The Edomites were a significant ancient people mentioned frequently in the Bible, known for their descent from Esau, the elder twin brother of Jacob. The land of the Edomites, often referred to as the "Mount of Esau," is a region of great historical and theological importance, situated to the southeast of Israel, extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Biblical Origins and Geography

The Edomites trace their lineage to Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the brother of Jacob, later named Israel. Esau, also known as Edom, which means "red," is the progenitor of the Edomite nation. The name "Mount of Esau" is derived from the mountainous region that the Edomites inhabited, as referenced in the book of Obadiah: "The house of Jacob will be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau will be stubble; they will set it on fire and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau” (Obadiah 1:18).

The territory of Edom was characterized by its rugged terrain and strategic location along the King's Highway, a major trade route of the ancient Near East. This positioning allowed the Edomites to control commerce and interact with neighboring nations, including Israel, Moab, and Midian.

Historical Interactions with Israel

The relationship between the Edomites and the Israelites was complex and often adversarial. Despite their shared ancestry, the two nations frequently found themselves in conflict. The Edomites denied passage to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt, as recorded in Numbers 20:14-21. This refusal marked the beginning of a long-standing enmity between the two peoples.

Throughout the period of the Israelite monarchy, the Edomites were both adversaries and subjects. King David subdued Edom, placing garrisons throughout the land, as noted in 2 Samuel 8:14: "He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. So the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went" . However, Edom regained independence during the reign of King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22).

Prophetic Significance

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently spoke against Edom, highlighting their pride and hostility towards Israel. The book of Obadiah is a prophetic oracle entirely dedicated to the judgment of Edom, emphasizing their downfall due to their arrogance and violence against their brother nation, Israel. Obadiah 1:3-4 states, "The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, whose habitation is high, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD" .

Cultural and Religious Practices

The Edomites, like many of their contemporaries, practiced a polytheistic religion, worshiping deities such as Qos, their chief god. Their religious practices and cultural identity were distinct from those of the Israelites, contributing to the ongoing tension between the two groups.

Legacy and Decline

The Edomites' influence waned over time, particularly after their subjugation by the Babylonians and later the Nabateans. By the time of the Roman Empire, the Edomites, known as Idumeans, had largely assimilated into surrounding cultures. Herod the Great, an Idumean, famously became king of Judea under Roman rule, illustrating the enduring, albeit transformed, legacy of the Edomite people.

The Edomites, as descendants of Esau, serve as a reminder of the complex familial and national relationships that shaped the biblical narrative and the unfolding history of the ancient Near East.Obadiah 1:21
And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Patriarchs.
... Their country, afterwards called Idumea, was full of rocks and precipices, and
in these the Edomites hollowed out caves for themselves, making ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ii the patriarchs.htm

The Prophecy of Obadiah.
... in vers.12-14, the prophet exhorts the Edomites neither to ... Jerusalem, and the
overflowing of the whole country by the ... on the Lord, and the being called by the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophecy of obadiah.htm

From Abraham to Egypt.
... Many others had gone from his country to the regions ... Isaac, in whom his seed should
be called (21:12 ... From his character and that of the Edomites, his descendants ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iv from abraham to.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... if there were a city or country of lay ... Israelites] should be Esau's [or the Edomites']
lord, remarkably ... Jews: those nations which are called Christians, are ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Canaan
... the wadis of Mount Seir before the Edomites had entered ... part of the later population
of the country traced its ... escaped from Egypt when they were called upon to ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Amaziah Made An Expedition Against The Edomites And Amalekites ... Little Time Retired
Out Of The Country For Fear ... How Antiochus, Who Was Called Dionysus, And After ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Israelites
... Egyptian king Meneptah they are accordingly called Israelu, "Israelites ... to win by
the sword a country of their ... The Edomites refused them a passage along the high ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... devastated by winter torrents, and overshadowed by the volcanic summits of Mount
Seir. ... Susa, in the language of the country, was called Shushun; this ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Questions.
... 13. What were the habits of the Edomites? 14. ... 38. What country was won back by the
Christiana? LESSON XXXII. ... 10. What were Luther's party called, and why? 11. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

From Egypt to Sinai.
... (3) Social: He was also called upon to ... also that they encountered and defeated the
Amalekites, a tribe of Edomites, who still ... 12) The geography of the country. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter v from egypt to.htm

Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau (Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13)? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God judge Edom so harshly in the book of Obadiah? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Obadiah - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

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