Edom | ancient country, Middle East (2024)

ancient country, Middle East

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Alternate titles: Iduma

Edom, ancient land bordering ancient Israel, in what is now southwestern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The Edomites probably occupied the area about the 13th century bc. Though closely related to the Israelites (according to the Bible, they were descendants of Esau), they had frequent conflicts with them and were probably subject to them at the time of the Israelite kingdom (11th–10th century bc). Edom prospered because of its strategic location on the trade route between Arabia and the Mediterranean and its copper industry at Ezion-geber. Edom and Moab were later conquered by the Nabataeans, and the Edomites migrated to southern Judaea, where they were known in New Testament times as Idumaeans.

Edom | ancient country, Middle East (2024)

FAQs

Edom | ancient country, Middle East? ›

Edom

Edom
The Hebrew word Edom means "red", and the Hebrew Bible relates it to the name of its founder, Esau, the elder son of the Hebrew patriarch Isaac, because he was born "red all over". As a young adult, he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a portion of "red pottage".
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Edom
, ancient land bordering ancient Israel, in what is now southwestern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.

What country is Edom in today? ›

Most of its former territory is now divided between present-day southern Israel and Jordan. Edom appears in written sources relating to the late Bronze Age and to the Iron Age in the Levant. Edomites are related in several ancient sources including the Tanakh, a list of the Egyptian pharaoh Seti I from c.

Were the Edomites Arabs? ›

They were as Arab as the Ammonites and the Moabites, both considered Arab peoples, perhaps even more so as they lived even farther to the south than either of these two peoples, in the deepest southern corner of the Fertile Crescent, im- mediately adjacent to Arabia and its two gateways.

What does Edom mean in Hebrew? ›

Edom is an incredibly rare masculine name of Hebrew origin. As a nickname for Esau, a figure mentioned in several Hebrew and Christian scriptures, Edom means “red.” Born “red all over” and requesting “red pottage” (likely red lentil stew) from his brother Jacob, Esau is potentially the reason Edom exists today.

What is the capital city of the Edomites? ›

Biblical Bozrah was the capital of Edom, an empire from 3,000 years ago. At the civilization's peak, archaeologists estimate, as many as 1 million Edomites lived in Bozrah and its surrounding villages.

Why was God angry with Edom? ›

The book of Obadiah clearly shows that God's wrath and judgment came upon Edom for mistreating a "brother" nation. God exercised authority in punishing Edom to the extent that no survivors were left for her.

Who did the Edomites worship? ›

The worship of Qōs appears to originally have been located in the Ḥismā area of southern Jordan and north-western Arabia, where a mountain, Jabal al-Qaus, still bears that name. He entered the Edomite pantheon as early as the 8th century b.c.

Who are Arabs descended from? ›

According to tradition, Arabs are descended from a southern Arabian ancestor, Qaḥṭān, forebear of the “pure” or “genuine” Arabs (known as al-ʿArab al-ʿĀribah), and a northern Arabian ancestor, ʿAdnān, forebear of the “Arabicized” Arabs (al-ʿArab al-Mustaʿribah).

Are Arabs descended from Canaanites? ›

The researchers also compared the ancient DNA with that of modern populations and found that most Arab and Jewish groups in the region owe more than half of their DNA to Canaanites and other peoples who inhabited the ancient Near East—an area encompassing much of the modern Levant, Caucasus, and Iran.

Which Hebrew prophet was Edomites? ›

Rabbinic tradition

He is identified with the Obadiah who was the servant of Ahab, and was chosen to prophesy against Edom because he was himself an Edomite. Obadiah is supposed to have received the gift of prophecy for having hidden the "hundred prophets" from the persecution of Jezebel.

Did Yahweh come from Edom? ›

Yahweh was an ancient Levantine deity, and national god of the Israelite kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Though no consensus exists regarding the deity's origins, scholars generally contend that Yahweh emerged as a "divine warrior" associated first with Seir, Edom, Paran and Teman, and later with Canaan.

Why was Esau called Edom? ›

The name Edom is also attributed to Esau, meaning "red" (Heb: `admoni); the same color used to describe the color of Esau's hair. Genesis parallels his redness to the "red lentil pottage" that he sold his birthright for. Esau became the progenitor of the Edomites in Seir.

Where is the land of Esau? ›

Esau took wives from among the Canaanites and settled his family in the hill country of Seir, which became known as the land of Edom. This land, east of the Negev desert of Israel, lies in present-day Jordan.

Where did the Edomites descend from? ›

The Edomites probably occupied the area about the 13th century bce. Though closely related to the Israelites (according to the Bible, they were descendants of Esau), they had frequent conflicts with them and were probably subject to them at the time of the Israelite kingdom (11th–10th century bce).

What mountain did the Edomites live on? ›

In 2 Chronicles 20:22–23, the "inhabitants of Mt. Seir", i.e. the Edomites, came along with the Ammonites and Moabites against Jehoshaphat of Judah, however "the LORD set ambushments" against them, causing their forces to annihilate one another.

Is Petra where the Edomites lived? ›

According to tradition, in ca. 1200 BCE, the Petra area (but not necessarily the site itself) was populated by Edomites and the area was known as Edom ("red").

Who are today's philistines? ›

Where are the Philistines in the Bible today? The Biblical Philistines are no longer around today. This is due to them becoming integrated into the culture of the Neo-Babylonian Empire following the empire's conquest of their land.

Where is the city of Sodom and Gomorrah today? ›

Of course, there have been surmises as to their loca- tion, but so far no actual remains of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar have been brought to light. Almost all agree that the Cities of the Plain were located in the Ghor or valley of the Jordan.

What modern day country is Moab? ›

The Moabites were an ancient Semitic civilization that lived in what is today the modern country of Jordan. Both religious and secular sources attest to their existence, culture, beliefs, and interactions with their neighbors.

Where is the promised land today? ›

Boundaries of the 'Promised Land' given by Jerome c.400

Under the name Palestine, we comprehend the small country formerly inhabited by the Israelites, and which is today part of Acre and Damascus pachalics. It stretched between 31 and 33° N. latitude and between 32 and 35° degrees E.

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