Who Was Ovadia the Prophet? 10 Surprising Facts About a Hidden Hero

A Prophet with a Powerful Message

The haftarah (prophetic reading) of Parshat Vayishlach comes from the book of Ovadia, which focuses on the downfall of Edom and the redemption of the house of Yaakov. The prophet declares: “The house of Yaakov shall be a fire, the house of Yosef a flame, and the house of Esav shall be straw… There shall not be a remnant of the house of Esav, for God has spoken” (Ovadia 1:18).

But who was Ovadia, the man behind this bold prophecy? The book of Ovadia contains all of 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the entire Tanach. And yet, his story is full of courage, righteousness, and faith. Here are 10 compelling facts about this little-known prophet.

A Righteous Convert Who Risked Everything

1. According to the Sages, Ovadia lived during the time of the First Temple and served in the royal court of King Achav, one of Israel’s most wicked kings. The book of Melachim refers to him as “Ovadia, who was in charge of the palace” (Melachim I 18:3).

2. Despite his environment, Ovadia is described as “a man who greatly feared God.” When Queen Izevel tried to kill the prophets of God, he secretly hid 100 of them in caves, saving their lives.

3. The book of Ovadia is the seventh of the Trei Asar (Twelve Minor Prophets) and contains only one chapter. His message combines harsh rebuke for Edom with hope and redemption for the people of Israel. His vision ends with the proclamation: “Deliverers shall go up to Mount Tzion… and the kingdom shall be God’s.”

4. Rabbinic tradition teaches that Ovadia himself was a convert from the nation of Edom. For this reason, he was specifically chosen to prophesy Edom’s downfall. The Yalkut Shimoni explains: “Because you descended from Elifaz and criticized Iyov through visions, I will raise up a prophet from your descendants who will bring judgment against your father's house through vision” (Yalkut Shimoni, Ovadia 553).

5. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (39b) explains that Ovadia merited prophecy because he hid 100 prophets and fed them with his own wealth during a time of danger.

6. According to Shemot Rabbah, Ovadia was extremely wealthy. He spent all his money on food for the hidden prophets, and when he ran out of funds, he borrowed from Achav's son Yehoram (at high interest rates) to continue supporting them.

A Miracle of Oil and a Widow’s Cry

7. After Ovadia passed away, King Yehoram came to collect the debt by taking his two sons as slaves. In a powerful scene recorded in Melachim II (chapter 4), Ovadia’s widow went to the prophet Elisha for help. Elisha asked her what she had in the house, and she answered, “Nothing but a small jug of oil.” Elisha instructed her to borrow as many empty vessels as possible, shut the door, and pour the oil into the vessels.

A miracle occurred: the small jug of oil kept flowing until every vessel was full. Elisha then told her to sell the oil, pay the debt, and live off the rest of the profits. This incredible story of Divine provision is also read in the haftarah of Parashat Vayeira.

Ovadia’s Eternal Legacy

8. According to Jewish tradition, Ovadia is buried in the village of Bar’am in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel.

9. The Midrash Gan Eden notes that there are seven “houses” or chambers in Gan Eden (Paradise). In the first chamber dwell the righteous converts, those who chose Judaism out of free will. Ovadia, the righteous convert and prophet, is said to oversee this chamber.

Ovadia may be one of the lesser-known prophets, but his life was anything but trivial. A convert who risked his life to protect others, who gave up his fortune for faith, and whose legacy lives on in both Scripture and spirit, Ovadia’s story reminds us that one person’s courage can light up the world.