The Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, established a kingdom in the region south of the Dead Sea. The history of the Edomite kings is documented in the Old Testament, providing insight into their governance and interactions with the Israelites.

Genealogy and Early History

Esau, also known as Edom, is the progenitor of the Edomites. Genesis 36 provides a detailed genealogy of Esau's descendants, highlighting the establishment of the Edomite nation. The Edomites settled in the mountainous region of Seir, which became synonymous with their identity.

List of Kings

The Bible records a list of Edomite kings who reigned before any king ruled over the Israelites. This list is found in Genesis 36:31-39:

"These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah. When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place. When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; the name of his city was Avith. When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place. When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place. When Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, Hadad reigned in his place; the name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab." (Genesis 36:31-39)

Political Structure and Influence

The Edomite kings ruled over a confederation of tribes and cities, each with its own chief or leader. This decentralized political structure is evident in the mention of "chiefs" or "dukes" in Genesis 36:40-43. The Edomites maintained a distinct identity and governance, often coming into conflict with neighboring nations, including Israel.

Interactions with Israel

The relationship between the Edomites and Israelites was complex, marked by both kinship and conflict. The Edomites refused passage to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt (Numbers 20:14-21), leading to hostilities. Despite their shared ancestry, the Edomites frequently opposed Israel, aligning with other nations against them.

Prophetic References

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently mention Edom, often pronouncing judgment against them for their actions against Israel. Obadiah, in particular, delivers a prophetic oracle against Edom, highlighting their pride and eventual downfall (Obadiah 1:1-21).

Legacy

The Edomite kingdom eventually fell to external powers, including the Babylonians and later the Nabateans. By the time of the New Testament, the region of Edom, known as Idumea, had been absorbed into the Roman Empire. Herod the Great, an Idumean, became king of Judea, illustrating the lasting influence of the Edomite lineage.

The history of the Edomite kings provides a glimpse into the ancient Near Eastern world and the intricate relationships between the nations descended from Abraham.Genesis 36:31-39
And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
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Numbers 20:14
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus said your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us:
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1 Chronicles 1:43-50
Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
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Ezekiel 32:29
There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
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Amos 2:1
Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
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1908. Hadad -- three Edomites
... Definition three Edomites NASB Word Usage Hadad (13). Hadad. Probably of foreign
origin (compare 'Adad); Hadad, the name of an idol, and of several kings of ...
/hebrew/1908.htm - 6k

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... fully executed by the army, or else he was urged by the Edomites and others ... David's
house, after it had endured four hundred and four years under twenty kings. ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... by dismissing the Ephraimites whom he had hired to aid him against the Edomites,
and he ... his son Ahaz, one of the worst and most idolatrous of the Kings of Judah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Amaziah
... become heathen people, worshippers of Baal, foul and immoral as the Edomites themselves. ...
not sent for, one of those prophets or preachers whom kings and other ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/amaziah.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... will have or how long it will be before Israel has kings. But it certainly is very
proper in a chapter where the rapid development of the Edomites is sketched ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

The Reign of David.
... the Syrians, the Edomites and the Ammonites. ... As a ruler, he differed very widely
from the kings of other countries. He possessed none of their selfish aims. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xi the reign of.htm

Concerning the Wickedness of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; his Defeat ...
... of his wickedness; nor was he at all better than those kings of Israel ... And when the
Edomites about that time had revolted from him, and slain their former king ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 concerning the wickedness.htm

The Kingdom of all Israel.
... David likewise made the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites pay him tribute ...
likewise made the richest, most prosperous, and most peaceful of kings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vi the kingdom of.htm

How Solomon Grew Rich, and Fell Desperately in Love with Women and ...
... 5. But although Solomon was become the most glorious of kings, and the best ... out of
foreign nations; Sidontans, and Tyrians, and Ammonites, and Edomites; and he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how solomon grew.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... were wholly northern; they were the kinsmen of the Edomites and Israelites ... wealthy
and prosperous kingdoms had arisen, and powerful dynasties of kings had held ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Personal History of Herod - the Two Worlds in Jerusalem.
... The Maccabees became both High-Priests and Kings. ... which was now in the hands of the
Nabataeans, but parts of Southern Palestine which the Edomites had occupied ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the personal history.htm

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