The Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, have a significant place in biblical prophecy, particularly concerning the divine judgments pronounced upon them. Throughout the Scriptures, the Edomites are often depicted as adversaries of Israel, and their fate is intertwined with the broader narrative of God's judgment upon the nations.

Prophetic Pronouncements

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently spoke of the impending judgment upon Edom, highlighting their role in the broader context of divine retribution against the nations. These prophecies underscore the Edomites' participation in the collective punishment that God would mete out to those who opposed His chosen people and His divine will.

Isaiah's Prophecy

Isaiah, one of the major prophets, vividly describes the judgment that would befall Edom. In Isaiah 34:5-6 , the prophet declares, "For My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it will descend in judgment upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood; it is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom." This passage illustrates the severity of the divine judgment and the certainty of Edom's downfall as part of God's broader plan to punish the nations.

Jeremiah's Lament

Jeremiah also prophesies against Edom, emphasizing their inevitable destruction. In Jeremiah 49:17-18 , he states, "Edom will become an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds. As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown along with their neighbors," says the LORD, "no one will live there; no man will dwell there." This comparison to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah underscores the totality of Edom's desolation and their inclusion in the divine judgment against the nations.

Ezekiel's Condemnation

Ezekiel further elaborates on the fate of Edom, linking their judgment to their actions against Israel. In Ezekiel 25:12-14 , the Lord declares, "Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah and incurred grievous guilt by taking revenge on them, therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. I will lay it waste; from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD." This passage highlights the Edomites' culpability and the divine retribution that would be executed through Israel.

Obadiah's Vision

The book of Obadiah, dedicated entirely to the judgment of Edom, provides a comprehensive vision of their downfall. Obadiah 1:15-16 proclaims, "For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head. For as you drank on My holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually; they will drink and gulp down and be as if they had never been." This prophecy not only predicts Edom's punishment but also situates it within the larger framework of God's judgment upon all nations.

Conclusion

The prophetic literature of the Old Testament consistently portrays the Edomites as participants in the divine judgment that would befall the nations. Through the voices of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Obadiah, the Scriptures reveal the certainty and severity of Edom's punishment, reflecting their historical enmity with Israel and their role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.Jeremiah 9:26
Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 25:15-27
For thus said the LORD God of Israel to me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 32:29
There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... half of Elam as his share of the ... exchanged with provincial governors, augural
predictions, consultation of ... the hour, but the prompt punishment which followed ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

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

When were Obadiah's prophecies against Edom fulfilled (Obadiah 1:18-20)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Esau in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus