Bible Word of the Day
Edom, Edomites (Descendants of Esau, Brother of Jacob)
Meaning
The land of Edom, denotes the descendants of Esau the brother of Jacob and therefore relatives to the Jewish people. Isaac's wife Rebekah had two sons, they were born twins. The first one to come out was Esau and the second was Jacob. As the families and descendants of Esau grew in number they first settled in the area southeast of the Dead Sea and Jordan River. They became known as the Edomites and they later mixed with the Nabatean-Arabian tribes. What marks the Edomites is their unwarranted hatred of the Jewish people. It was the Edomites who cheered and supported the Babylonians as they destroyed the city of Jerusalem.
In addition, during Old Testament times the Edomites were known for their worldly wisdom as mentioned in the book of Jeremiah. As the Israelites first entered the Promised Land, God forbade them from attacking the Edomites or encroaching on their land. A land which makes up most of the modern day state of Jordan. And during the time of King David and Solomon they defeated the Edomites, who later regained their independence around the eight century BC. It's interesting to note that Herod the Great and his descendants were also Edomites.
"Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, 'If all is well, why am I like this?' So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: 'Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.' So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them." (Book of Genesis 25:21-26)
"Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom." (Book of Genesis 36:1, 6-8)