Levite overseer of temple repairs
Obadiah
Named in 1 verse of 2 Chronicles, first in 2 Chronicles 34:12.
עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּObadiah
The name means “servant of the Lord.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Obadiah Written by AI
Obadiah was a Levite who served as an overseer during the repairs of the temple in the reign of King Josiah of Judah (2 Chronicles 34:12). He was one of the Levites appointed to supervise the workmen and ensure that the repairs were carried out according to the king's instructions. The temple had fallen into disrepair during the reigns of previous kings who had turned away from the Lord. Josiah's initiative to restore the temple was a significant step in his reforms to bring Judah back to the worship of the true God. Obadiah's role as an overseer demonstrates the involvement of the Levites in the practical aspects of maintaining the temple and supporting the king's religious reforms.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Obadiah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Servant of the Lord. (1.) 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). “Go,” said Elijah to him, when he met him in the way, “go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.”
(2.) A chief of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chr. 7:3).
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(3.) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38).
(4.) A Levite, after the Captivity (1 Chr. 9:16).
(5.) A Gadite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:9).
(6.) A prince of Zebulun in the time of David (1 Chr. 27:19).
(7.) One of the princes sent by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7).
(8.) A Levite who superintended the repairs of the temple under Josiah (2 Chr. 34:12).
(9.) One who accompanied Ezra on the return from Babylon (Ezra 8:9).
(10.) 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.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 2 Chronicles 34:12
And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments,
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.