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The Edomite Territory
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Map of the Territory of the Edomites
The Edomites were the descendants of Esau (Gen 25:25; 36:1) and lived in strong mountain fortresses. They became prosperous through agriculture, cattle, and the tribute they levied on passing caravans.After the Babylonian captivity the Edomites were driven north by the Nabataeans to the areas around southern Judah and Hebron, which was called Idumea in the Greco-Roman period. The whole area was conquered by John Hyrcanus. Antipater and his son Herod the great were Idumeans. In rabbinical literature Edom was a pseudonym for Rome.
Genesis 36:43 - Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these [be] the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he [is] Esau the father of the Edomites.
The Edomites in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
Edom
2. Character and Features:
The land thus indicated varies greatly in character and features.
South of the Dead Sea in the bottom of the valley we have first the
stretch of salt marsh land called es-Sebkha; then, beyond the line
of white cliffs that crosses the valley diagonally from Northwest to
Southeast, a broad depression strewn with stones and sandhills, the
debris of an old sea bottom, rises gradually, and 60 miles to the
South reaches a height of about 700 ft. above the level of the Red
Sea, 2,000 ft. above that of the Dead Sea. From this point it sinks
until it reaches the shore of the Gulf of `Aqaba, 45 miles farther
South. The whole depression is known today as Wady el-`Arabah
(compare Hebrew ha-`arabhah, Dt 2:8 the Revised Version (British and
American), etc.). On either side the mountains rise steeply from the
valley, their edges carved into many fantastic shapes by the deep
wadys that break down from the interior (see ARABAH). The northern
part of the plateau on the West forms the spacious grazing ground of
the `Azdzimeh Arabs. The mountains rise to a height of from about
1,500 ft. to a little over 2,000 ft. This district was traversed by
the ancient caravan road to South Palestine; and along the eastern
side traces of the former civilization are still to be seen. The
desert region to the South is higher, reaching to as much as 2,600
ft. The mountain range East of the `Arabah is generally higher in
the South than in the North. Jebel Harun beside Petra, is 4,780 ft.
above sea-level; while East of `Aqaba, Jebel el-Chisma may be as
much as 5,900 ft. in height. Limestone, porphyry and Nubian
sandstone are the prevailing formation; but volcanic rocks are also
found. The range consists mainly of rough rocky heights with many
almost inaccessible peaks separated by deep gorges. But there are
also breadths of fertile land where wheat, grapes, figs,
pomegranates and olives are grown to advantage. The northern
district is known today by the name el-Jebal, corresponding to the
ancient Gebal. Seir is the name applied to the eastern range in Gen
36:8; Dt 2:1,5; 2 Ch 20:23. It is also called Edom, and the Mount of
Esau (Ob 1:8 f). Seir, however, is used for the western highlands in
Dt 33:2. This seems to be its meaning also in Jdg 5:4, where it
appears as the equivalent of "the field of Edom." With this same
phrase, however, in Gen 32:3 it may more fitly apply to the eastern
range.
5. Idumaea and the Idumeans:
West of the `Arabah the country they occupied came to be known by
the Greek name Idumaea, and the people as Idumeans. Hebron, their
chief city, was taken by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC (1 Macc 4:29,61;
5:65). In 126 BC the country was subdued by John Hyrcanus, who
compelled the people to become Jews and to submit to circumcision.
Antipater, governor of Idumaea, was made procurator of Judea,
Samaria and Galilee by Julius Caesar. He paved the way to the throne
for his son Herod the Great. With the fall of Judah under the
Romans, Idumaea disappears from history.
The names of several Edomite deities are known: Hadad, Qaus, Koze,
and, possibly, Edom; but of the religion of Edom we are without
information. The language differed little from Hebrew.
Full Article
The Edomites from Smith's Bible
Dictionary
Edom, Idumaea or Idumea
(red). The name Edom was given to Esau, the first-born son
of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, when he sold his birthright to
the latter for a meal of lentil pottage. The country which the Lord
subsequently gave to Esau was hence called "the country of Edom," Ge
32:3 and his descendants were called Edomites. Edom was called Mount
Seir and Idumea also. Edom was wholly a mountainous country. It
embraced the narrow mountainous tract (about 100 miles long by 20
broad) extending along the eastern side of the Arabah from the
northern end of the Gulf of Elath to near the southern end of the
Dead Sea. The ancient capital of Edom was Bozrah (Buseireh). Sela
(Petra) appears to have been the principal stronghold in the days of
Amaziah (B.C. 838). 2Ki 14:7 Elath and Ezion-geber were the
seaports. 2Sa 8:14; 1Ki 9:26 History. --Esau's bitter hatred to his
brother Jacob for fraudulently obtaining his blessing appears to
have been inherited by his latest posterity. The Edomites
peremptorily refused to permit the Israelites to pass through their
land. Nu 20:18-21 For a period of 400 years we hear no more of the
Edomites. They were then attacked and defeated by Saul, 1Sa 14:47
and some forty years later by David. 2Sa 8:13,14 In the reign of
Jehoshaphat (B.c. 914) the Edomites attempted to invade Israel, but
failed. 2Ch 20:22 They joined Nebuchadnezzar when that king besieged
Jerusalem. For their cruelty at this time they were fearfully
denounced by the later prophets. Isa 34:5-8; 63:1-4; Jer 49:17 After
this they settled in southern Palestine, and for more than four
centuries continued to prosper. But during the warlike rule of the
Maccabees they were again completely subdued, and even forced to
conform to Jewish laws and rites, and submit to the government of
Jewish prefects. The Edomites were now incorporated with the Jewish
nation. They were idolaters. 2Ch 25:14,15,20 Their habits were
singular. The Horites, their predecessors in Mount Seir, were, as
their name implies, troglodytes, or dwellers in caves; and the
Edomites seem to have adopted their dwellings as well as their
country. Everywhere we meet with caves and grottos hewn in the soft
sandstone strata.
Full Article
The Bible Mentions "Edomites" in many places:
2 Chronicles 25:19 -
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and
thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why
shouldest thou meddle to [thine] hurt, that thou shouldest fall,
[even] thou, and Judah with thee?
1 Kings
11:1 - But king Solomon loved many strange women, together
with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites,
Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites;
2 Kings
8:21 - So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with
him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites
which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the
people fled into their tents.
Genesis
36:43 - Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these [be] the dukes of
Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their
possession: he [is] Esau the father of the Edomites.
2
Chronicles 25:14 - Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah
was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he
brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up [to be]
his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense
unto them.
2
Chronicles 21:10 - So the Edomites revolted
from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time [also] did
Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD
God of his fathers.
2
Chronicles 21:9 - Then Jehoram went forth with his princes,
and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote
the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains
of the chariots.
1 Kings
11:17 - That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites
of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad [being]
yet a little child.
1
Chronicles 18:13 - And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the
Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD
preserved David whithersoever he went.
1
Chronicles 18:12 - Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew
of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen
thousand.
2
Chronicles 21:8 - In his days the Edomites
revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a
king.
Genesis
36:9 - And these [are] the generations of Esau the father of
the Edomites in mount Seir:
2
Chronicles 28:17 - For again the Edomites had
come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
Mark 3:8 - And from
Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and [from] beyond Jordan;
and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had
heard what great things he did, came unto him.