Who was Obadiah in the Bible?

Obadiah was one of the five sons of Izrahiah, from the tribe of Issachar, as recorded in the Old Testament. He is mentioned in a genealogical list, not to be confused with the prophet Obadiah who wrote a book of the Bible (1 Chronicles 7:3).

What is the significance of Obadiah son of Izrahiah?

His significance lies in his role as a named descendant of Issachar, helping to preserve the tribal lineage and history of Israel. While no specific events of his life are recorded, his inclusion shows that even lesser-known individuals are part of God's covenant story.

Where is Obadiah mentioned in the Bible?

This Obadiah is mentioned only once, in 1 Chronicles 7:3, within a list of the descendants of Issachar. The Bible provides no further details about his life or actions beyond this genealogical record.

Obadiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Obadiah was one of the five sons of Izrahiah, a descendant of Issachar.

Obadiah

Biography

Obadiah appears in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 7:3 as one of the five sons of Izrahiah, within the tribal lineage of Issachar. The Chronicler notes that Izrahiah and his sons, including Obadiah, were chiefs of their ancestral houses, and together their extended family contributed a significant military force of thirty-six thousand troops. This substantial number reflects the prominence and strength of this particular Issacharite clan during the monarchic period. The tribe of Issachar, traditionally associated with wisdom and understanding of the times (1 Chronicles 12:32), produced capable leaders and warriors, and Obadiah's branch of the family appears to have been particularly notable for its military strength and organizational capacity within Israel's broader tribal structure.

Significance

Obadiah's inclusion among the chiefs of Issachar highlights the biblical principle that every tribe and family within Israel contributed uniquely to the covenant community's strength and identity. The tribe of Issachar, praised for understanding the times and knowing what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32), represented discernment and practical wisdom within the nation. Obadiah's membership in a clan that mustered thirty-six thousand warriors demonstrates how family leadership translated into national capacity. The Chronicler's meticulous recording of such tribal details served the post-exilic community by affirming that Israel's identity rested not merely on political structures but on the faithfulness of individual families maintaining their heritage and contributing their gifts to the common good.

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 8:38 1Chr 9:44

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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