The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1737 page)

 
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see
SH
MU TENN
.

 
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Oaths
.

A self-curse in Judaism which would be fulfilled if certain conditions were not met. Oath-taking was common in Ancient Israel. In
Talmudic
law, oaths were used as a means of judicial proof in civil cases and could not be sworn by known liars, minors, the deaf and dumb, or the insane. Taking an oath involved holding the
Scroll of the Law
and swearing by God or one of his attributes (
B.Shevu
. 38b). See also
CURSING
.
In Christianity, Matthew 5. 33–7 has been taken by some (e.g.
Baptists
,
Mennonites
,
Quakers
,
Waldensians
) to preclude any kind of oath-taking; but more generally it has been understood as a prohibition on swearing.

 
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Obadiah, Book of
.

Minor Prophet
of the Hebrew scriptures and Christian Old Testament, the shortest book therein. The rabbis identified Obadiah with King Ahab's servant (1 Kings 18. 3–4), but this is unlikely.

 
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