9th century BC
The Prophet Obadiah
The fourth of the twelve minor prophets, remembered by tradition as a disciple of the prophet Elijah.
Biography
The prophet Obadiah, whose name means “servant of the Lord”, came from Shechem and lived around 800 BC. He is the fourth of the twelve minor prophets, and his short prophecy denounces pride in vivid imagery and foretells its downfall.
According to tradition, Obadiah served King Ahaziah as a captain of fifty and was a disciple of the prophet Elijah; when the king sent him to persuade Elijah to come down from the mountain, Obadiah eventually gave up his post to follow and serve the prophet instead.