EDOMITI. — Edom (v.), also called Idumeans (Septuagint: Iḍhūm). Esau, having abandoned
the land of Canaan, came to settle in the mountain of
Seir. His descendants had to drive from their dwelling
the ancient population of the Hurrites (v. DEUSDEDIT. 2, 12. 22).
Gen. 36, 31-39 gives a list of eight Edomite kings, the last
of whom, Adad II, was probably a contemporary of
David and Solomon, during the tenth century, and the
first of whom may have initiated this royal era in the
twelfth century, or even earlier. None of these kings is
presented as the son of his predecessor. Perhaps, having
come to power through some notable enterprise, the
Edomite kings subsequently retained authority as
military chiefs. Edom organized itself and reached the
monarchical regime before Israel: at the time of the
Exodus the king of Edom opposed the Hebrews’ passage
through that region (Num. 20, 12. 21: Iude. 11, 17).
From the beginning of the monarchy in Israel, conflicts
broke out between Edom and the Hebrews. Saul fought
against the Doeg (v.) as
his servant; David subjugated the land of Edom and
established garrisons there (II Sam. 8, 13 ff.): Esau became,
according to Jacob’s prophecy (Gen. 27, 40), the servant
of his brother. Solomon continued to govern the region
and equipped fleets at Asiongaber and Elath on the Red
Sea. Even after the schism, the Edomites remained under
Judah. They rebelled under Jehoram, inspired by the
example of King Mesha (II Reg. 3, 4-27 and the Mesha
Stele); they regained their independence and established
a national monarchy (II Reg. 8, 20-22; II
Par. 21, 8 ff.). Defeated by Amaziah, who occupied Sela or
Petra (ibid. 16, 7-10), they recovered their freedom under
Ahaz. In the Assyrian monuments, Qausmalaka of Edom
appears together with Ahaz as a tributary of
Tiglath-pileser III. In Abdiah and Malachi the Edomites
are denounced as blood-guilty, objects of divine wrath
because of the hatred they bore toward the descendants
of Jacob: God destined the Edomites to eternal
destruction (Mol. 1, 4). Implacable enemies of Israel,
they rejoiced at the destruction of Jerusalem and during
the Exile occupied the depopulated Judea as far as Hebron
(Ex. 36, 5; I Mach. 5, 65). Around 300 B.C. eastern Idumea,
with Petra as its capital, was conquered by the
Nabataeans; the western part, with Hebron, was completely
subjugated by John Hyrcanus (126 B.C.), who compelled
the Idumeans to undergo circumcision.
With Antipater and his son Herod, an Idumean dynasty
rose even to the throne of Judea. In Mc. 3, 8 Idumea is
mentioned once again among the districts inhabited by
those who followed Jesus. The Idumeans hastened to the
defense of Jerusalem, besieged by Titus (Flavius Josephus,
Bell. Ind., IV, 4, 1. 5); thereafter they disappear from
history.
Concerning their idolatrous religion (II Par. 25, 14 ff.)
we have no detailed information (v. PETRA).