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Between Two Wicked People

Ovadiah lived between Achav and Izevel and did not learn from them, so he was sent to judge Esav, who lived between two tzaddikim and did not learn from them.

A teaching ofOvadiah HaNaviעובדיה הנביאProfile ›

Why was Ovadiah, of all the prophets, sent to speak against Edom? Rav Yitzchak taught that Hashem chose him for the contrast. Esav grew up in the home of Yitzchak and Rivkah, two tzaddikim, and did not learn from their deeds. Ovadiah lived and worked between Achav and Izevel, two of the most wicked people Israel ever knew, and did not learn from theirs. Let the one who stayed pure in the worst surroundings come and judge the one who stayed wicked in the best. The lesson cuts both ways. A holy home does not guarantee a holy person, and a corrupt place does not condemn one. Each person chooses whose deeds he will learn from.

Source: Gemara, Sanhedrin 39b (on Ovadiah 1:1), brought by Rashi on Ovadiah 1:1

Practical lessonChoose whom you learn from

Ovadiah spent his days in Achav's palace and still chose his own path. Look at the places you spend most of your hours this week: the office, the group chat, the carpool. Notice one habit of speech or behavior there that you do not want to absorb, and decide quietly not to take it home. Then choose one person, near or far, whose deeds you do want to learn from, and copy one small thing they do.

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