Who is the Author?

The author of the book of Obadiah is the prophet Obadiah. The book of Obadiah tells us nothing about him, not even his father’s name. Nothing is known of the author of this small prophetic profile except that his name means “Worshiper of Yahweh”1 or “Servant of the Lord.” Many people in the Old Testament had the name “Obadiah,” but we cannot definitely identify any of them with the prophet.2 At least 12 Old Testament men were named Obadiah, including an officer in David’s army (1 Chron. 12:9); Ahab’s servant (1 Kings 18:3); a Levite in the days of Josiah (2 Chron. 34:12); and a leader who returned from the exile with Ezra (Ezra 8:9).