Who was Obed in the Bible?

Obed was the father of Azariah, one of the military captains who helped the priest Jehoiada overthrow the usurper Queen Athaliah and restore the rightful king, Joash, to the throne of Judah (2 Chronicles 23:1).

Why is Obed mentioned in the Bible?

Obed is mentioned to establish the lineage and credibility of his son, Azariah, a key leader in the pivotal coup that preserved the Davidic royal line. His inclusion shows how God used faithful families to accomplish His purposes in Judah's history.

What did Obed's son do?

Obed's son, Azariah, was one of five commanders of hundreds who gathered the Levites and people to crown the boy-king Joash, executing the priest Jehoiada's plan to end Athaliah's reign (2 Chronicles 23:1).

Obed

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleFather

Obed was the father of Azariah, one of the captains who supported Joash in overthrowing Athaliah.

Obed

Biography

Obed is identified in 2 Chronicles 23:1 as the father of Azariah, one of the five military commanders who conspired with the priest Jehoiada to overthrow Queen Athaliah and restore the rightful Davidic heir, Joash, to the throne of Judah. Although Obed himself does not appear as an active participant in the narrative, his son Azariah played a crucial role in one of the most dramatic political and religious events in Judah's history, around 835 BC. Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, had seized power after murdering nearly all the royal descendants, threatening to extinguish the Davidic line entirely. The conspiracy led by Jehoiada and supported by captains including Azariah son of Obed successfully crowned the child-king Joash and executed Athaliah, preserving God's covenant with David.

Significance

Though Obed is known primarily through his son Azariah's heroic actions, his significance lies in the preservation of the Davidic dynasty at one of its most vulnerable moments. The coup against Athaliah was not merely a political revolution but a theological crisis: had it failed, the messianic line through David would have appeared to be extinguished. Azariah son of Obed's courage in supporting Jehoiada's plan contributed to the survival of the very lineage through which God's ultimate redemptive promises would be fulfilled. Obed's legacy through his son demonstrates the biblical principle that faithful families produce faithful servants who rise to meet critical moments in salvation history, ensuring the continuity of God's purposes across generations.

Verse Appearances (1)

2Chr

2Chr 23:1

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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