Edom's Modern Day Identity and Prophecy in Scripture
Edom, also known as Idumea, was a mountainous region extending from the Gulf of Akabah to the Dead Sea [1, 5]. The name "Edom" means "red" and was given to Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, after he sold his birthright for red lentil pottage [1, 5]. His descendants were subsequently called Edomites [5]. The land of Edom was also referred to as Mount Seir [1, 5].
Biblical prophecy frequently addresses Edom. The shortest book of the Old Testament, Obadiah, consists of a prophecy "concerning Edom," detailing its impending doom and the restoration of Israel [2]. Obadiah 1:11-14 speaks of Edom's actions during the capture of Jerusalem [2]. Other prophets also delivered messages regarding Edom. Jeremiah prophesied that Edom would become an astonishment, with everyone passing by it being astonished and hissing at its plagues [3]. This prophecy is understood by some commentators to be partly borrowed from Obadiah, with Jeremiah foretelling a later calamity for Edom [7, 8]. The Edomites were considered old enemies of Israel, and these prophecies served as both a warning to Edom and a comfort to Israel [7].
The wisdom of Edom, particularly its city Teman, was noted in scripture, but prophecy indicated this wisdom would vanish [6, 8]. Numbers 24:18 states that "Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly" [4]. The fulfillment of these prophecies is seen in historical events, such as the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, which is referenced in Obadiah [2]. Some interpretations suggest that Obadiah's prophecy was fulfilled around Sennacherib's time, while Jeremiah's was fulfilled later [8]. The prophetic messages concerning Edom highlight God's judgment against those who oppose His people, while also affirming His ultimate plan for Israel's restoration [2, 7].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Edom — (1.) The name of Esau (q.v.), Gen. 25:30, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Heb. haadom, haadom, i.e., the red pottage, the red pottage'] ...Therefore was his name called Edom", i.e., Red. (2.) Idumea (Isa. 34:5, 6; Ezek. 35:15). "The field of Edom" (Gen. 32:3), "the land of Edom" (Gen. 36:16), was mountainous (Obad. 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 (1 Kings 9:26), an”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Obadiah, Book of — Consists of one chapter, "concerning Edom," its impending doom (1:1-16), and the restoration of Israel (1:17-21). This is the shortest book of the Old Testament. There are on record the account of four captures of Jerusalem, (1) by Shishak in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25); (2) by the Philistines and Arabians in the reign of Jehoram (2 Chr. 21:16); (3) by Joash, the king of Israel, in the reign of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:13); and (4) by the Babylonians, when Jerusalem was taken and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586). Obadiah (1:11-14) speaks”
- Jeremiah “Edom shall become an astonishment: everyone who passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all its plagues. -- Jeremiah 49:17”
- Numbers “Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. -- Numbers 24:18”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “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," (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 ”
- Obadiah “Obadiah 1:8 (YLT) — Is it not in that day--an affirmation of Jehovah, That I have destroyed the wise out of Edom, And understanding out of the mount of Esau?”
- Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 49:7: The Edomites come next to receive their doom from God, by the mouth of Jeremiah: they also were old enemies to the Israel of God; but their day will come to be reckoned with, and it is now at hand, and is foretold, not only for warning to them, but for comfort to the Israel of God, whose afflictions were very much aggravated by their triumphs over them and joy in their calamity, Psa 137:7. Many of the expressions used in this prophecy concerning Edom are borrowed from the prophecy of Obadiah, which is concerning Edom; for, all the prophets being inspired by one ”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 49:7: Concerning Edom--a distinct prophecy, copied in part from Obadiah, but with the freedom of one himself inspired and foretelling a later calamity. Obadiah's was fulfilled probably in Sennacherib's time (compare Isa 34:5; Amo 1:11); Jeremiah's about the same time as his preceding prophecies (Jer 49:12; Eze 25:12). wisdom--for which the Arabs and the people of Teman (a city of Edom) in particular, were famed (Gen 36:15; Kg1 4:30; see Job, everywhere; Oba 1:8). vanished--literally "poured out," that is, exhausted (compare Isa 19:3, Margin) [MAURER]. ”