The Edomites were a significant group in the biblical narrative, known as the descendants of Esau, the elder twin brother of Jacob. Esau, also called Edom, which means "red," was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham. The Edomites are frequently mentioned throughout the Old Testament, often in relation to their interactions and conflicts with the Israelites.

Ancestry and Early History

The origin of the Edomites is traced back to Esau, who is described in Genesis as a skillful hunter and a man of the field, in contrast to his brother Jacob, who was a quiet man dwelling in tents (Genesis 25:27). Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal of bread and lentil stew, an act that had significant implications for his descendants (Genesis 25:29-34). Later, Esau's blessing was also taken by Jacob through deception, leading to a deep-seated enmity between the two brothers (Genesis 27:1-40).

Esau settled in the hill country of Seir, which became known as Edom (Genesis 36:8). The descendants of Esau established themselves in this region, and the land of Edom became synonymous with Esau's lineage. The genealogy of Esau is detailed in Genesis 36, listing his sons and the chiefs of Edom, highlighting the establishment of a distinct nation.

Geographical Location

Edom was located to the southeast of Israel, bordered by the Dead Sea to the west and the Arabian Desert to the east. The territory included significant trade routes, such as the King's Highway, which contributed to its economic importance. The capital of Edom was Bozrah, and other notable cities included Sela and Teman.

Relations with Israel

The relationship between the Edomites and the Israelites was complex and often hostile. Despite their shared ancestry, the two nations frequently clashed. When the Israelites were journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Edomites refused them passage through their territory, forcing the Israelites to take a longer route (Numbers 20:14-21).

Throughout the period of the Judges and the monarchy, the Edomites were both adversaries and subjugated peoples. King Saul fought against them (1 Samuel 14:47), and King David eventually subdued Edom, placing garrisons throughout the land and making the Edomites his servants (2 Samuel 8:13-14). However, Edom regained its independence during the reign of King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22).

Prophetic Literature

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently spoke against Edom, condemning their actions and foretelling their downfall. Obadiah's entire book is a prophecy against Edom, highlighting their pride and violence against their brother Jacob (Obadiah 1:10-14). Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos also pronounced judgments on Edom, predicting desolation and divine retribution for their hostility towards Israel (Isaiah 34:5-15, Jeremiah 49:7-22, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Amos 1:11-12).

Cultural and Religious Practices

The Edomites, like many neighboring peoples, practiced a polytheistic religion. They worshiped a variety of deities, with Qos being one of their chief gods. The cultural and religious practices of the Edomites were distinct from those of the Israelites, contributing to the ongoing tension between the two groups.

Later History and Legacy

By the time of the New Testament, the Edomites, known as Idumeans, had been largely assimilated into other cultures. Herod the Great, the king of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth, was of Idumean descent, illustrating the continued influence of Edomite lineage in the region.

The Edomites serve as a reminder of the complex relationships and enduring enmities that characterized the ancient Near East, as well as the fulfillment of biblical prophecies concerning the nations surrounding Israel.Genesis 36:1
Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
Nave's Topical Index

Questions.
... xxvii.39, 40. 10. By what names were the descendants of Esau called? 11. Where
did the Edomites live? 12. What sea was named from them? 13. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... list: it shows how at a comparatively early date Esau's descendants advance to ... the
reason for this most likely being the fact that Edomites attached importance ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

About the Time of Christ, in Accordance with Prophecy, the Rulers ...
... [89] The Idumeans or Edomites were the descendants of Esau, and inhabited the
Sinaitic peninsula south of the Dead Sea. Their principal ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vi about the time of.htm

The Story of Jacob
... The people who came from Esau lived in a land ... of the land of Israel, where Jacob's
descendants lived. ... the Israelites became rulers over the Edomites; and later ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

The Patriarchs.
... Esau went away to Mount Seir, to the south of the Promised Land, and his descendants
were called the Edomites, from his name, meaning the Red; and so, too, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ii the patriarchs.htm

Amos and Obadiah.
... The Occasion of the prophecy is the cruelty of the Edomites in rejoicing over ... lies
in its predictions of doom upon Edom the descendants of Esau, the twin ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xix amos and obadiah.htm

From Abraham to Egypt.
... In connection with Jacob we have also the lessons concerning Esau. ... From his character
and that of the Edomites, his descendants, there is taught the lesson ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iv from abraham to.htm

Acts XVI
... or Edomites, are under the same obligation to circumcise their children that the
twelve tribes were in Egypt, and that the descendants of Ishmael and Esau were ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xvi.htm

The Interpretation of the Early Narratives of the Old Testament
... the two races (the Israelites and the Edomites) that they ... crafty; and yet he has
what Esau fatally lacks ... looks beyond himself to the future of his descendants. ...
/.../xiv the interpretation of the.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... Edomites took part in the Israelitish conquest of ... Esau, the brother of Jacob, had
already gathered ... His descendants, partly by conquest, partly by absorption ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Who were the Edomites? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Edom in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who/what is Edom (Obadiah 1:1, 8)? | GotQuestions.org

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