Bible Dictionaries
Obadiah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(oh buh di' uh) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh's servant.” 1. Person in charge of Ahab's palace. He was devoted to Yahweh and saved Yahweh's prophets from Jezebel's wrath. He was the go-between for Elijah and Ahab (1 Kings 18:3-16 ). 2 . A descendant of David through Hananiah (1 Chronicles 3:21 ). 3 . Son of Izrahiah of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:3 ). 4 . Son of Azel of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:38; 1 Chronicles 9:44 ). 5 . A Levite who returned to Jerusalem with the first of the Babylonian exiles (1 Chronicles 9:16 ). 6 . A Gadite who joined David, along with Ezer and Eliab. Obadiah was second in command behind Ezer (1 Chronicles 12:8-9 ). 7 . Father of Ishmaiah, an officer from the tribe of Zebulun who served in David's army (1 Chronicles 27:19 ). 8 . One of five officials Jehoshaphat sent throughout the cities of Judah to teach “the book of the law of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:7-9 ). See 2 Chronicles 34:12 ). See Ezra 8:9 ). He joined other priests along with princes and Levites in putting his seal upon the covenant (Nehemiah 9:38 ) made between the people and God (Nehemiah 10:5 ). 11 . A gatekeeper and guardian of “the ward” (“the storerooms at the gates,” NIV) during the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:25 ).