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The Prophets--Let's focus on a unique Jewish text!   

Obadiah--the prophet with the fewest words

Perek Yomi - Obadiah

Obadiah (Ovadyah - i.e., "the servant of the Lord" - in Hebrew) is unique among the books of the Prophets and in the Bible as a whole because it consists of only one chapter of 21 verses. It is read as a Haftarah for Va-yishlah (Genesis: 32:4-36:43) and thus marks one of the rare occasions during the year when an entire book (brief as it is) constitutes a Haftarah. One can, understandably, speculate that Obadiah had much more to say but that his words either were not recorded or were lost.

Despite the brevity of the book, scholars disagree over its basic unity, some suggesting that it represents two different speakers and two different time periods. The main message is a condemnation of the nation of Edom, whose progenitor was Jacob's brother Esau (hence the selection as a Haftarah for Va-Yishlah), and which was historically an enemy of the kingdom of Judah. Obadiah prophesies disaster for the Edomites and, indeed, the country was overrun by Arab invaders toward the end of the Sixth Century B.C.E. Nevertheless, some scholars maintain that the last few verses refer to a much later period in Jewish history. A book need not be lengthy to arouse controversy.

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