Obadiah (The Anchor Yale Bible | AYB)
Overview
Obadiah exemplifies the classic Israelite prophetic tradition. This brief but volatile diatribe encompasses many of the great prophetic themes, such as divine judgment against Israel’s enemies, the day of Yahweh, Zion theology, Israel’s possession of the Promised Land, and the kingship of Yahweh. These themes allow Obadiah to transcend time and touch upon some of the modern Middle East’s most controversial issues. Its harsh language and pro-Israelite zeal spark debate even today. Through his accurate translation and sympathetic interpretation of what the book meant to its original sixth-century audience, Paul R. Raabe relates the reader’s modern world to that of the Ancient Near East.
In the revered Anchor Yale Bible tradition, the commentator provides the contextual framework to make sense of Obadiah’s cryptic and often ignored prophetic message. Drawing upon an exhaustive analysis of the books grammar and philology, literary forms and context, religious and social situation, and historical context, Raabe offers us the most informed and up-to-date commentary available. Scholars, students, clergy, and laypeople will rely on Obadiah for years to come.
Logos Bible Software gives you the tools you need to use this volume effectively and efficiently. With your digital library, you can search for verses, find Scripture references and citations instantly, and perform word studies. Along with your English translations, all Scripture passages are linked to Greek and Hebrew texts. What’s more, hovering over a Scripture reference will instantly display your verse! The advanced tools in your digital library free you to dig deeper into one of the most important contributions to biblical scholarship in the past century!
- Offers original translations, including alternative translations, annotations, and variants
- Provides verse-by-verse commentary on the text
- Presents the reader with historical background, including analysis of authorship and dating
- Features an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary literature
- Superscription (v 1a)
- Yahweh’s First Utterance: Announcement of Doom Addressed to Edom (vv 1b–4)
- Yahweh’s Second Utterance: Announcement of Doom Addressed to Edom (vv 5–7)
- Yahweh’s Third Utterance (vv 8–18)
- Announcement of Doom, Accusation and Warning Addressed to Edom (vv 8–15)
- Promise of Restoration and Victory Addressed to Judah (vv 16–18)
- The Prophet’s Expansion: Promise of Israel’s Restoration and Yahweh’s Kingship (vv 19–21)
Top Highlights
“In my view, no historical information in the book necessitates a date later than the first half of the exilic period” (Page 17)
“the original setting for the book of Obadiah can best be placed in Judah during the first half of the exilic period” (Page 56)
“In this phrase the sense of the noun ‘day’ is not to be restricted to a 24-hour period. Note Isa 34:8, which pairs Yahweh’s ‘day of vengeance’ with ‘the year of recompense’ (cf. Isa 61:2), and Ezek 30:3, which qualifies Yahweh’s ‘day’ as ‘a time of (doom for) nations.’” (Page 191)
“In my view the book fits best in the first half of the exilic period, ca. 585–555; the terminus a quo is the fall of Judah and Jerusalem to the Babylonians (587/6), while the terminus ad quem is the campaign of Nabonidus against Edom (553).” (Page 51)
“Amos provides the oldest witness to this phrase that we have, and perhaps he coined it.” (Page 191)
- Title: Obadiah
- Author: Paul R. Raabe
- Series: Anchor Yale Bible (AYB)
- Publisher: Yale University Press
- Publication Date: 1996
- Pages: 336