The Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, are a significant people group in the biblical narrative. The land of Edom, also known as Seir, was divinely allocated to Esau and his descendants, as recorded in the Scriptures. This allocation is a testament to God's sovereign distribution of lands among the nations, as well as His faithfulness to His promises to the patriarchs.

Biblical Allocation of Edom

The land of Edom is situated to the southeast of Israel, extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. It is a mountainous region, known for its rugged terrain and red sandstone formations, which is reflected in the name "Edom," meaning "red." The Bible records that this territory was specifically given to Esau and his descendants by God. In Deuteronomy 2:5, the Israelites are instructed, "Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession" . This divine decree underscores the legitimacy of Edom's claim to their land.

Historical and Prophetic Context

Throughout the Old Testament, the Edomites are frequently mentioned in relation to the Israelites. Despite their shared ancestry, the relationship between the two nations was often marked by conflict and hostility. The Edomites refused passage to the Israelites during their wilderness journey (Numbers 20:14-21), and later, they were involved in various conflicts with the kings of Israel and Judah.

Prophetically, the Edomites are the subject of several oracles and judgments pronounced by the prophets. Obadiah, in particular, delivers a message of judgment against Edom for their pride and their mistreatment of Israel. Obadiah 1:10 states, "Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever" . This prophetic literature highlights the moral and spiritual dimensions of Edom's actions and their consequences.

Cultural and Religious Practices

The Edomites, like many ancient Near Eastern peoples, practiced a polytheistic religion. They worshiped a variety of deities, with Qos being one of their chief gods. The religious practices of the Edomites often stood in contrast to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh by the Israelites. This religious divergence further fueled the tensions between the two nations.

Legacy and Influence

The Edomites' legacy is intertwined with the broader narrative of the Bible, serving as both a literal and symbolic representation of opposition to God's chosen people. Despite their eventual decline and absorption into other cultures, the Edomites remain a poignant example of the complexities of kinship, divine sovereignty, and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through history.

In summary, the Edomites and their land, specially given to them by divine decree, play a crucial role in the biblical account. Their interactions with Israel, their cultural practices, and the prophetic words spoken against them provide rich material for understanding the dynamics of God's dealings with nations and His overarching purposes in history.Deuteronomy 2:5
Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir to Esau for a possession.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... 23:1-8, where the Edomites and Egyptians are ... had revealed Himself by specially
distinguishing manifestations ... captivities, wandered about the country in sorrow ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

And ii.
... be that Bozrah was conquered by the Edomites and Moabites ... he speaks in general terms,
has specially in view ... and the devastation of their whole country had been ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... middle of the third month without specially naming the day ... residence of the Israelites
in that country last for ... odium." Ammon and Moab, the Edomites and Amorites ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Canaan
... the wadis of Mount Seir before the Edomites had entered ... of the later population of
the country traced its ... is that the term Perizzite was specially applied to ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... The question here is:"Why is Carmel specially mentioned ... high." Details still more
accurate are given by Schulz ... of any safer place in the whole country; and if ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

Chapter xxv
... the Arabian Cushites on the south; the Edomites, Moabites, etc ... and was a "man of
the open country," ie, a ... In any case, it should specially be borne in mind that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... on his side, had routed the Edomites in the ... the secondary tribes had almost entirely
given up their ... The division of the country into provinces, a consequence ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... from time immemorial; Mount Bikni was specially celebrated for ... serious resistance:
he overran the country from end ... if, indeed, they had ever given them up, and ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Isaiah
... either so weak or rapacious that the country is already ... If the city specially mentioned
at the end of the ... Jews never forgot or forgave the Edomites for their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... inhabitants in that case would have been Edomites and Midianites ... a decree of Pharaoh,
a new country had been ... lying between Raphia and Joppa, were given over to ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

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