Obadiah, 2nd ed. (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament | ZEC)

by Daniel I. Block

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2017

Overview

Obadiah, part of the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament series, serves pastors and teachers by providing them with a careful analysis and interpretation of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament book of Obadiah, quickly allowing pastors to grasp the big idea of the passage and how it fits in its larger context.

Designed for the pastor and Bible teacher, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament brings together commentary features rarely gathered together in one volume. With careful discourse analysis and interpretation of the Hebrew text, the authors trace the flow of argument in each Old Testament book, showing that how a biblical author says something is just as important as what they say.

Each volume offers a set of distinctive features, including: the main idea of the passage, its literary context, the author's original translation and exegetical outline with Hebrew layout, its structure and literary form, an explanation of the text, and its canonical and practical significance. The diagram of each passage enables readers to grasp quickly and accurately the main idea of the text, its development, and supporting ideas; and allows them to understand how the commentator arrived at this depiction and interpretation of the passage. The commentary places a special emphasis on identifying and discussing the main thrust of each passage and showing how it contributes to the development of the whole composition. Readers will find help in drawing out the meaning of the Hebrew for interpretation. While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Hebrew, all who strive to understand the Old Testament and better convey its meaning will find these books beneficial. Each unit concludes with a discussion of the canonical and practical significance of the passage, synthesizing its theology and message for readers today. There are many exegetical commentaries, but none accomplish what this series has achieved.

Key Features

• Examines the biblical text in its original context
• Provides verse-by-verse commentary with a careful analysis and interpretation of the text
• Includes thorough introductions

Contents

Top Highlights

“As suggested above, the prophecies of Obadiah are best dated to the exilic period, specifically the period between the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and Edom’s demise at the hands of the Babylonians in 553 BC.” (Page 24)

“Consisting of only 291 words, Obadiah is by far the shortest book in the OT” (Page 21)

“To him Edom is a person, the brother of Jacob (vv. 10b, 12a), who shares a common ancestry in the first two patriarchs, Abraham and Isaac, but whose history of violence against his twin brother will finally be answered.” (Page 52)

“Responding to the spiritual and theological crisis created by the disaster of 586 BC, Obadiah sought to rekindle hope in his countrymen with two principal points. First, divine justice will prevail with respect to Israel’s kinsmen the Edomites, who had gloated over Judah’s fall. YHWH has not been blind to this filial betrayal; as they have treated the people of Judah, so they will be treated. Second, divine fidelity will prevail with respect to the descendants of Jacob themselves, presently dispersed among the nations and divorced from their homeland. YHWH had not forgotten his covenant with his people or his promises to the ancestors.” (Page 35)

“Mount Zion as a refuge for those among the nations experiencing the awful day of YHWH. However, it is clear from v. 17c that the refuge is for the benefit of the house of Jacob, presenting the starkest contrast to the scene described in vv. 11–14, where on ‘the day of Jacob’ Jerusalem offered no refuge at all from the heat of the divine wrath.” (Page 92)

Product Details

• Title: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament: Obadiah, 2nd ed.
• Author: Daniel I. Block
• Editor: Daniel I. Block
• Edition: 2nd
• Series: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament (ZECOT)
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2017
• Pages: 144
• Resource Type: Commentary
• Topic: Obadiah

About Daniel I. Block

Dr. Daniel Block, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, has been teaching God’s Word for more than 30 years.

It has been a special joy for Dr. Block to watch students, who often take introductory courses in Old Testament only because they are required to do so by the curriculum, suddenly awaken to the fact that the Old Testament is understandable and its message is both life-giving and relevant for modern, everyday life.

Dr. Block has published a number of books and essays in scholarly journals. The paradigm for his research and ministry is set by Ezra, as described in Ezra 7:10: he committed himself to the study the Torah of Yahweh, to put it into practice, and to teach his revealed will in Israel. This means constantly asking serious questions of the Scriptures: What does the text say? Why does the text say it like that? What did the text mean to the original audience? What does the text have to say to me today? In order to answer these questions, one needs to understand both the worlds out of which the biblical texts arose and the worlds in which modern people live.