Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Servant of the Lord. ) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord’s prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4, 13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5, 6, 7). The last notice of him is his bringing back tidings to Ahab that Elijah, whom he had so long sought for, was at hand (9-16). ) A chief of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chr. 7:3). ) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38).
) A Levite, after the Captivity (1 Chr. 9:16). ) A Gadite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:9). ) A prince of Zebulun in the time of David (1 Chr. 27:19). ) One of the princes sent by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7). ) A Levite who superintended the repairs of the temple under Josiah (2 Chr. 34:12). ) One who accompanied Ezra on the return from Babylon (Ezra 8:9). ) A prophet, fourth of the minor prophets in the Hebrew canon, and fifth in the LXX. He was probably contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Of his personal history nothing is known.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(servant of the Lord),
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
OBADI'AH (servant of Jehovah). A descendant of the house of David. 1 Chr 3:21. A chief of Issachar. 1 Chr 7:3. One of the six sons of Azel. 1 Chr 8:38; 1 Chr 9:44. A son of Shemaiah. 1 Chr 9:16. A Gadite who joined David in the wilderness. 1 Chr 12:9. A godly officer in the court of Ahab who concealed one hundred and fifty prophets in the persecution of Jezebel. 1 Kgs 18:3-16. A prince who taught the Law in Jehoshaphat's reign. 2 Chr 17:7. Father of Ishmaiah. 1 Chr 27:19. One of the overseers of the temple repairs in Josiah's reign. 2 Chr 34:12. A son of Jehiel. Ezr 8:9.
One of those who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. Neh 10:5. A porter in Jerusalem. Neh 12:25. The prophet whose prophecy is placed fourth among the minor prophecies. Absolutely nothing is known of his life. c. 588, as we draw from Ob 11, where the capture of Jerusalem and the captivity of Jacob are referred to as past events. c. 588. Prophecy of, contains (1) a general arraignment of Edom for its pride and presumption, Ob 1-9.
(2) A more particular statement of its offence as violence against Jacob, his brother, and neglect to help Jerusalem against the enemies that took her inhabitants captive, vs. 10-16. (3) An account of the prosperity of Zion when Jacob should return from his captivity and Esau be discomfited. vs. 17-21. It is doubtful whether the final verses have yet been fulfilled. There is a striking resemblance between the first nine verses of this prophecy and Jer 49:7-16. One prophet must have read the other's prophecy.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
servant of the Lord