Where Is Modern Day Edom: The people in the Bible, who were called Edom, Moab, and Ammon, used to live in what is now Jordan, which is east of Israel. Like Israel, these lands were given to them by God (Deut. 2:5, 9, 19). This is a fact that not many people know. Israel was told to clear the land west of the Jordan River. Edom, Moab, and Ammon were then told to do the same thing in the east (Deut. 2:10–22).
As part of their job, they killed groups like the Rephaites, a mysterious group of giants who were thought to be related to the Nephilim in Genesis 6. Nephilim was found by Israelite scouts who were checking out the promised land (Numbers 13:33). The fact that Israel, Edom, Moab, and Ammon all chose to destroy the Rephaites shows that they all had the same goal in biblical history.
Israel’s eastern neighbors have had tense relationships with each other throughout history, marked by war and supernatural events. Under King David, Israel ruled over them and tamed them for a while. But when Babylonia took over, all three nations—Edom, Moab, and Ammon—were destroyed for what they did. God promised to restore Moab and Ammon, but not Edom. This shows that Edom had a different fate.
Name of Edom in the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew word “Edom” means “red,” and it is linked to Esau, Isaac’s firstborn son from his first wife. Esau got his name because his skin was red when he was born. When Esau was young, he gave his birthright to his younger brother Jacob in exchange for a bowl of “Red Pottage.” The Edomites are always named Esau’s descendants in the Tanakh, which is the Hebrew Bible. This lineage fits with the vivid images of the color red.
The name “Edom” is linked to the color red because Esau was born in a strange way that made him look very different from other people. As the story goes on, Esau gives up his birthright because he wants to feel good right now. This choice has a lot of symbolic and historical meaning.
The biblical stories about the Edomites, who are Esau’s descendants, show how complicated sibling relationships can be, how inheritance works, and how choices made to satisfy short-term wants can have long-lasting effects. The word “Red Pottage” becomes a powerful symbol in the Bible that includes both a family transaction and the Edomites’ continued identity.
In Bible stories, the link between the name “Edom” and the color red is important. Esau’s birthright was given up for a bowl of “Red Pottage,” which is a powerful metaphor for the tension between short-term wants and long-term consequences.
What Happened to the Edomites?
This pretty much meant the end of the Edomite people, who had been going extinct for a long time and were being absorbed by nearby groups. People still lived in the area that Edom controlled on the east side of the Dead Sea, but they could no longer be called Edomites in any meaningful way. People who lived in the province of Idumaea on the west side of the Dead Sea were not Edomites; the link between them was more geographical than genetic.
Genetically speaking, Esau’s children and grandchildren are almost lost to history. Some pieces of their DNA may still be around, but mixing with other groups over time has wiped out any specific genetic profile that can be used to identify “Edomites” today.
When prophets like Isaiah talk about Edom in terms of coming judgment, they’re talking about countries that are against Israel and its God. The Edomites were archetypal people who were hostile toward God’s people because they lived close to Israel but hated them.
Then, they talk about a biblical question about who Jesus was while He was locked up in the Garden of Gethsemane. In John 18, Jesus identified Himself to the people who were arresting Him instead of Judas kissing Him to prove who He was, as is shown in other gospels. The explanation gives a harmonious understanding, where two stories work together instead of against each other. The focus is on how Jesus protected His disciples while they were being arrested, showing how He willingly gave up His own life to keep them safe.
The biblical kingdom of Edom has always been a significant puzzle for biblical archeology.
Prof. Ezra Ben-Yosef of Tel Aviv University and Prof. Tom Levy of the University of California, San Diego, led the study and said, “Our research successfully identified and characterized the genesis of the biblical kingdom of Edom by using technological evolution as a surrogate for social developments.” “Our findings substantiate that this emergence occurred earlier than previously believed, aligning with the biblical narrative.”
A study released on Wednesday in the scientific journal PLOS ONE shows that the kingdom’s wealth came from a complicated copper network. Copper was seen as a valuable resource in the area during that century. Copper was used to make weapons and other things in ancient times, but it had to be made in a very complicated way.
Ben-Yosef said, “Copper smelting was pretty much the high-tech of the ancient world.” The research team used the punctuated equilibrium model to look at data from old copper mines in Jordan and Israel and make a timeline showing how copper production changed from 1300 BCE to 800 BCE. The study found that there was a big drop in the amount of copper in the slag (waste from smelting copper) at the Arava plant. This means that the manufacturing process is now more efficient and streamlined.
Why was Esau called Edom in the Bible?
As twins, Esau and Jacob had a special bond with each other. Jacob later became known as Israel, the leader of the Twelve Tribes. Esau then became their uncle. This shows how close Esau and Israel are as a family. Jabez and Esau were both born to Isaac, who was Abraham’s son. In turn, Isaac and Ishmael were both born to Abraham.
Ishmael helped build Arab homes and had many other effects on them. This created a family link between Esau, Israel, and Ishmael. Following the biblical story, Esau got the name Edom from the red stew he traded his birthright for.
As was already said, Esau was said to have had a reddish or rosy skin tone from birth. When the Bible talks about giving someone a name, it usually has a deeper meaning or purpose. For instance, the city of Beer Sheva got its name twice in a row, both times from the Hebrew root word “Sheva,” which could mean the number seven or a promise to keep something.
Why did God destroy the Edomites?
The Israelites and the Edomites hated each other in the past because of wrongdoings and disagreements over land. The Torah says that God scolded the Edomites for not respecting Judah. The things that the Edomites did were predicted in Ezekiel’s prophecies, especially those found in chapters 25 and 35.
The competition for strategic land and limited resources got tougher as both cultures grew up and built strong institutions. The most important battle took place in the Valley of Salt, which showed the struggle for power in a place where geopolitical issues were deeply rooted in everyday life.
In the ancient Middle East, there was a complex relationship between religious beliefs and political issues. This battle shows that link. The terrible things that happened after the prophets’ warnings show how bad it is to look down on and fight against God’s chosen people. The stories from Edom are meant to teach us about the long-term effects of past wars that were fought for religious, political, or spiritual reasons.
What is the land of Edom called today?
Southwestern Jordan
Edom, ancient land bordering ancient Israel, in what is now southwestern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.
Even though Edom was Israel’s sister country, it hated the Jewish state the most. According to Bultema, the book of Isaiah talks about how “this persistent hatred is a recurring theme throughout history,” making Edom a symbol for nations that are against the Jewish people.
When you look at Isaiah 63 and 34, it’s clear that Edom is a model for nations that fight against God and His people. Isaiah links the last punishment that will happen when Jesus Christ comes back to the punishment that was given to the Edomites, who were known for being hostile toward God and His people.
Some people, like Obadiah and Jeremiah, knew what would happen with the Edomites. Around 500 B.C., the Nabataean Arabs beat the Edomites, but not all of them left the land when they took it over. Idumeans were people who moved to the area south of Judea, west of the Dead Sea and blended in with the locals.
In his book “The Other Side of the Jordan,” Nelson Glueck talks about how the Maccabean era was marked by constant hostility between the Jews and the Idumeans. The Jewish people fought the Idumeans during this time, which happened between the end of the Old Testament and the start of the New Testament. Leaders like John Hyrcanus led the Jews.
Who are the descendants of Edom today?
Descendants of Edom include the historical founders of Russia, China, and Japan. Esau and his offshoots from the People of Seir was important in the genesis of ancient Sparta, of early Rome, of Venice, and of Germany, and of numerous other nations.
Mount Seir and Idumea were part of the “country of Edom,” where the Edomites lived. The Horites, who lived in caves, were the first people to live on Mount Seir. They affected how the Edomites chose to settle there.
Bozrah was the capital city of ancient Edom, which is known for its mountainous landscape. During Amaziah’s rule, Petra was the capital, and Elath and Ezion Geber were good ports for ships.
Edom was in the well-known Southern Levant, southeast of Palestine. It included some of the most productive areas of Israel. It was an important stop on the caravan trade route because it was in a great spot halfway between the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea.
Because Edom was in a good spot, it was different from other cities in dry places because it made farming and raising cattle profitable. Surprisingly, the Edomites did well with these businesses and with charging caravan traders who came through their land.
Where is Edom and Moab today?
Jordan
Moab, kingdom, ancient Palestine. Located east of the Dead Sea in what is now west-central Jordan, it was bounded by Edom and the land of the Amorites. The Moabites were closely related to the Israelites, and the two were frequently in conflict.
It says in Psalm 83:6-7 that Edom, Moab, and Ammon are all involved in a plan to destroy Israel and forget about it. This fight, which was seen as something that would happen in the future, is probably one of the next things that will happen. The psalmist begs the Lord to step in and stop their sad death.
Daniel 11:41 talks about Edom, Moab, and Ammon in a message about the end of the world and how the antichrist will rule the Middle East. The anti-Christ is supposed to attack Israel during the Great Tribulation, but his plans to take over Edom, Moab, and the chiefs of Ammon will fail.
At the moment, these groups are thought to be similar to modern-day Jordan. But things could change at the likely Battle of Psalm 83, where Israel could take back control over Edom, Moab, and Ammon. We need to think about whether there is a more complicated factor at play or whether this will stop the anti-Christ from taking over.
Which tribe is Edom?
The Edomite people
The Edomite people were a Semitic-speaking tribal group inhabiting the Negev Desert and the Aravah valley of what is now southern Israel and adjacent Jordan. In the Hebrew Bible, Edom is a name given to Esau in the as well as to the nation purportedly descended from him.
A lot of old texts, like the Tanakh, an inventory of the Egyptian pharaoh Seti I from around 1215 BC, and the story of a campaign by Ramesses III (ruled 1186–1155), say that the Edomites existed. Archaeological evidence shows that the Edomite country did well from the 13th century B.C. to the 8th century B.C. However, the Babylonians destroyed it in the 6th century B.C.
Discoveries show that the Edomite people lived in the southern Kingdom of Judah and parts of the Negev all the way to Timna before Nebuchadnezzar II’s invasion in 587–586 BC. By using military force and peaceful infiltration, this colony took advantage of the fact that Judah was already weak.
Even though the names Edom and Idumea mean the same thing, they refer to different places where the Edomites and Idumeans have lived at different times in their history. The Edomites built the kingdom of “Edom” in the southern part of what is now Jordan. In the sixth century B.C., the Babylonians attacked and eventually destroyed Judah. They then moved to what was then called “Idumea,” which included what is now Mount Hebron in the southern parts of the Kingdom of Judah.
What nationality are Edomites?
Traditional enemies of the Israelites, the Edomites were the descendants of Esau who often battled the Jewish nation. Edom was in southeast Palestine, stretched from the Red Sea at Elath to the Dead Sea, and encompassed some of Israel’s most fertile land.
The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says that another name for Edom is Seir, which is between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. As the NIV Study Bible says, the name “Seir” comes from the Hebrew word for “hair,” which may be related to the name “Esau,” whose tribe probably drove out the first people who lived in Seir, who were Horite.
Because of its reddish sandstone, the name “Edom” means “red” or “muddy.” According to Crosswalk.com, Esau’s name means “red.” He was linked to the color red in many ways, such as his red skin at birth (Genesis 25:25), crimson stew (Genesis 25:29–30), and the red nation (Genesis 32:3).
Easton’s Bible Dictionary says that the Edomites were Semites and were related to the Israelites through blood and language. Both of these connections are important to God’s story. Even though these two groups of people lived close to each other, the differences between them were too great to overcome.
The Edomites were betrayed and eventually destroyed after siding with Babylon. This caused the Nabateans to take over their land. Because of this, the nations of Edom, Moab, and Ammon disappeared around the same time that Babylon took over Judah. Moab and Ammon were told they would be restored, but Edom’s fate changed. This shows how complicated divine judgment can be in biblical stories.
My sword has reached its full length in the sky, and it is now coming down to judge the people of Edom, whom I have completely wiped out. There is blood all over the Lord’s sword, and it is held together with ram kidneys and goat and lamb fat. Because the Lord tells Edom to kill a lot of people and Bozrah to make a sacrifice, the strong bulls, bull calves, and wild oxen will all fall at the same time. There will be fat and blood all over the place.
The Lord has set aside a year of vengeance and a day of vengeance to help Zion’s cause. The land of Edom will turn into pitch on fire, her streams into pitch, and her dust into sulfur that burns! At any time of the day or night, its smoke and flames will never go out. After many years, it will be left alone and never be crossed again. The great owl, the raven, the screech owl, and the desert owl will live there. In Isaiah 34:5–11, God says that the line of destruction and the line of chaos will be stretched across Edom.
Some commentators think that Edom might be the location of the Lake of Fire, where unbelievers of all ages will suffer eternal agony because Isaiah’s vivid imagery looks a lot like hell. God is protecting Edom, Moab, and Ammon from the antichrist because He wants to protect the remaining Jews who believe, not because He cares about these countries. After the Second Coming, Israel’s three enemies’ homes will always be empty wastelands.
