Help with dates (Factbook, Timeline, etc)
I apologize in advance if I'm posting this in the wrong forum - I'm teachable!
I'm getting stuck up on dates and just need a little direction/clarification. Thank you in advance for the help.
Subject: Book of Obadiah, Prophet Obadiah
Advanced Timeline tool shows "Book of Obadiah written circa 400 BC" (see Figure-1)
Bible Books Explorer shows composite dates for the book of Obadiah ranging from 900 BC - 840 BC (See Figure-2)
Can someone help me understand the discrepancy or is it as simple that the Bible Books Explorer is estimated the dates for the events of Obadiah?
Comments
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I don't think you're going to get a satisfying answer:
- Obadiah doesn't self date easily, ranging as you show. The commentaries bounce across 4 centuries for various reasons.
- The author's life, and the verb tenses are also arguable. Contemporary, past, prophetic?
- Logos itself is largely a 'reporting' tool (it doesn't propose a single view or even consistent view). Though the least likely choice (400s bc) seems odd.
That ca400~ dating (I was curious) in AYB is explained as (and not saying correct):
"4. Date Obadiah ca. 450. Some scholars place at least the core of the book in the mid-fifth century near the time of Malachi and Nehemiah (e.g., Wellhausen 1963; Nowack 1897; Bewer 1911; Thompson 1956; Kodell 1982). They connect the book with the Nabatean settlement in Edom and understand the attack upon Edom depicted in vv 1–7 as descriptive of past events, namely, the Arab incursions"
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Click on the timeline event to see its source.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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DMB,
Most helpful information. Thank you for taking the time to reply and provide your insight.
Ralph
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MJ,
Thanks for the insight. I am aware of the sources listed within a timeline event and was just trying to understand the disparity in dates between the resources. The response here, including yours, have helped.
Ralph
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