The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. It's named after the prophet Obadiah, whose name signifies “servant of Jehovah.” Obadiah was a common name among the Jews of Old Testament times.

The book is directed to the people of Edom. Obadiah predicts that God will punish them for their cruel at­titude toward Judah at a time when Judah needed help. The Edomites not only rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem but apparently aided the invader and took advantage of Judah's plight to help themselves.

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob. The hostility between these two groups was bitter and probably stemmed from the conflict between Jacob and Esau over the family birthright.

Obadiah ends with a series of promises for Judah:

“​​But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their [own] possessions” (Obadiah 1:17).