(11) Last Mention of the Edomites. This is the last mention made of the Edomites in history. The author of a work on Job, once ascribed to Origen, says that their name and language had perished, and that, like the Ammonites and Moab ites, they had all become Arabs. In the second century Ptolemy limits the name Idumxa to the country west of the Jordan.
But while, during the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, the Edomites had thus been extending their territory to the northwest, they were them selves supplanted in the southern part of their native region by the Nabathxans, the descendants of Ishmael's eldest son, and to the article NE BAIOTH, we must refer the reader for the subse quent history of the land of Edom.
(12) Scene of the Book of Job. Could the scene of the book of Job be with certainty fixed in Idumma, we should then possess much curious and valuable information respecting both the country and people soon after it had been colon ized by the descendants of Esau (sec Mason Good, Wemyss, and others upon Job). But all that we learn directly of the ancient Edomitcs from the historical books of Scripture represents them as not, indeed, neglecting agriculture or trade (Num. xx:17), yet, ort the whole, as a warlike and predatory race, who, according to the prediction of their progenitor Isaac, 'lived by their sword.' The situation of the country af forded peculiar facilities for commerce, which seems to have been prosecuted from a very early period. 'Bordering,' says Volney, 'upon Arabia on the east and south, and Egypt on the southwest and forming, from north to south, the most commodious channel of communication between Jerusalem and her dependencies on the Red Sea, through the continuous valleys of EI-Ghor and El-Araba, Idumwa may be said to have long formed the emporium of the commerce of the East.' The era of its greatest prosperity was after the Nabathwans had become masters of the coun try and founded the kingdom of Arabia Petrxa, of which the renowned metropolis was Petra.
(13) Religion. and Prophecy. The religion of the early Edomites was, perhaps, comparatively pure; but in process of time they embraced idolatry; in 2 Chron. xxv :2o, we read of the 'gods of Edom,' one of whom, according to Jo sephus (Antiq. xv :7, 9) was called Ka tze. With respect to the striking fulfillment of the prophetic denunciations upon Edom, we need only refer the reader to the well-known work of Keith, who frequently errs, however, in straining the sense of prophecy beyond its legitimate import, as well as in seeking out too literally minute an accomp lishment.
(14) Modern. Knowledge of the Land of Esau. From the era of the Crusades down to the present century the land of Esau was, to Europeans, a terra incognita. Its situation was laid down in the best maps more than a hundred miles from the true position, and as if lying in a direction where it is now known there is nothing but a vast expanse of desert. Volney had his at tention drawn toward it when at Gaza, by the vague reports of the Arabs, and in t8o7 the un fortunate Seetzen penetrated a certain way into the country, and heard of the wonders of the Wady MCisa; but the first modern traveler who 'passed through the land of Edom' was Burck hardt, in the year 1812. And it has been well re marked by Dr. Robinson (Amer. Bib. Reposit. vol. iii. p. 25o), that 'had he accomplished nothing but his researches in these regions, his journey would have been worth all the labor and cost ex pended on it, although his discoveries thus shed their strongest light upon subjects which were not comprehended in the plan or purpose either of himself or his employers.' Burekhardt en tered Idumxa from the north, and in the year 1818 he was followed in the same direction by Messrs. Legh, Bankes, Irby and Mangles. In t828 Laborde and Linant found access from the south; and since then it has been visited and de scribed by so many that the names of its localities have become familiar as household words.
(15) Present Condition. It is at present oc cupied by various tribes of Bedouin Arabs. The chief tribe in the Jebal is the Hcjaya, with a branch of the Kaabinch, while in esh-Sherah they are all of the numerous and powerful tribe of the Ha weitat, with a few independent allies. The Bed ouins in Idumwa have of late years been partially subject to the Pasha of Egypt, paying an annual tribute which in the case of the Beni Sukhr, is one camel for two tents. The fellahin, or peas ants, are half Bedouin, inhabiting the few vil lages, but dwelling also in tents; they. too, pay tribute to the Egyptian government, and furnish supplies of grain.
Among the localities connected with Edom which are mentioned in the Scripture may be no ticed Dinhabah, Bozrah, Theman, Maon (now NIaan), Kadesh-barnea (which Robinson identi fies with el-Weibeh in the Wady el-Jeib), Zeph ath (which he supposes to be the pass of Es Sufah), Elath, and Ezion-geber, etc.; but the tnost celebrated place in all the region was the chief city, Selah or Petra, for a description of which the reader is referred to the latter head. (See