Purpose of Writing: Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, is only 21 verses long. Obadiah is a prophet of God who uses this opportunity to condemn Edom for sins against both God and Israel. The Edomites are descendants of Esau and the Israelites are descendants of his twin brother, Jacob. A quarrel between the brothers has affected their descendants for over 1,000 years. This division caused the Edomites to forbid Israel to cross their land during the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt. Edom's sins of pride now require a strong word of judgment from the Lord.
Kusudi la Kuandika: Obadia, kitabu kifupi zaidi katika Agano la Kale, kina urefu wa mistari 21 tu. Obadia ni nabii wa Mungu ambaye anatumia fursa hii kulaani Edomu kwa ajili ya dhambi dhidi ya Mungu na Israeli. Waedomi ni wazawa wa Esau na Waisraeli ni watoto wa ndugu yake pacha, Yakobo. Ugomvi baina ya ndugu umeathiri watoto wao kwa zaidi ya miaka 1,000. Mgawanyiko huu ulisababisha Waedomi kuwakataza Waisraeli wasivuke kupitia kwa nchi yao wakati wa Kutoka kwa Waisraeli kutoka Misri. Dhambi za Edomu za kiburi sasa zinahitaji neno la nguvu la hukumu kutoka kwa Bwana.