Best Commentaries on Obadiah

Longman says Armerding’s work is “clear and helpful. [Armerding] places Obadiah post-586 BC and [sees the prophet as] responding to the Edomite harassment of Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem.”

Baker’s volume in the NIVAC series is particularly helpful for “preachers and teachers who find it difficult to apply the prophetic books to our own present-day context,” Longman explains.

This commentary is a wonderful, introductory help for readers of Obadiah. Timmer’s explanation of the Hebrew literary structure is easily accessible. He structures each section of the text under three headings (Context, Comment, and Meaning), helping readers to grasp the meaning of Obadiah’s oracle against Edom.

Mathison praises praises Block’s volume and notes that this may “be the only modern commentary on Obadiah that isn’t combined with commentaries on at least one or two other books.” While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Hebrew, Hebrew words are always explained so that anyone who desires to understand Obadiah and communicate its message will benefit from this commentary’s depth and accessibility.

Jeffrey J. Niehaus’s commentary on Obadiah in this edited volume balances careful attention to the Hebrew text with an eye to its theological and canonical meaning. As Longman notes, “Niehaus gives us one of the most extensive treatments of this short book. He combines historical, literary, and theological insight. . . . He is open to the position that the author is the same person who plays an important role in the Elijah-Ahab narrative (1 Kings 18:1).”

Raabe draws upon an exhaustive analysis of the book’s grammar and philology, literary forms and context, religious and social situation, and historical context.. Through his accurate translation and sympathetic interpretation of what the book meant to its original sixth-century audience, Raabe relates the world of the ancient Near East to the reader’s modern world, providing a contextual framework that makes sense of Obadiah’s cryptic and often ignored prophetic message.

Stuart, a conservative evangelical, handles exegetical matters judiciously. His volume is especially strong on theology. In addition to writing clearly, Stuart helpfully ties the prophetic oracles back to covenant blessings and curses in the Torah, relying on his conception of prophets as enforcers of the covenant. Mathison highly commends Stuart’s commentary, asserting that it’s a must-read.

Wolff gives a clear and thorough orientation to the collection of oracles in the book of Obadiah. On the commentary’s content, Longman writes, “Wolff combines excellent philological ability with theological insight to produce a very helpful commentary on these two prophetic books. His stance is moderately critical. The format of the commentary makes his comments easy to get at.”