7–22.
The two passages share themes, imagery, and sometimes nearly identical wording about Edom’s downfall.
Scholars generally explain this relationship in one of three ways:
- Obadiah borrowed from Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah borrowed from Obadiah.
- Both drew from an earlier prophetic tradition.
If Obadiah depends on Jeremiah, then a later date becomes more likely.
If Jeremiah used Obadiah, then Obadiah could be earlier.
Because the textual relationship is not fully settled, this evidence supports discussion but does not by itself prove the date.
Historical Background: Edom, Judah, and Jerusalem
Edom occupied territory south and southeast of Judah and had a long, strained relationship with Israel.
The Edomites were descendants of Esau, while Israelites traced their identity through Jacob, making the tension both political and familial.
By the time of the monarchy, Edom and Judah were often in conflict over trade routes, border control, and regional power.
When Jerusalem was under attack, Edom’s apparent gloating or cooperation with enemies would have been seen as a serious betrayal.
That historical reality helps explain why Obadiah is so focused on Edom’s pride and coming judgment.
Key Clues Inside the Text
Several internal features help readers evaluate when Obadiah was written:
- Focus on Jerusalem’s humiliation: The prophet describes outsiders entering the city and casting lots over it.
- Condemnation of Edom’s response: Edom is accused of standing aloof, rejoicing, and handing over survivors.
- Prophetic certainty: The oracle speaks as if Edom’s defeat is already decreed.
- Universal judgment language: The book ends with the announcement that “the kingdom shall be the Lord’s,” expanding the message beyond Edom.
These clues make Obadiah more than a local political complaint.
The book uses a historical event to make a theological claim about God’s rule over the nations.
What Most Bible Scholars Say Today
In modern scholarship, the most widely accepted answer to when Obadiah was written is sometime after 586 BCE, likely in the exilic period.
This date best fits the book’s references to Jerusalem’s fall and Edom’s conduct during Judah’s crisis.
However, responsible study should acknowledge that a minority of scholars still support an earlier setting.
The book is short, its historical references are brief, and its literary connections to Jeremiah leave room for debate.
For that reason, Obadiah is often dated broadly rather than to a single precise year.
Why the Date of Obadiah Matters for Interpretation
Knowing when Obadiah was written helps readers understand what kind of prophecy it is.
A post-586 BCE reading highlights the pain of exile, the memory of betrayal, and the hope that God will judge violent nations.
An earlier date places the book in a different phase of Judah’s history and emphasizes recurring Edomite hostility over time.
The dating also affects how readers understand the book’s message about justice.
Obadiah is not only about Edom’s fall; it is also about the moral order of history, where arrogance, violence, and betrayal do not escape divine notice.
How to Read Obadiah in Context
For careful interpretation, it helps to read Obadiah alongside other biblical books that mention Edom, Jerusalem’s destruction, and the exile.
Useful comparison texts include:
- Psalm 137
- Lamentations
- Jeremiah 49
- Ezekiel 25
- Amos 1
These passages show how the Bible remembers national disaster, neighborly betrayal, and the hope for restoration.
They also help place Obadiah within the larger prophetic tradition.
Whether dated to the 9th century BCE or after 586 BCE, Obadiah speaks from a moment of crisis and turns that crisis into a lasting message about judgment, humility, and the sovereignty of God.
