J. Deering, AncientPath.net

The prophetical books belong to the dark ages of God's chosen people.

The prophets were men whom God raised up during the dark days of Israel's history. They were the evangelists of the day, the religious patriots of the hour.

2 Kings 17:13-20
13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets." 14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. 16 They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.

The office of the prophet was instituted in Samuel's time. When the kingdom was divided and Judah and Israel were established as separate monarchies, the great prophets appeared. There were four major and twelve minor prophets.

The captivities of Israel (the northern kingdom) and of Judah (the southern kingdom) are largely the theme of the Old Testament prophets. The record of thesis found in 2 Kings 17:1-23 and 24:11-25:21. These are called the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Some of the prophets served before the exile and some afterwards. These are call pre-exilic and post-exilic prophets.

The Pre-Exilic Prophets
The prophets during the exile (or "pre-exilic") in order of their writing were: Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Jeremiah.

The prophets of Israel during this period were Jonah, Amos, and Hosea

The prophets of Judah during this period were Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Jeremiah.

The Exilic Prophets
The prophets during the exile (or captivity in Babylon) were Ezekiel and Daniel. They prophesied to all the Israelites. Jeremiah extended for a while into this period.

Those who prophesied after the exile were Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Special Messages were given to certain prophets

3 to Israel - Amos, Hosea, Ezekiel

2 to Nineveh, Assyria - Jonah, Nahum

1 to Babylon - Daniel

1 to Edom - Obadiah

9 to Judah - Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

The 4 Messages of the Prophets
The prophet's chief duty was to deal with the moral and religious life of his own people during his day. The prophet was never sent while the nation was walking in obedience to God. All of the writings are rebukes because of the bad condition that existed at that very time. There was nothing general about the prophet's denunciations.

The prophet was always a Hebrew. He not only spoke of judgment that would come to pass to the people because of their sin but he was also a foreteller of future events. The events which he spoke concerned the nation of Israel in the main. Other peoples were mentioned only as they came in contact with Israel.

1. The dispersion and captivity of God's chosen people

2. The coming of the Messiah

3. The restoration of the chosen people to their own land under the coming Messiah, David's greater son

4. The reign of the Messiah over the whole earth

Literal Fulfillment
"That it might be fulfilled," When you read the Gospels, you find this phrase constantly. We find in examining these passages that God fulfills prophecy literally. Learn to interpret the meaning of the words of the prophets in a literal, natural way. Do not force a spiritual interpretation and read out all the real meaning. There are figurative passages, of course. But you will find that as soon as you determine the meaning of the figure that that, too will have its literal fulfillment. This makes the study of the prophets a simple one. Remember, the Church is not in the prophets at all. This is the "mystery" that God kept until He wished it to be revealed (Ephesians 3:3, 3:11-12.

The prophets speak only of the earthly ministry of Christ and say nothing of His called-out ones (ecclesia - the Church). This was announced by Jesus Himself (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 3:3-10).

Jesus had this to say about the relationship of Himself to the message of the prophets:

25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:25-27).

Obadiah
Eastons Bible Dictionary
(Used by Permission, Parson's Technology, 2002)

Consists of one chapter, "concerning Edom," its impending doom (Obed. 1-16), and the restoration of Israel (Obed. 17-21). This is the shortest book of the Old Testament.

There are on record the account of four captures of Jerusalem,

(1.) by Shishak in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25);

(2.) by the Philistines and Arabians in the reign of Jehoram (2 Chr. 21:16);

(3.) by Joash, the king of Israel, in the reign of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:13); and

(4.) by the Babylonians, when Jerusalem was taken and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (586 B.C.). Obadiah (Obed. 11-14) speaks of this capture as a thing past. He sees the calamity as having already come on Jerusalem, and the Edomites as joining their forces with those of the Chaldeans in bringing about the degradation and ruin of Israel. We do not indeed read that the Edomites actually took part with the Chaldeans, but the probabilities are that they did so, and this explains the words of Obadiah in denouncing against Edom the judgments of God. The date of his prophecies was thus in or about the year of the destruction of Jerusalem.

Edom is the type of Israel's and of God's last foe (Isa. 63:1-4). These will finally all be vanquished, and the kingdom will be the Lord's (Compare Ps. 22:28).

Obadiah
Holman's bible Dictionary
(Used by Permission, Parson's Technology, 2002)

Obadiah (uh buh di' uh) The Prophet: As to the person and circumstances of Obadiah nothing certain is known. No source outside his book mentions Obadiah. "Obadiah" is a common name in the Old Testament. Meaning "servant of Yahweh," it reflects his parents' faith and spiritual ambitions for their child. The title "The vision of Obadiah" turns attention to the divine author, "vision" being a technical term for a prophetic revelation received from God.

Obadiah (oh buh di' uh) The shortest book of the Minor Prophets, preserving the message of Obadiah, the prophet.

The Situation Historically
The book belongs to the early post-exilic period, at the end of the sixth century B.C.

Its central section, verses 10-14, deals with the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 B.C., concentrating on the part the Edomites played in that tragic event. Edom was a state to the southeast of Judah. Despite treaty ties ("brother," v. 10) the Edomites, along with others, had failed to come to Judah's aid and had even helped Babylon by looting Jerusalem and handing over refugees. Moreover, the Edomites filled the vacuum caused by Judah's Exile by moving west and annexing the Negev to the south of Judah and even its southern territory (compare v. 19).

Judah reacted with a strong sense of grievance. Obadiah's oracle responded to an underlying impassioned prayer of lament, like Psalms 74, 79, or 137, in which Judah appealed to God to act as providential trial Judge and Savior to set right the situation.

The Message
The response begins with a prophetic messenger formula which reinforces the thrust of the title, that God is behind the message. Verses 2-9 give the divine verdict. Addressing Edom, God promised to defeat those supermen and topple the mountain capital which reflected their lofty self-conceit. Their allies would let them down, and neither their framed wisdom nor their warriors would be able to save them. This seems to look fearfully ahead to the Nabateans' infiltration from the eastern desert and their eventual takeover of Edom's traditional territory. The end of verse 1 appears to be a report from the prophet that already a coalition of neighboring groups was planning to attack Edom.

The catalog of Edom's crimes (vv. 10-14) functions as the accusation which warranted God's verdict of punishment. Repetition raises "day" to center stage. The underlying thought is that Judah had been the victim of "the day of the Lord" when God intervened in judgment, and had drunk the cup of God's wrath (vv. 15, 16; compare Lam. 1:12; 2:21). In Old Testament theology the concept of the day of the Lord embraces not only God's people but their no-less-wicked neighbors. This wider dimension is reflected in verses 15-16 (compare Lam. 1:21). The fall of Edom was a trigger this eschatological event in which order would be restored to an unruly world. Then would come the vindication of God's people, not for their own sakes but as earthly witnesses to His glory; and so "the kingdom shall be the Lord's" (v. 21).

The Meaning
Like the Book of Revelation, which proclaims the downfall of the persecuting Roman Empire, the aim of Obadiah is to sustain faith in God's moral government and hope in the eventual triumph of His just will. It brings a pastoral message to aching hearts, that God is on the throne and cares for His own.

The Outline
Unger (Unger's Bible Dictionary, Merrill F. Unger, Moody Press, Chicago, 1976, p. 802)

I. Prophecy of Edom's Decimation 1:1-9

A. Fall of her impregnable fortifications 1:2-4
B. Edom's complete plundering 1;5-9

II. Edom's Destruction Accounted For 1:10-14

A. Violence against Jacob 1:10-14

III. Prophecy of the Day of Jehovah 1:15-21

A. Edom and all nations judged 1:15-16
B. House of Jacob saved 1;17-20
C. The Millennial Kingdom established 1:21

Edom: Name given to Esau after he bartered his birthright for a mess of red pottage (Genesis 25:30) Edom, Edomites, Idumaea: the descendants of Esau, who settled in the south of Palestine.

During the wilderness wandering (following the Exodus) Edom would not let the nation of Israel pass through its lands. King Saul (1 Samuel 14:47) attacked and defeated them in battle. Forty years later David overthrew their army in the "Valley of Salt," and his general, Joab, following the victory destroyed nearly the whole male population (1 Kings 11:15-16), and placed Jewish garrisons in all the strongholds of Edom (2 Samuel 8:13-14). Hadad, a member of the royal family of Edom, eventually went on to Syria, where he became one of Solomon's greatest enemies (1 Kings 11:14-23). When Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem the Edomites joined him, and took an active part in the plunder of the city and the slaughter of the Jews. Much later they were conquered and forced by the Maccabees to conform to Jewish laws and rites and submit to the government of Jewish prefects. They effectively became members of the nation of Israel. In 70 a.d., Just before the siege of Jerusalem by Titus, 20,000 Idumaeans were admitted to the Holy City, which they filled with robbery and bloodshed. From this time, the Edomites, as a separate people, disappear from the pages of history.

THE BIBLE TIMELINE - KING DAVID TO PENTECOST

DATE	COMMENTS
-1000	David becomes Full King
-970	Solomon becomes King
-966	Temple Started
-965	The book: Song of Songs by Solomon
-950	The book of Proverbs by Solomon and others
-940	The book of Psalms (some very early most in 900's) David & others
-935	The book of Ecclesiastes by Solomon
-931	The Kingdom Is Divided
-931	JUDAH
-931	ISRAEL
-931	Jeroboam 1
-931	Rehoboam becomes King of Judah
-930	Book of 1 Samuel by Samuel and others
-920	Abijam becomes King of Judah
-920	Nadab becomes king of Israel
-915	Asa becomes King of Judah
-915	Baasha becomes king of Israel
-880	Elah Zimri becomes king of Israel
-875	Tibni becomes king of Israel
-865	Omri becomes king of Israel
-860	Ahab becomes king of Israel
-860	Elijah begins prophetic ministry
-860	Jehoshophat becomes King of Judah
-855	Ahaziah becomes king of Israel
-852	Joram becomes King of Israel
-850	Jehoram becomes King of Judah
-848	Elisha begins prophetic ministry
-841	Jehu becomes King of Israel
-841	Obadiah begins prophetic ministry
-841	The book of Obadiah, writes to Israel
-830	Athaliah
-830	Jehoahaz becomes King of Israel
-830	Joash (Jehoash)
-825	Joel begins prophetic ministry
-825	Joel Writes to Judah
-800	Assyria Comes to Power
-795	Amaziah
-795	Jehoash becomes King of Israel
-794	Jeroboam II becomes King of Israel
-790	Joash becomes King of Judah
-782	Shalmaneser IV becomes King of Assyria
-780	Uzziah becomes King of Judah
-775	Jonah begins prophetic ministry
-775	Jonah writes to Nineveh
-760	Zechariah / Shallum becomes King of Israel
-755	Amos begins prophetic ministry
-755	The book of Amos by Amos
-755	Jotham
-755	Zedekiah becomes King of Judah
-753	Hosea begins prophetic ministry
-753	The book of Hosea by Hosea
-750	Menahem becomes 1/2 King of Israel
-750	Pekah becomes 1/2 King of Israel
-740	Pekahiah becomes 1/2 King of Israel
-738	Ahaz becomes King of Judah
-735	Hoshea becomes King of Israel
-735	Pekah becomes full King of Israel
-733	Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria invades Israel
-730	Micah begins prophetic ministry
-730	The book of Micah by Micah
-725	Hezekiah becomes King of Judah
-720	Israel taken into Captivity by Assyria
-720	Senacherib of Assyria surrounds Jerusalem
-700	Isaiah begins prophetic ministry
-700	The book of Isaiah by Isaiah
-695	Manasseh becomes King of Judah
-650	Amon
-645	Josiah becomes King of Judah
-645	The book of Zephaniah by Zephaniah
-640	Josiah becomes King of Judah
-625	Nahum writes to Judah
-620	Habakkuk begins prophetic ministry
-620	The book of Habakkuk by Habakkuk
-612	Assyrian Capital of Nineveh sacked by Babylonians
-612	Jehoahaz
-612	Neco of Egypt kills King Josiah in Battle
-610	Jehoikim becomes King of Judah
-605	Judah begins being taken into Babylonian Captivity
-605	Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon victorious over Assyria
-595	Zedekiah becomes King of Judah
-592	The book of Ezekiel by Ezekiel
-590	Jeremiah begins prophetic ministry
-590	Jeremiah writes to Judah
-586	Jeremiah taken to Egypt
-586	Judah taken into Captivity by Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon)
-586	The book of Lamentations by Jeremiah
-580	1 Jerusalem Falls to Babylon
-580	2 Temple Destroyed by Babylon
-580	3 Babylonian Captivity Complete
-580	Judah 70 Years in Babylonian Captivity begins
-560	Babylon King Merodach
-555	Babylon King Labashi-Marduk
-550	1 The book of 1 Kings by Jeremiah
-550	2 The book of 2 Kings by Jeremiah
-550	Babylon King Nabonidus
-540	Babylon King Belshazzar
-539	Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon
-538	Cyrus of Persia decrees return of Jews
-537	The book of Daniel by Daniel
-536	The 1st Delivery from Babylon (360 Jews)
-535	Temple Construction Begins
-530	Temple Construction Halted
-521	Darius I becomes King of Persia
-520	Haggai begins prophetic ministry
-520	The book of Haggai by Haggai
-515	Temple Completed
-510	The book of Zechariah by Zechariah
-510	Zechariah begins prophetic ministry
-480	Xerxes becomes King of Persia
-475	Esther becomes Queen of Persia
-470	Book of Esther, author unknown
-460	Artaxerxes becomes King of Persia
-460	Book of Ezra By Ezra
-458	Ezra returned to Jerusalem
-458	Second Delivery from Babylon
-450	1 Chronicles (Ezra)
-450	2 Chronicles (Ezra)
-450	The book of Malachi by Malachi
-445	The book of Nehemiah by Nehemiah
-444	Nehemiah (as Governor) goes to Jerusalem
-443	Walls of Jerusalem Rebuilt
-430	Malachi begins prophetic ministry
-425	Xerxes II becomes King of Persia
-420	Darius II becomes King of Persia
-410	Artaxerxes II becomes King of Persia
-355	Artaxerxes III becomes King of Persia
-330	Arses becomes King of Persia
-330	Greek Empire - Egypt, Judea, Syria
-330	Third Delivery from Babylon
-328	Darius III becomes King of Persia
-326	Alexander the Great (Greece) Conquers Persia
-320	Alexander Dies at age 32, Judea under Ptolemy of Egypt
-275	Judah Governs itself under Ptolemies
-240	Septuagint Translated from Hebrew to Greek
-220	Antiochus III comes to power in Syria
-200	Syria takes Judea from Egypt (Greek Empire)
-175	Priesthood Sold under Seleucus IV
-170	The Abomination of Desolation - end of priesthood
-165	The Maccabean Revolt
-130	Roman Empire Develops into World Power
-90	Judea Civil War under Antiochus 11
-65	Pompey Captures Judea and Syria (Roman Empire)
-60	Julius Caesar
-48	Herod (King of the Jews) under Octavian Augustus of Rome
-48	Marc Antony rules Syria
-4	John the Bapties is Born
-3.5	Jesus is Born
26.1	John the Baptist's Public Ministry
26.2	Solomon becomes King
26.5	Jesus Baptized
26.6	40 Days in Wilderness - The 3 Temptations
27	Jesus First Miracle - Cana
27.25	The Cleansing of the Temple
28.5	Chooses 12 Apostles
28.6	Sermon on the Mount
29	John The Baptist beheaded
29.25	The Feeding of the 5000
29.5	The Feeding of the 4000
29.75	The Transfiguration (Summer)
30.25	Lazarus Raised from the Dead
30.33	The Last Week - Triumphal Entry
30.34	Jesus Dies on the Cross
30.35	Jesus is Buried
30.36	Jesus is Resurrected
30.4	The Ascension
30.41	Pentecost