Reference: Edom, Edomites
Hastings
The Edomites were a tribe or group of tribes residing in early Biblical times in Mount Seir (Ge 32:3; Jg 5:4), but covering territory on both sides of it. At times their territory seems to have included the region to the Red Sea and Sinai (1Ki 9:26; Jg 5:4). Edom or Esau was their reputed ancestor. The Israelites were conscious that the Edomites were their near kinsmen, hence the tradition that Esau and Jacob were twin brothers (Ge 25:24). That the Edomites were an older nation they showed by making Esau the firstborn twin. The tradition that Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright (Ge 27), and that enmity arose between the brothers, is an actual reflexion of the hostile relations of the Edomites and Israelites for which the Israelites were to a considerable degree responsible.
Before the conquest of Canaan, Edom is said to have refused to let Israel pass through his territory (Nu 20:18,21). Probably during the period of the Judges, Edomites invaded southern Judah (cf. Paton, Syria and Palestine, 161 ff.). Possibly Edomites settled here and were incorporated in Judah, for Kenaz is said in Ge 36:11 to be a son of Esau, while in Jg 3:9 he is counted a Judahite.
During the monarchy Saul is said to have fought the Edomites (1Sa 14:47); David conquered Edom and put garrisons in the country (2Sa 8:13-14); Edom regained its independence under Solomon (1Ki 11:14-22); Jehoshaphat a century later reconquered Edom (cf. 1Ki 22:47-48), and Edomites helped him in his war with Moab (2Ki 3); in the reign of Joram, his successor, the Edomites regained their independence after a bloody revolution (2Ki 8:20-21); at the beginning of the next century Amaziah reconquered them for a short time, capturing Sela, and slaughtering a large number of them (2Ki 14:7). A little later Amos (Am 1:11 ff.) accuses Edom of pursuing his brother with the sword. During the next century Edom was independent of Israel, but paid tribute to Tiglath-pileser III., Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, and Ashurbanipal, kings of Assyria (cf. IB Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek ii. 21, 91, 149, 239).
In connexion with the wars of Nebuchadnezzar, which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586, many Jews migrated to Edom; but the Edomites rejoiced in the overthrow of the Jews. This deepened the old-time enmity, and called forth bitter denunciations and predictions of vengeance from Israel's prophets (cf. Eze 25:12-14; Ob 1:1 ff., Isa 63:1-7). A little later great suffering was inflicted on the Edomites by the Nabat
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And when her time was come to be delivered, behold, there were two twins in her womb.
Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, unto the land of Seir and the field of Edom.
And Edom answered him, "See thou come not by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword."
And thus Edom denied to give Israel passage through his country; And Israel turned away from him.
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver and saved them: one Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
LORD, when thou departedest out of Seir and camest from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heaven rained, and the clouds dropped water:
LORD, when thou departedest out of Seir and camest from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heaven rained, and the clouds dropped water:
And so Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side: against the Moabites; against the children of Ammon; against the Edomites; against the kings of Zobah; and against the Philistines.
And David made him a name after he returned from the slaughter of the Syrians in the valley of salt where he slew eighteen thousand men. And he put keepers in Edom, even throughout all Edom put he soldiers; and all Edom became his servants. And the LORD kept David whatsoever he took in hand.
he made ships in Eziongeber which is beside Eloth, on the brink of the reed sea, in the land of Edom.
And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, one Hadad, an Edomite and of the king's lineage of Edom. For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury them that were slain, he smote all the males in Edom - read more. for Joab remained six months, and all Israel, till he had rooted out all the males that were in Edom. And this Hadad fled, and certain other Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go to Egypt; Hadad being yet a little lad. And they arose out of Midian and went to Paran, and took men with them out of Paran and came to Egypt unto Pharaoh king thereof, which gave him a house, and appointed him victuals and gave him lands. And Hadad gat great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the Queen. And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son. And Tahpenes weaned him in Pharaoh's house. And he was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. And when Hadad heard say in Egypt that David was laid to sleep with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead also, he said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country." Then said Pharaoh unto him, "What lackest thou here with me, that thou wouldest go to thine own country?" And he said, "Nothing: howbeit, let me go."
There was then no king in Edom; the king was but a deputy. And Jehoshaphat made ships in the sea to go to Ophir for gold, but they went not: for the ships brake at Eziongeber.
And in his days Edom fell away from under the hand of Judah, and made them a king of their own. And Jehoram went to Seir, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and laid on the Edomites, which compassed him in, and the captains of his chariot and the people fled into their tents.
And he slew of the Edomites in the salt valley, ten thousand, and took the town Sela with strength of battle, and called the name of it Joktheel ever after.
What is he, this that cometh from Edom, with stained red clothes of Bozrah, which is so costly cloth, and cometh in so nimbly with all his strength? "I am he that teacheth righteousness, and am of power to help." Wherefore then is thy clothing red, and thy raiment like his that treadeth in the winepress? read more. "I have trodden the press myself alone, and of all people, there was not one with me. Thus have I trodden down mine enemies in my wrath, and set my feet upon them in my indignation: And their blood sprang upon my clothes, and so have I stained all my raiment. For that day of vengeance that I have taken in hand, and the year of my deliverance, is come. I looked about me, and there was no man to show me any help. I fell down, and no man held me up. Then I held me by mine own arm, and my ferventness sustained me: and thus have I trodden down the people in my wrath, and bathed them in my displeasure: Insomuch that I have shed their blood upon the earth." I will declare the goodness of the LORD, yea and the praise of the LORD, for all that he hath given us; for the great good that he hath done for Israel, which he hath given them of his own favour, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Because that Edom hath avenged and eased himself upon the house of Judah, therefore thus sayeth the LORD: I will reach out mine hand upon Edom, and take away man and beast out of it. From Teman unto Dedan will I make it desolate; they shall be slain with the sword. read more. Through my people of Israel will I avenge me again upon Edom: they shall handle him, according to my wrath and indignation, so that they shall know my vengeance, sayeth the LORD God.
"Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Edom, I will not spare him, because he persecuted his brother with the sword, destroyed his mother's womb, bare hatred very long, and so kept indignation always by him.
This is the vision that was showed unto Obadiah. Thus hath the LORD God spoken upon Edom: We have heard of the LORD that there is an ambassador sent among the Heathen: "Up, let us arise, and fight against them!"
And though Edom said, "Well, we are destroyed, we will go build up again the places that be wasted": yet sayeth the LORD of Hosts, "What they builded, that brake I down: so that it was called a cursed land and people, whom the LORD hath ever been angry withal."