The Edomites are a people distantly related to the Israelites, descended from Esau, the fraternal twin of Jacob (son of Isaac).
The region where they lived is to the east of Israel. To the east of Israel, from north to south, lived the Ammonites, below them the Moabites, and below them the Edomites.
This region was the shortest route from Egypt to Mesopotamia, and was sometimes called the 'King's Highway'. Bordering the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea to the south, it prospered from ancient times due to its trade advantages.
Relationship with the Israelites
When Moses was leading the Exodus, they refused his request to open a path for them.
Num 20:14From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: “This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us.Num 20:15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians oppressed us and our ancestors,Num 20:16but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. “Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the border of your territory.Num 20:17Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”Num 20:18But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”Num 20:19The Israelites replied, “We will stay on the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”Num 20:20Again Edom answered, “You may not pass through.” Then Edom mobilized its army and marched out against them with a large and powerful force.Num 20:21Since Edom refused to let them pass through its territory, Israel turned away from them.
As a neighboring country to Israel, they paid tribute when Israel prospered, but invaded when Israel weakened, maintaining a continuous state of tension.
In the New Testament era, Herod the Great, who ruled Israel, was from Edom, which became one of the reasons he was resented by the Israelite people.
See also