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Edomites and Esau's Descendants in the Promised Land

The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the elder twin brother of Jacob [1, 5, 6, 13]. Esau was also known as Edom, a name he received after selling his birthright to Jacob for red lentil pottage [3, 4, 7]. The name "Edom" means "red" [4]. Esau's descendants, the Edomites, settled in the mountainous region of Seir, also known as Mount Seir or Idumea [2, 3, 4, 11]. This area was a narrow, mountainous tract about 100 miles long and 20 miles wide, extending along the eastern side of the Arabah, from the northern end of the Gulf of Akabah to the foot of the Dead Sea [3, 4].

Esau's birth was marked by a distinctive appearance, being "hairy," which contributed to his name [8]. He was a robust and "rough" individual, described as a "son of the desert" and a huntsman, in contrast to his brother Jacob, who was a shepherd [7, 8]. The circumstances surrounding their birth foreshadowed the future enmity between the two brothers and the nations that would descend from them [7]. Esau's decision to sell his birthright for food is a pivotal moment in his story [3, 7, 8].

The Edomites, as Esau's progeny, were considered brethren to the Israelites, who descended from Jacob [2, 13]. Despite this familial connection, their relationship was often marked by conflict. The Edomites were initially governed by dukes and later by kings [2]. Historically, they were known for their wisdom, but also for pride, self-confidence, strength, cruelty, and vindictiveness [2]. They practiced idolatry and superstition, and engaged in extensive commerce [2].

The land of Edom, or Mount Seir, was originally inhabited by the Horites (also called Horims) before Esau and his descendants took possession of it [14]. The Horites may have been named for their practice of dwelling in caves and holes in the rocks, which were abundant in the southern part of Edom [14]. Josephus notes that Esau and Jacob divided their habitation, with Esau possessing Idumea and Jacob Canaan [10].

The prophetic blessing given by Isaac to Jacob, which stated, "behold, I have made him thy lord; the lord of his posterity, who would be subdued and become tributary to his seed," was interpreted by John Gill to mean that the Edomites, who sprang from Esau, would become servants to David, a descendant of Jacob [15]. This prophecy found fulfillment when David conquered Edom, making them tributary to Israel [15].

The Edomites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in contexts that highlight their adversarial relationship with Israel. For example, in Psalm 83:6-7, the Edomites are listed among the nations hostile to Israel [12]. Their location to the southeast of Judah placed them in close proximity to the Israelites, leading to numerous interactions, both peaceful and hostile [12].

The separation of Esau from his father's family, as he went to live in Mount Seir, is seen by some commentators as part of God's secret providence, directing events to a predetermined outcome [16]. This separation allowed for the distinct development of the two nations, Israel and Edom, each with their own territory and destiny. The "land of promise" was specifically designated for the descendants of Jacob, while Esau's descendants were given Mount Seir [9, 10].

Sources

  1. Genesis “This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir: -- Genesis 36:9”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Edomites, The — Descended from Esau -- Ge 36:9. Dwelt in Mount Seir -- Ge 32:3; De 2:4,5. Were called Children of Esau. -- De 2:4. Brethren of Israel. -- Nu 20:14. Governed by dukes -- Ge 36:15-30,40-43; Ex 15:15. Afterwards had kings -- Ge 36:31-29; Nu 20:14. Under a deputy or viceroy while subject to Judah -- 1Ki 22:47. Character of Wise. -- Jer 49:7. Proud and self-confident. -- Jer 49:16; Ob 1:3. Strong and cruel. -- Jer 49:19. Vindictive. -- Eze 25:12. Idolatrous. -- 2Ch 25:14,20. Superstitious. -- Jer 27:3,9. Carried on extensive commerce -- Eze 27:20. Country ”
  3. 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 ”
  4. 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”
  5. Genesis “Genesis 36:1 (LEB) — Now these are the descendants of Esau (that is, Edom).”
  6. Genesis “These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs. -- Genesis 36:19”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Esau — Hairy, Rebekah's first-born twin son (Gen. 25:25). The name of Edom, "red", was also given to him from his conduct in connection with the red lentil "pottage" for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). The circumstances connected with his birth foreshadowed the enmity which afterwards subsisted between the twin brothers and the nations they founded (25:22, 23, 26). In process of time Jacob, following his natural bent, became a shepherd; while Esau, a "son of the desert," devoted himself to the perilous and toilsome life of a huntsman. On a certain occasion, on”
  8. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Esau — (hairy), the eldest son of Isaac, and twin-brother of Jacob. The singular appearance of the child at his birth originated the name. (Genesis 25:25) Esau's robust frame and "rough" aspect were the types of a wild and daring nature. He was a thorough Bedouin, a "son of the desert." He was much loved by his father, and was of course his heir, but was induced to sell his birthright to Jacob. Mention of his unhappy marriages may be found in (Genesis 26:34) The next episode in the life of Esau is the loss of his father's covenant blessing, which Jacob secured through”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holy Land — Extremely fruitful -- Ex 3:8; Nu 13:27; De 8:7-9; 11:10-12. Abounded in minerals -- De 8:9; 33:25. Called The land. -- Le 26:42; Lu 4:25. The Lord's land. -- Ho 9:3. Land of Canaan. -- Ge 11:31; Le 14:34. Land of Israel. -- 1Sa 13:19; Mt 2:20,21. Land of Judah. -- Isa 26:1. Land of the Hebrews. -- Ge 40:15. Land of promise. -- Heb 11:9. Land of Immanuel. -- Isa 8:8. Pleasant land. -- Ps 106:24; Da 8:9. Good land. -- Nu 14:7; De 3:25. Glorious land. -- Da 11:16. Palestine. -- Ex 15:14; Isa 14:29,31. Original inhabitants of, expelled for wickedness -- Ge 15”
  10. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 1, section 1: . How Esau And Jacob, Isaac's Sons Divided Their Habitation; And Esau Possessed Idumea And Jacob Canaan.”
  11. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 36:8: And these are the generations of Esau,.... Or the posterity of Esau, his children and grandchildren, as before and hereafter related: the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir; from whom they of that mountain and in the adjacent country had the name of Edomites or Idumeans.”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 83:6: 83:6-7 The Edomites, descendants of Esau, were located to the southeast of Judah (see Gen 25:30; 32:3; 36:1-8). • Ishmaelites were desert-dwelling descendants of Hagar. • Moabites and Ammonites descended from Lot; both were located to the east of Israel and Judah. • The Hagrites were possibly located north of the Ammonites (1 Chr 5:10).”
  13. Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 23:7: 23:7 The Edomites were descendants of Jacob’s brother, Esau (see 2:8).”
  14. Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 2:12: The Horims also dwelt in Seir before time,.... Which is the name of a mount, and so of the country, from it; so called from Seir the Horite, who dwelt in it before it was possessed by Esau and his sons; but who the Horim or Horites were, from whence they had their name, is difficult to say; they were as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Gen 14:6. They seem to be so called from their dwelling in holes and caves in rocks, which the southern part of Edom or Idumea was full of, and to be the same the Greeks call Troglodytae: but the children of Esau succeeded the”
  15. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 27:37: And Isaac answered and said unto Esau,.... Giving an account of the blessing be had bestowed upon his brother: behold, I have made him thy lord; the lord of his posterity, who would be subdued and become tributary to his seed: and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; the Edomites, who sprung from his brother Esau, who, according to this prophetic blessing, became servants to David, who was a son of Jacob's; see Gill on Gen 27:29, and with corn and wine have I sustained him; promised him a fruitful country, the land of Canaan, abounding with all g”
  16. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 13.6: those whose destruction they have sometimes desired. Let us, then, learn from the passage before us, to see, by the eyes of faith, both in accidental circumstances (as they are called) and in the evil desires of men, that secret providence of God, which directs all events to a result predetermined by himself. For when Esau went forth, that he might live more commodiously apart from his father’s family, he is said to have departed from the face of his brother, because the Lord had so determined it. It is stated indefinitely, that ”
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