Difference between revisions of "Edom"

<p> Idumea. ("red".) Esau's surname, the firstborn of Isaac; Jacob's twin brother, who sold his birthright for the red pottage (of yellow brown lentils, '''''Dashim''''' ; the cooking of which is still seen in [[Egyptian]] representations), from whence came his surname (&nbsp;Genesis 25:29-34). The name was appropriate to Edom's possession, "mount Seir," the mountainous territory having a reddish hue. Seir means rugged, applicable alike to Seir the hirsute (like Esau) progenitor of the Horites, Edom's predecessors, and to their rugged forest covered territory (&nbsp;Genesis 14:6; &nbsp;Genesis 32:3; &nbsp;Genesis 36:1-8; &nbsp;Genesis 36:20-22). It extended from the Dead Sea S. to the Elanitic gulf of the Red Sea. Esau, with his 400 armed men (&nbsp;Genesis 32:6), commenced driving out the Horites, and permanently settled in mount Seir after his father's death, yielding [[Canaan]] to Jacob, in accordance with his father's blessing. </p> <p> It is objected to &nbsp;Genesis 36:31 that the language supposes kings had already reigned over Israel. But in &nbsp;Genesis 35:11 "God Almighty" ( ''''''Εel Shaday''''' ) had promised Jacob "kings shall come out of thy loins." Moses, too, foretold of the Israelites having a king over them. [[Naturally]] then he notices that eight kings had reigned of Esau's family up to his own time, "before the reigning of any king to the children of Israel." The prosperity of the worldly is often immediate and brilliant, but it is transitory; that of God's people is slower in coming, that they may believingly and patiently wait for it, but when it does come it will abide for ever. Of the kingdom of the Messiah, Israel's king, there shall be no end (&nbsp;Luke 1:33). The dukes did not precede the line of [[Edomite]] kings, and afterward succeed again (Genesis 36); but a single king (emir) reigned in all Edom contemporaneous with several dukes (skeikhs) or princes of local tribes. The king is mentioned (&nbsp;Judges 11:17), and the dukes a short while before (&nbsp;Exodus 15:15). </p> <p> Moreover, the monarchy was not hereditary, but the kings apparently were elected by the dukes. The [[Edomites]] became "dwellers in the clefts of the rocks" (&nbsp;Jeremiah 49:16; compare &nbsp;2 Chronicles 25:11-12), like their [[Horite]] predecessors who were troglodytes or "dwellers in caves" (&nbsp;Obadiah 1:3-4) Petra (Sela, Hebrew, rock), their chief city, was cut in the rocks. S. Idumea abounds in cave dwellings. Red baldheaded sandstone rocks are intersected by deep seams rather than valleys. In the heart of these, itself invisible, lies Petra (Stanley), Edom' s stronghold in Amaziah's days (&nbsp;2 Kings 14:7). Bozrah, now Buseireh, was its ancient capital, near the N. border. (See [[Bozrah]] .) Elath and Ezion Geber were Edom's seaports; afterward taken by David and made by [[Solomon]] his ports for equipping his merchant fleet (&nbsp;2 Samuel 8:14; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:26). </p> <p> Edom (100 miles long, 20 broad) stretched Edom of the [[Arabah]] valley, southward as far as Elath. [[Eastward]] of Elath lay the desert. Israel, when refused a passage through [[Moab]] N. of Edom, as also through Edom, went from [[Kadesh]] by the S. extremity of Edom past. Elath into the desert E. of Edom (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:8; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:13-14; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:18; &nbsp;Judges 11:17-18; &nbsp;2 Kings 3:6-9). The [[Brook]] [[Zered]] ( ''Wady El Ahsy'' ) was the boundary between Moab (Kerak) and Edom (now Jebal, [[Hebrew]] Gebal, mountainous, the N. district, along with Esh. Sherah, the S. district), Edom subsequently took also the territory once occupied by Amalek, S. of Palestine, the desert of Et Tih ("wandering") (&nbsp;Numbers 13:29; &nbsp;1 Samuel 15:1-7; &nbsp;1 Samuel 27:8). Low calcareous hills are on the W. base of the mountain range of igneous porphyry rock, surmounted by red sandstone. </p> <p> On the E. is a limestone ridge, descending with an easy incline to the [[Arabian]] desert. The promised (&nbsp;Genesis 27:40) "fatness of the earth" is in the glens and terraces of Edom (&nbsp;Genesis 27:39), while from their rocky aeries they sallied forth "living by the sword." When navigation was difficult merchants' caravans took Edom as their route from the [[Persian]] gulf to Egypt, which became a source of wealth to Edom. At Kadesh Edom came out against Israel, on the latter marching eastward across the Arabah to reach the [[Jordan]] River through Edom, and offering to pay for provisions and water; for the rocky country there enabled them to oppose Israel. The wady Ghuweir (where probably was "the king's highway") would be the defile by which [[Israel]] tried to pass through Edom being the only practicable defile for an army, with pasture and springs (&nbsp;Numbers 20:14-21). </p> <p> But Edom dared not resist Israel's passage along their eastern border, which is more defenseless than their frontier toward the Arabah. Edom then at last made a virtue of necessity and let Israel purchase provisions (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:2-8; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:28-29). In both accounts Israel offered to pay for provisions, and did so at last on Edom's eastern side, whereas they and Moab ought to have "met (Israel as their brother) with bread and water" (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 23:4). Edom was among the enemies on the frontier from whom Saul at the beginning of his reign delivered Israel (&nbsp;1 Samuel 14:47). [[Hadad]] the Edomite, who escaped from David's slaughter to Egypt, returned thence from [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] to excite Edom to revolt against Solomon (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:14). [[Jehoshaphat]] of Judah reduced the Edomites 897 B.C., dethroning their king for a deputy from Jerusalem, and trying by a fleet at Ezion Geber to regain the trade; but his vessels were broken by the Edomites or the Egyptians. </p> <p> Amaziah of Judah killed many thousands in the Valley of Salt near the Dead Sea, and took Selah, afterward Joktheel, the first mention of this extraordinary city (&nbsp;2 Kings 14:7), and adopted their gods of mount Seir. Uzziah built Elath on the opposite side of the bay from Ezion Geber, the Roman (Etana, now Akabah; but in Ahaz' reign the Edomites (as &nbsp;2 Kings 16:6 should be read for "Syrians") recovered it (&nbsp;2 Kings 14:22). When Israel and Judah declined Edom "broke off Israel's yoke," as Isaac had foretold, in Jehoram's reign (&nbsp;2 Kings 8:20-22), re-conquered their lost cities and invaded southern Judah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:17). Edom also joined the Chaldaeans against the Jews (&nbsp;Psalms 137:7). Hence, the denunciations against Edom in &nbsp;Obadiah 1:1, etc.; &nbsp;Jeremiah 49:7, etc.; &nbsp;Ezekiel 25:12, etc.; &nbsp;Ezekiel 35:3, etc. At the [[Babylonian]] captivity they seized on the [[Amalekite]] territory, and even [[Hebron]] in southern Judaea, so that [[Idumaea]] came to mean the region between the Arabah and the Mediterranean. </p> <p> Meanwhile mount [[Stir]] or Edom proper, was occupied by the [[Nabathaeans]] (descended from Nebaioth, Ishmael's oldest son and Esau's brother in law), a powerful people of S. Arabia; they founded the kingdom of Arabia Petraea in ancient Edom, and their monarchs took the name Aretas. Aretas, the father-in-law of Herod [[Antipas]] (Matthew 14), took Damascus at the time of Paul's conversion (&nbsp;Acts 9:25; &nbsp;2 Corinthians 11:32). Rome subdued this kingdom of Arabia A.D. 105. Idumea S. of Palestine was joined to [[Judaea]] under [[Judas]] Maccabaeus and John Hyrcanus. Antipater, one of the [[Jewish]] prefects, an Idumean by birth, by the Roman senate's decree (37 B.C.) became procurator of all Judaea. His son was Herod the Great. Just before the siege under Titus 20,000 Idumeans were admitted into Jerusalem and filled it bloodshed and rapine. Muslim misrule finally destroyed Edom's prosperity in fulfillment of prophecy (&nbsp;Ezekiel 35:3-14). </p> <p> Psalm 44 was written by the sons of [[Korah]] in the midst of Edom's invasion of Israel, taking advantage of David's absence at the Euphrates. David was striving with [[Aram]] of the two rivers (Naharaim) and [[Aram-Zobah]] when [[Joab]] returned and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt (the scene also of Amaziah's victory over Edom, the plain S. of the Dead Sea, where the Ghor or the Jordan Valley ends; the mount of rock salt, Khasm Usdum, is in its N.W. grainer) 12,000 men (&nbsp;2 Samuel 8:13; &nbsp;2 Samuel 10:6; &nbsp;2 Samuel 10:8; &nbsp;2 Samuel 10:10-19; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 18:12; &nbsp;1 Kings 11:15-16). Israel's slain lay unburied until Joab returned from smiting Edom along with Abishai. The scattering of Israel among the pagan (&nbsp;Psalms 44:11) was but partial, enough to gratify Edom's desire to falsify the prophecy, "the elder shall serve the younger." Edom's spite is marked (&nbsp;Joel 3:19; &nbsp;Amos 1:6; &nbsp;Amos 1:9; &nbsp;Amos 1:11). </p> <p> Israel pleads faithfulness to the covenant, which suits David's time; also they had no "armies" in [[Babylon]] (&nbsp;Psalms 44:9), which precludes the time of the captivity there. David wrote Psalm 60 when victory was in part gained, and he was sending forth the expedition against Edom. [[Translated]] in the title, "when David had beaten down Aram of the two floods," "when Joab returned," which he did not do all he had fully conquered the Syrians; &nbsp;Psalms 60:4, "Thou hast given a banner," etc., alludes to this victory and to that over Edom (in &nbsp;2 Samuel 8:13 "Edom" should be read for "the Syrians," Aram) in the Valley of Salt, the token that the expedition (&nbsp;Psalms 60:9-12) for occupying Edom in revenge for invading Israel would succeed. "Over (rather, to) Edom I will cast out my shoe," as one about to wash his feet casts his shoe to his slave (&nbsp;Matthew 3:11; &nbsp;John 13:8; &nbsp;Acts 13:25); and the casting of the shoe marked transference of possession (&nbsp;Ruth 4:7; &nbsp;Joshua 10:24). </p> <p> David as king, Joab as commander in chief and [[Abishai]] under Joab, smote Edom. Abishai first killed 6,000, Joab afterward 12,000 (as the title of Psalm 60 states); so in all 18,000 (in &nbsp;2 Samuel 8:13). Edom was also linked with [[Ammon]] and Moab in the desperate effort made to root out Israel from his divinely given inheritance (their main guilt, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 20:11; &nbsp;Psalms 83:12) under Jehoshaphat, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. They joined craft with force, marching S. round the Dead Sea instead of from the E. No news reached Jehoshaphat until the vast multitude was in his territory at Engedi; "they have taken crafty counsel," etc. &nbsp;Psalms 83:3-5; &nbsp;Psalms 83:12 probably was written by Jahaziel, of the sons of Asaph, upon whom'" came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation." </p> <p> Psalm 47 (compare &nbsp;Psalms 47:4-5; &nbsp;Psalms 47:8-9) was sung on the battle field of [[Berachah]] ("blessing") after the victory. Psalm 48 was sung "in the midst of God's temple" (&nbsp;Psalms 48:9); &nbsp;Psalms 48:7 alludes to Jehoshaphat's chastisement in the breaking of his [[Tarshish]] ships for his ungodly alliance. This danger from within and the foreign one alike God's grace averted. Psalm 83 is the earliest of the series, for it anticipates victory and is a thanksgiving beforehand, which was the very ground of the victory which actually followed (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 20:21-22). See "Studies in the CL. Psalms," by Fausset. N. Edom is now called ''El Jebal'' (Gebal), with the villages Tufileh, Buserah, and Shobek. Its S. part is Esh Sherah, inhabited by fellahin; of these the Ammarin are so degraded as not to have the Bedouin virtue of keeping their word. The Liyathoneh are a branch of the Kheibari Jews near wady Musa. </p>

<li> Idumea (&nbsp;Isaiah 34:5,6; &nbsp;Ezekiel 35:15 ). "The field of Edom" (&nbsp;Genesis 32:3 ), "the land of Edom" (&nbsp;Genesis 36:16 ), was mountainous (&nbsp;Obadiah 1:8,9,19,21 ). It was called the land, or "the mountain of Seir," the rough hills on the east side of the Arabah. It extended from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the Elanitic gulf, to the foot of the Dead Sea (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:26 ), and contained, among other cities, the rock-hewn Sela (q.v.), generally known by the Greek name Petra (&nbsp;2 Kings 14:7 ). It is a wild and rugged region, traversed by fruitful valleys. Its old capital was Bozrah (&nbsp;Isaiah 63:1 ). The early inhabitants of the land were Horites. They were destroyed by the Edomites (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:12 ), between whom and the kings of Israel and Judah there was frequent war (&nbsp;2 Kings 8:20; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:17 ). <p> At the time of the Exodus they churlishly refused permission to the Israelites to pass through their land (&nbsp;Numbers 20:14-21 ), and ever afterwards maintained an attitude of hostility toward them. They were conquered by David (&nbsp;2 Samuel 8:14; Compare &nbsp;1 Kings 9:26 ), and afterwards by Amaziah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 25:11,12 ). But they regained again their independence, and in later years, during the decline of the Jewish kingdom (&nbsp;2 Kings 16:6; RSV marg., "Edomites"), made war against Israel. They took part with the [[Chaldeans]] when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, and afterwards they invaded and held possession of the south of Palestine as far as Hebron. At length, however, Edom fell under the growing [[Chaldean]] power (&nbsp;Jeremiah 27:3,6 ). </p> <p> There are many prophecies concerning Edom (&nbsp;Isaiah 34:5,6; &nbsp;Jeremiah 49:7-18; &nbsp;Ezekiel 25:13; &nbsp;35:1-15; &nbsp;Joel 3:19; &nbsp;Amos 1:11; Obad.; &nbsp;Malachi 1:3,4 ) which have been remarkably fulfilled. The present desolate condition of that land is a standing testimony to the inspiration of these prophecies. After an existence as a people for above seventeen hundred years, they have utterly disappeared, and their language even is forgotten for ever. In Petra, "where kings kept their court, and where nobles assembled, there no man dwells; it is given by lot to birds, and beasts, and reptiles." </p> <p> The Edomites were Semites, closely related in blood and in language to the Israelites. They dispossessed the [[Horites]] of Mount Seir; though it is clear, from &nbsp;Genesis 36 , that they afterwards intermarried with the conquered population. Edomite tribes settled also in the south of Judah, like the [[Kenizzites]] (&nbsp;Genesis 36:11 ), to whom [[Caleb]] and [[Othniel]] belonged (&nbsp;Joshua 15:17 ). The southern part of Edom was known as Teman. </p> <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Edom'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/e/edom.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> '''E'dom.''' ''(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," &nbsp;Genesis 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). &nbsp;2 Kings 14:7. Elath and Ezion-geber were the seaports. &nbsp;2 Samuel 8:14; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:26. </p> <p> '''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. &nbsp;Numbers 20:18-21. </p> <p> For a period of 400 years, we hear no more of the Edomites. They were then attacked and defeated by Saul, &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:47, and some forty years later, by David. &nbsp;2 Samuel 8:13-14. In the reign of Jehoshaphat, (B.C. 914), the Edomites attempted to invade Israel, but failed. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 20:22. They joined Nebuchadnezzar when that king besieged Jerusalem. For their cruelty at this time, they were fearfully denounced by the later prophets. &nbsp;Isaiah 34:5-8; &nbsp;Isaiah 63:1-4; &nbsp;Jeremiah 49:17. </p> <p> 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. </p> <p> The Edomites were now incorporated with the Jewish nation. They were idolaters. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 25:14; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 25:15; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 25:20. 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. </p>

<p> [[Edom]] ( ''Ç'Dom'' ), ''Red.'' Called also Idumæa and Mount Seir. &nbsp;Genesis 32:3; &nbsp;Genesis 36:8; &nbsp;Genesis 19:21. The country extended from the Dead Sea southward to the Gulf of Akabah, and from the valley of the Arabah eastward to the desert of Arabia, being about 125 miles long and 30 miles wide. It was given to Esau, and called the field or land of Edom. &nbsp;Genesis 32:3; &nbsp;Genesis 36:16; &nbsp;Numbers 33:37. The country is well watered, rich in pasturage, abounding with trees and flowers, reminding us of Isaac's prophecy: "Thy dwellings shall be the fatness of the earth." &nbsp;Genesis 27:39. Its principal towns were Bozrah, Elath, Maon, Ezion-geber, [[Selah]] or Petra. Its destruction was proclaimed. &nbsp;Isaiah 34:5-8; &nbsp;Isaiah 63:1-4; &nbsp;Jeremiah 49:17; &nbsp;Ezekiel 25:12-14; &nbsp;Amos 1:10-11. See Esau and Idumæa. </p>

<p> (Hebrews Edom', '''''אֵֹדם''''' or '''''אדֵוֹם''''' so called from his red hair, &nbsp;Genesis 25:25, or from the red pottage for which he bartered his birthright, &nbsp;Genesis 25:30; Sept. '''''Ε᾿Δώμ''''' ), the later name of Isaac's son, elder twin-brother of Jacob; more frequently called ESAU (See Esau) (q.v.). (See [[Obed-Edom]]). </p> <p> EDOM (Sept. '''''Ι᾿Δουμαία''''' ) stands also collectively for the ''Edomites,'' the posterity of Edom or Esau; and likewise for their country. (See Edomite). </p>

<p> Or </p> <p> mountainous but not unfertile country, comprising the S. of [[Judæa]] and part of the N. of Arabia Petræa, 100 m. long by 20 m. broad, peopled originally by the descendants of Esau, who were ruled by "dukes," and were bitterly hostile to the Jews. </p>