Who Is Edomites in the Bible

Who is Edomites in the Bible?

In the Hebrew Bible, there are several incidents where the Israelites and the Edomites clashed. Two of the most notable instances are King David’s victory over Edom in 2Sam 8:13-14, and the Israelites’ defeat of Edom in 2Kgs 8:20-22. These episodes are also mentioned in 2Chr 28:16-17.

Esau

In the Bible, there are more than 120 times that the people of Edom are mentioned. The people of Edom are descendants of Esau, who is the older twin brother of Jacob and Isaac. They are also called Edomites because the name means “red.” The ancient Edom was situated in the Negev Desert at the southern end of Israel.

According to the Bible, the descendants of Esau spread out across the world. These nations developed concrete national identities, much like the Israelites did. In the early days of the Israelites, their numbers were few and they were scattered into specific regions. Esau’s descendants were among the Ten Tribes, as were his brothers Joseph and Judah. These descendants are also the historical founders of China, Japan, and Russia.

The Bible makes it clear that the people of Edom were kin to the Israelites. This is reflected in several texts, which interpret the Edomites as being kin to the people of Israel. Although they were a separate nation, the Israelites considered their descendants to be equal with their ancestors.

Nevertheless, the people of Edom were not blameless. They were also implicated in the destruction of Jerusalem. However, the biblical evidence is thin, and the sources were written after the events. Some scholars have suggested that the people of Edom were undeserved scapegoats who were made easy targets by Judah.

According to the Bible, Isaac gave a blessing to Esau, but his blessing was an all or nothing blessing, and the blessing could not be divided between the two sons. The blessing was meant for Esau and his descendants, and their descendants would serve the Jewish people.

Esau’s descendants

The Jewish Bible contains several stories about Esau, the elder son of Isaac. He is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, as well as in the writings of the prophets Obadiah and Malachi. The Christian New Testament also alludes to Esau in its Epistles to the Hebrews and Romans.

Esau’s descendants are spread throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia. Their ancestral home was on Mount Seir, which is in Jordan. Some scholars believe that Esau’s descendants dispersed east of the Dead Sea due to insufficient water and pasture, while others believe they migrated east after Jacob accepted Canaan.

The Bible states that Esau’s descendants eventually became kings of Edom, a mountainous land southeast of the Dead Sea. During this time, God protected Edom, but the Edomites were hostile to Israel. Their descendants ruled Edom for centuries before any king ruled Israel.

Esau had two sons: Eliphaz and Reuel. The first son, Eliphaz, was named after him. His other sons were Omar, Teman, Gatam, and Kenaz. His second son, Reuel, had a concubine named Timnah. She bore him Amalek, and Reuel’s children were Nahath, Zerah, and Shammah.

Esau was the ancestor of the Edomites, who are today located southwest of Judah. Some Jewish rabbis linked Esau to Rome. The rabbis also believed that Esau’s descendants would inherit the blessing, but the rabbis were not convinced of that.

The story of Esau’s settlement is found in Genesis 36:8. Genesis also lists the kings of Esau’s descendants. Genesis also includes references to the Horites, who were the people who had been ruled by Esau.

Esau’s relationship with Israel

Esau and Israel had a complicated relationship from the start. While the two brothers shared the same heritage, their destinies were very different. Esau took two Hittite wives and disobeyed his parents. His parents, Isaac and Rebekah, were grieved by the fact that their son had married a Hittite woman.

Esau brought grief to Isaac, as his wives were idolaters. Jacob, on the other hand, is a simple man, described in the Bible as quiet and peace-loving. He is the father of a son, Isaac’s grandson. Esau’s wife probably also became an idolater.

The writer of Hebrews refers to Esau as a godless person, and Esau’s descendants were the enemies of Israel. God knew from before the birth of Esau that his descendants would become enemies of Israel. However, God also knew that Jacob would be a good man, and his lineage would eventually lead to Jesus.

The Bible teaches that dominant family traits are passed down from generation to generation. The Israelites, for example, think like Jacob, while the Edomites retain Esau’s attitudes. While not every Israelite will adopt Esau’s personality, these traits will manifest themselves in national traits and be recognized by perceptive observers.

Despite Isaac’s warnings, Jacob’s parents did not give up on him. He was born blind, but his parents raised him well. He married a Canaanite woman. The couple had seven children. Jacob and Rebekah had a close relationship.

Eventually, Esau was too old to see his brother. He begged Isaac to grant him one last blessing. Isaac gave him a blessing – one that would let him live by the sword and serve his brother. Esau’s blessing was separate from his birthright. It was about who would inherit Abraham’s mantle. The family was bound by a covenant with God.

Esau’s 12-fold organization

The concept of the 12-fold organization is not unique to the Israelites or the Hebrews. It also exists among the Ishmaelites and the Nahorites. It is based on tribal principles and originated among the nomadic tribes. In the Bible, Esau’s descendants were divided into 12 political units. Eventually, Esau’s grandson became a duke.

This group had an extensive, complex, and multi-ethnic composition. Its names include Amalekite, Kenazite, and Horites. The names of these peoples are not derived from Hebrews, and the names of some are West-Semitic.

Esau had several chiefs. Some were called Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Kenaz. Others were named Amalek, Nahath, Mizzah, and Reuel. Their chiefs were arranged according to their tribes and the land they occupied.

Esau also had a birthright. He would receive twice the amount of his father Isaac’s estate when he died. This would give him more wealth and power. He would pass it on to his firstborn son. This birthright was a big deal. It can easily cause jealousy among his descendants.

Jacob also has a son named Benjamin. This news comforted Rachel. Jacob is aware that he is no match for Esau. In a flesh-to-flesh match, Esau was stronger. Jacob has to be aware of the needs of his children and livestock. As a result, he finds good places to shelter his family.

Besides being the firstborn, Esau would have known that he had to be a leader. In fact, he would have felt the pressure to prove himself and earn the approval of Isaac. He was still caught up in the consequences of his earlier impetuous actions. In addition, he had never accepted God as his Lord.

Esau’s relationship with Moab

The Bible describes the relationship between Esau and the people of Moab and Edom in various passages. In Deuteronomy 2:10-12, we read of the people who inhabited the land of Moab and Edom. The Emim were great people, standing as tall as Anakim. Some scholars believe that they were Rephaim, an ancient race of giants who lived in Palestine in the days of Abraham. The Edomite population was much smaller than the Emim.

According to the Zohar, the descendants of Esau would worship Jesus (who was the younger brother of Esau). Moreover, the Torah forbade Jews from harboring enmity toward Edom, the descendents of Esau. This is a clear indication that Esau’s sons would become great nations in the future.

The relationship between Esau and Moab is further reinforced by wordplay. The name “Edom” means red in Hebrew, which makes sense. The name Edom was also associated with Esau’s birthright, which he traded for red lentil soup. In addition, the capital of Edom was called Mount Seir, which sounds like a Hebrew word for hair. This would be a nod to the fact that Esau was red and hairy.

The relationship between Moab and Edom is another example of the relationship between the two peoples. The Moabites, after all, lived in a country east of the Dead Sea. Moab remained in that area until the northern Arabian nations invaded. It is possible that Moab had a sacred site that was associated with the On god, which was a central shrine in the holy city of Heliopolis.

In the Bible, Esau’s relationship with the people of Moab can be seen as a metaphor for the relationship between two peoples. The first of these is related to Esau’s role as the first-born son. His role is to inherit the father’s property. Esau’s position as the firstborn son in the family gave him the authority to rule the family.