Topical Bible: Edomites: Saul Makes War Against

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The Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, have a long and complex history with the Israelites. The enmity between these two nations is rooted in the familial discord between Esau and Jacob, which is recounted in the book of Genesis. This animosity continued through the generations, manifesting in various conflicts and hostilities.

During the reign of King Saul, the first king of Israel, the tension between Israel and Edom escalated into open warfare. Saul's military campaigns against the Edomites are briefly mentioned in the biblical narrative, highlighting his efforts to secure and expand the borders of Israel against its adversaries.

In 1 Samuel 14:47, the Berean Standard Bible states: "After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them." This passage indicates that Saul's military endeavors included a campaign against Edom, among other neighboring nations. The text suggests that Saul was successful in his efforts, as he "routed" his enemies, implying a decisive victory.

The conflict with Edom during Saul's reign is part of a broader narrative of Israel's struggle to establish itself as a sovereign nation amidst hostile neighbors. The Edomites, occupying a strategic location to the south of the Kingdom of Judah, were a significant concern for Israel's security and territorial integrity. Saul's campaigns can be seen as an attempt to neutralize the threat posed by Edom and to assert Israel's dominance in the region.

The biblical account does not provide extensive details about the specific battles or strategies employed by Saul against the Edomites. However, the mention of Edom in the context of Saul's military activities underscores the persistent threat they posed and the importance of subduing them to ensure the stability and prosperity of Israel.

The conflict between Israel and Edom continued beyond Saul's reign, with subsequent kings, including David and Solomon, also engaging in military actions against the Edomites. This ongoing hostility reflects the deep-seated rivalry and the geopolitical realities of the ancient Near East, where control of trade routes and territorial expansion were crucial for a nation's survival and growth.

In summary, Saul's war against the Edomites is a significant episode in the history of Israel's early monarchy, illustrating the challenges faced by the nascent kingdom in securing its borders and asserting its sovereignty against longstanding adversaries.

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1 Samuel 14:47
So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and wherever he turned himself, he vexed them.
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Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... That Jonathan, The Son Of Saul, Had Borne Him ... Made An Expedition Against The Edomites
And Amalekites ... Antiochus Makes War Against Hyrcanus And Afterwards Makes A ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Book 5 Footnotes
... she did so, because her father Saul did not ... For this testimony makes all the Hadads
or Benhadads of ... great victory over the Idameans or Edomites, the posterity ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... that case would have been Edomites and Midianites ... for example, King of Gath, makes
war alone against ... contemplation"such as the war against Saul"they demand ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... the battle was fought in which Saul and Jonathan ... Calvin makes the following pertinent
remark: "The antithesis between ... 23:1-8, where the Edomites and Egyptians ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

And ii.
... in it David was to experience the fate of Saul. ... that Bozrah was conquered by the
Edomites and Moabites ... It makes no substantial difference whether the going is ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... eg, Zechariah 1:12, where He makes intercession for ... The fire of war, which the Lord
kindles, devours both ... is the inscription of Psalm 7. where Saul, on account ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm