Ovadyah
Parsha Pages Youth | November 26, 2023
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Ovadyah

Parsha Pages Youth | December 31, 2025

Year of Prophecy
Number of verses in Sefer: 21
Number of Chapters: 1

The rabbis taught that Ovadyah was a GER TZEDEK (righteous convert) from Edom (Sanhedrin 39b) – he was a descendant of Eliphaz the Teimanite, the companion of Job (Yalkut Shimoni) – and that he received Torah from Elijah the Prophet. Ovadyah prophesied in the time of Ahab king of Israel and Yehoshaphat king of Yehudah. He lived in the kingdom of Israel under the rule of Ahab and Jezebel – he was Ahab's chamberlain – yet he resisted their evil influence. The rabbis pointed out that whereas Abraham was described only as "fearing G-d" (Genesis 22:12), Ovadyah was characterized as "fearing G-d VERY MUCH" (I Kings 18:3; Sanhedrin 39b). Although prophesy normally rested only on those of Israelite lineage, Ovadyah attained prophesy in the merit of his self-sacrifice to save the true prophets whom Jezebel sought to kill. He hid one hundred prophets in two caves and after using up his own considerable wealth to feed them, he borrowed on interest from King Yehoram, signing over his own children as collateral for the loan (II Kings 4:1). Ovadyah dies young, leaving a widow and two children and debts. Eliyahu helped her with a miracle of pouring oil into empty barrels.

Ovadyah's prophecy relates mainly to the nation from which he came: Edom. "The Holy One blessed be He said: Let one who dwelled between two villains (Ahab and Jezebel) yet did not learn from their deeds come to prophesy against Esau, who dwelled between two Tzaddikim (Yitzchak and Rivka) and did not learn from their deeds". Ovadyah's prophecy ends with the great salvation of Israel at the end of days and the revelation of G-d's glorious kingship over the entire world.
The entire book of Ovadyah is read as the Haftara of Parshas VaYishlach speaking of Yaacov's encounter with Esau and the latter's descendants.

Year After Creation (before common era)

King in Yehudah (years reigned)Kings (10 Tribes)Prophet in that time periodEvents(879) Shaul (2)Shmuel2883 – Dovid kills Golias
2884 – Shmuel dies 4 months before Shaul(877) Dovid rules in Hebron (7½)2889 – Ish Boshes (son of Shaul) a King for 2½ years2892 (869) Dovid (33½ years) Gad, Nasan2912 – Shlomo born(837) Shlomo (40)Gad, Achiyah Hashiloni2935 – completion of Bais HaMikdash(797) Rechavam (17)Yeravam (22)Ido, Achiyah Hashiloni, Shemayah2967 – Yeravam sets up 2 Golden Calves and guards not to go to Yerushalayim2981 (780) Aviyah (3)Ido(778) Asa (41) righteousNadav (1), Baasha (23), Elah (1), Zimri, Omri (11), Achav (20)Yehu, Eliyahu. Azaryahu3021 Eliyahu successfully refuted the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel(737) Yehoshaphat (23) righteousAchazyahu I (2) Yehoram I (12)Eliyahu, Elisha, Ovadiah, Michiyahu3043 – Eliyahu went to Heaven in a chariot of fire3047 (714) Yehoram II (8)Eliyahu3055 (706) Achazyahu II (1)Yehu (28)Eliyahu3056 (705) Queen Athalya (6)Yonah

Year of Prophecy
Number of verses in Sefer: 21
Number of Chapters: 1

The rabbis taught that Ovadyah was a GER TZEDEK (righteous convert) from Edom (Sanhedrin 39b) – he was a descendant of Eliphaz the Teimanite, the companion of Job (Yalkut Shimoni) – and that he received Torah from Elijah the Prophet. Ovadyah prophesied in the time of Ahab king of Israel and Yehoshaphat king of Yehudah. He lived in the kingdom of Israel under the rule of Ahab and Jezebel – he was Ahab's chamberlain – yet he resisted their evil influence. The rabbis pointed out that whereas Abraham was described only as "fearing G-d" (Genesis 22:12), Ovadyah was characterized as "fearing G-d VERY MUCH" (I Kings 18:3; Sanhedrin 39b). Although prophesy normally rested only on those of Israelite lineage, Ovadyah attained prophesy in the merit of his self-sacrifice to save the true prophets whom Jezebel sought to kill. He hid one hundred prophets in two caves and after using up his own considerable wealth to feed them, he borrowed on interest from King Yehoram, signing over his own children as collateral for the loan (II Kings 4:1). Ovadyah dies young, leaving a widow and two children and debts. Eliyahu helped her with a miracle of pouring oil into empty barrels.

Ovadyah's prophecy relates mainly to the nation from which he came: Edom. "The Holy One blessed be He said: Let one who dwelled between two villains (Ahab and Jezebel) yet did not learn from their deeds come to prophesy against Esau, who dwelled between two Tzaddikim (Yitzchak and Rivka) and did not learn from their deeds". Ovadyah's prophecy ends with the great salvation of Israel at the end of days and the revelation of G-d's glorious kingship over the entire world.
The entire book of Ovadyah is read as the Haftara of Parshas VaYishlach speaking of Yaacov's encounter with Esau and the latter's descendants.

Year After Creation (before common era)

King in Yehudah (years reigned)Kings (10 Tribes)Prophet in that time periodEvents(879) Shaul (2)Shmuel2883 – Dovid kills Golias
2884 – Shmuel dies 4 months before Shaul(877) Dovid rules in Hebron (7½)2889 – Ish Boshes (son of Shaul) a King for 2½ years2892 (869) Dovid (33½ years) Gad, Nasan2912 – Shlomo born(837) Shlomo (40)Gad, Achiyah Hashiloni2935 – completion of Bais HaMikdash(797) Rechavam (17)Yeravam (22)Ido, Achiyah Hashiloni, Shemayah2967 – Yeravam sets up 2 Golden Calves and guards not to go to Yerushalayim2981 (780) Aviyah (3)Ido(778) Asa (41) righteousNadav (1), Baasha (23), Elah (1), Zimri, Omri (11), Achav (20)Yehu, Eliyahu. Azaryahu3021 Eliyahu successfully refuted the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel(737) Yehoshaphat (23) righteousAchazyahu I (2) Yehoram I (12)Eliyahu, Elisha, Ovadiah, Michiyahu3043 – Eliyahu went to Heaven in a chariot of fire3047 (714) Yehoram II (8)Eliyahu3055 (706) Achazyahu II (1)Yehu (28)Eliyahu3056 (705) Queen Athalya (6)Yonah
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Parsha Pages Youth | November 26, 2023