Hebrew Bible/OT Commentaries: Obadiah

"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, Dr. Paul R. Raabe relates the reader's modern world to that of the ancient Near East. In the reverend Anchor 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, Dr. 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." - Yale University Press

"For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis—linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological—with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series." - T&T Clark

"The eloquent and uncompromising calls for social righteousness by some of the Minor Prophets are familiar to many, yet the writings themselves are probably the least studied and least known texts of the Old Testament. Those who are familiar with these books are also aware of the historical and literary problems that plague their study. Drawing on insights from various perspectives -- theological, historical, and literary -- this commentary on Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah by Leslie Allen carefully and imaginatively reconstructs the stage on which the message of these four books was conveyed to their Hebrew hearers and shows what relevance, in turn, they hold for contemporary Christians. For each of the books there is a substantial introduction in which the full range of scholarly opinion is presented and assessed, a select bibliography, the author's own translation of the text -- a significant contribution to biblical studies in itself -- and an extensive commentary. The commentary on Micah is the basic one of these four in that it treats at greater length some of the same forms and motifs that appear in Joel, Obadiah, and Jonah. The introductory material for Joel includes discussions of canonicity and textual criticism that apply to the entire volume." - Eerdmans

"Obadiah's oracle against Edom.Jonah's mission to the city of Nineveh.Micah's message to Samaria and Jerusalem. The texts of these minor but important prophets receive a fresh and penetrating analysis in this introduction and commentary. The authors consider each book's historical setting, composition, structure and authorship, as well as important themes and issues. Each book is then expounded in the concise and informative style that has become the hallmark of the Tyndale series. The original, unrevised text of this volume has been completely retypeset and printed in a larger, more attractive format with the new cover design for the series." - InterVarsity Press

"Study the books of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah, with pioneering Old Testament scholar Douglas Stuart. Heart breaking, strange, and hopeful stories these books are among the Bible’s most misunderstood and Stuart illuminates their meaning by examining their historical context, and unlocking their mysterious stories and prophecies." - Logos