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Ancient Roots of Jewish Arab Conflict in Scripture

The Hebrew Bible records numerous conflicts between the Israelites and various neighboring peoples, some of whom are considered ancestral to modern Arab populations. These ancient hostilities are often rooted in genealogical connections and territorial disputes.

One significant lineage of conflict traces back to Esau, Jacob's brother. The Edomites, descended from Esau, maintained a "perpetual hatred" toward the Israelites, descendants of Jacob [11, 12]. This animosity is depicted as originating from the contention between the brothers even before birth and continuing through their descendants [11]. The Edomites are described as taking advantage of Israel's vulnerability, such as during the Babylonian destruction, to attack and butcher them, with the aim of seizing their land [12, 13].

Another recurring adversary was the Amalekites, also descendants of Esau [8, 9]. Their conflict with Israel began early in Israel's history, with Amalek attacking the Israelites in the wilderness [8, 9]. This is noted as potentially the first war recorded in the "book of the wars of the Lord" [8, 10]. Josephus also recounts Saul's war with the Amalekites [4].

The Midianites, descended from Abraham through his wife Keturah, also engaged in conflict with Israel [7]. Their alliance with Moab marked the beginning of their disputes with Israel [7]. The "tents of Cushan" are sometimes associated with Midian or a part of Arabia, suggesting a broader regional context for these interactions [14].

Beyond these specific groups, the biblical narrative frequently describes warfare as a feature of the ancient world, often originating from "the lusts of men" [3]. God is depicted as both ordering wars and strengthening His people for them, as well as causing them to cease [3]. Josephus, in his historical accounts, details various wars involving the Jewish people, including conflicts with the Canaanites, the Romans, and the king of Arabia [1, 2, 5, 6]. These historical accounts underscore the long history of conflict in the region, often driven by territorial control and ethnic tensions.

Sources

  1. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 9, section 5: Jews' war with the Romans took its beginning.”
  2. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 1, section 1: . Fight Of The Hebrews With The Canaanites Without The Consent Of Moses; And Their Defeat.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: War — Antiquity of -- Ge 14:2. Originates in the lusts of men -- Jas 4:1. A time for -- Ec 3:8. God Frequently ordered. -- Ex 17:16; Nu 31:1,2; De 7:1,2; 1Sa 15:1-3. Taught His people the art of. -- 2Sa 22:35. Strengthens His people for. -- Le 26:7,8. Gives the victory in. -- Nu 21:3; De 2:33; 3:3; 2Sa 23:10; Pr 21:31. Causes to cease. -- Ps 46:9. Scatters those who delight in. -- Ps 68:30. Large armies frequently engaged in -- 2Ch 13:3; 14:9. Weapons used in -- Jos 1:14; Jdj 18:11. Preceded by Consultation. -- Lu 14:31; Pr 24:6. Great preparation. -- Joe 3:9. Rumors”
  4. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 7, section 1: . Saul's War With The Amalekites, And Conquest Of Them.”
  5. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 5, section 1: . How Herod Made War With The King Of Arabia, And After They Had Fought Many Battles, At Length Conquered Him, And Was Chosen By The Arabs To Be Governor Of That Nation; As Also Concerning A Great Earthquake.”
  6. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Introduction, section 1: Produced by David Reed, and David Widger THE WARS OF THE JEWS OR HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM By Flavius Josephus Translated by William Whiston Contents PREFACE BOOK I. CHAPTER 1. CHAPTER 2. CHAPTER 3. CHAPTER 4. CHAPTER 5. CHAPTER 6. CHAPTER 7. CHAPTER 8. CHAPTER 9. CHAPTER 10. CHAPTER 11. CHAPTER 12. CHAPTER 13. CHAPTER 14. CHAPTER 15. CHAPTER 16. CHAPTER 17. CHAPTER 18. CHAPTER 19. CHAPTER 20. CHAPTER 21. CHAPTER 22. CHAPTER 23. CHAPTER 24. CHAPTER 25. CHAPTER 26. CHAPTER 27. CHAPTER 28. CHAPTER 29. CHAPTER 30. CHAP”
  7. Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 22:4: 22:4 Midian: This desert people was descended from Abraham (Gen 25:1-2; Exod 2:15-16). Their alliance with Moab was the beginning of their conflicts with Israel (Num 22:7; see 25:6, 14-18; 31:2-10; Judg 6–8).”
  8. Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 17:8: We have here the story of the war with Amalek, which, we may suppose, was the first that was recorded in the book of the wars of the Lord, Num 21:14. Amalek was the first of the nations that Israel fought with, Num 24:20. Observe, I. Amalek's attempt: They came out, and fought with Israel, Exo 17:8. The Amalekites were the posterity of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birthright and blessing, and this was an effort of the hereditary enmity, a malice that ran in the blood, and perhaps was now exasperated by the working of the promise towards an accomplishment. ”
  9. Exodus (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Exodus 17:8: The want of water had only just been provided for, when Israel had to engage in a conflict with the Amalekites, who had fallen upon their rear and smitten it (Deu 25:18). The expansion of this tribe, that was descended from a grandson of Esau (see Gen 36:12), into so great a power even in the Mosaic times, is perfectly conceivable, if we imagine the process to have been analogous to that which we have already described in the case of the leading branches of the Edomites, who had grown into a powerful nation through the subjugation and incorporation of the earli”
  10. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Numbers 21:14: IN THE BOOK OF THE WARS OF THE LORD. It was a separate book in which the wars of the Lord on behalf of His servants was recorded. It is possible that it originated in the days of Abraham, 35 The first servant of God to wage war. See Gen. 14:13-16. for many books, such as the work of Nathan 36 See I Chron. 29:29. and Iddo, 37 II Chron. 12:15. the chronicles of the kings of Israel, 38 I Kings 14:19. and the songs of Solomon and his proverbs, 39 I Kings 5:12. were lost and are not found among us.”
  11. Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 35:5: A perpetual hatred - The Edomites were the descendants of Esau; the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob. Both these were brothers; and between them there was contention even in the womb, and they lived generally in a state of enmity. Their descendants kept up the ancient feud: but the Edomites were implacable; they had not only a rooted but perpetual enmity to the Israelites, harassing and distressing them by all possible means; and they seized the opportunity, when the Israelites were most harassed by other enemies, to make inroads upon them, and cut them off whe”
  12. Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 35:5: 35:5-10 The eternal [or ancient] hatred of Edom for Israel went all the way back to their respective ancestors, Esau and Jacob (see Gen 25:19-34; 27:1-46; Num 20:14-21; 24:18; 2 Sam 8:13-14; 1 Kgs 11:14). Because of that enmity, the Edomites took advantage of the Babylonian destruction to butcher the Israelites when they were helpless. They wanted to wipe out the descendants of Jacob and seize the lands of Israel and Judah. The bloodbath they delighted to inflict on Israel would return on their own heads, as their people would be slaughtered by the sword. Their ever”
  13. Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 35:5: 35:5-10 The eternal [or ancient] hatred of Edom for Israel went all the way back to their respective ancestors, Esau and Jacob (see Gen 25:19-34; 27:1-46; Num 20:14-21; 24:18; 2 Sam 8:13-14; 1 Kgs 11:14). Because of that enmity, the Edomites took advantage of the Babylonian destruction to butcher the Israelites when they were helpless. They wanted to wipe out the descendants of Jacob and seize the lands of Israel and Judah. The bloodbath they delighted to inflict on Israel would return on their own heads, as their people would be slaughtered by the sword. Their e”
  14. Habakkuk (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Habakkuk 3:7: the tents--that is, the dwellers. Cushan--the same as Cush; made "Cush-an" to harmonize with "Midi-an" in the parallel clause. So Lotan is found in the Hebrew of Genesis for Lot. BOCHART therefore considers it equivalent to Midian, or a part of Arabia. So in Num 12:1, Moses' Midianite wife is called an Ethiopian (Hebrew, Cushite). MAURER thinks the dwellers on both sides of the Arabian Gulf, or Red Sea, are meant; for in Hab 3:6 God's everlasting or ancient ways of delivering His people are mentioned; and in Hab 3:8, the dividing of the Red Sea for ”
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