E'DOM Web. ethini, red, Gk. 'ISoqta(a, Mott maia). According to the Old Testament, which places the Esauites in possession of Edon', the latter becomes one of the names of Esau, lanei-. fully explained because of the 'red' pottage given him by his brother Jacob (Gen. xxv. 29 :34). (See EsAy.) The ruddy line of the sand stone cliffs may have had something to do with the naming of the region. The name, under the form L'duinu. occurs in the Tell-el-Amarna Tab lets (oI400 It is designated as a city, and since in later Assyrian inscriptions it is sometimes designated in the same way. though also as a country. it has been concluded that the district received its name from its chief city. Another and apparently older name was Seir, which is the designation of the mountain range. Originally in the possession of the Hivites, it passed into the hands of the Esauite group. The latter. however. does not drive out the former, but intermarries with it (Dent. ii. 22. and Gen. xxxvi. 20-21).
Edon[ comprised a strip of country 100 miles long by 20 miles broad, lying betwe(n the south of Palestine and the Gulf of Akabah (an arm of the Red Sea). it is a wild, mountainous region w„ith the desert on the east and west of it ; . but rugged though it looks, it contains rich glens and terraces, where flowers and shrubs and trees spring up luxuriantly. lLs chief eity in later periods was Bozrah (now Buseirah) in the extreme north: its seaports were Elath and Ezion-geber in the extreme south at the head of the Gulf of Akabah. The relations between the 'Hebrews and Edomites, despite the recogni tion of their close relationship, were for the most part hostile. and this hostility is carried hack in historical traditions to the time when the Hebrews were refused permission to pass through Edom on their way to Canaan (Num. xx. 14-21). and were obliged to pass eastward of the land and make their way to Mbab. During the reigns of David and Solomon the Edomites were brought under subjection to the Israelites, and despite ninny uprisings (1. Kings xi. 14-22: 11. Kings viii. 20-22; xiv. 22). they remained in the power of Israel until the time of Rezin of Damascus (II. Kings xvi. 61: nevertheless the
Edomites repeatedly ravaged the southern bor der of Palestine and when Judah was destroyed, which circumstance is the reason that they are so terribly denounced by sonic of the prophets (Lam. iv. 21-22: Ezek. xxxv. 3.15; • Obad. 10-16).
In the Assyrian inscriptions .Edon is fre quently mentioned. In tic. 732 Edomites appear aiming those who are forced to pay homage to Tiglathpileser III. at Damascus. while twenty years later we find radon[ again joining a league with Moab, Judah. Philistia, and Egypt, against the Assyrian King Sargon. The allies were obliged to submit and pay tribute. Once more, in n.c. TOE when Sennacherib threatened Pales tine and Syria. Edon[ joined issue with Hez ekinh in an attempt to 'withstand the attack. In view of this, it is rather strange to find the inference in the Old Testament narratives that at the time of the attack of Nebuchadnezzar Upon Jerusalem the Edomites assisted the Baby lonians. In the post-exilic period the Edomites are enabled to extend hitch- domain and occupy a portion of southern Judah. with liebron as a capi tal. and during the ..)Ineealwan war the Jews had to contend not only with the Greeks, but with the Edomites as well, who endeavored to avail themselves of the situation by making at tacks upon the Jews. .Judas Maceatown,. how ever. drove them from southern Judah (tic'. 1(1t) and John 1lvreaiiu' (ux. 109) is said to have conquered their country. though he held only the western part of it. and that not for a long time. The eastern part, with its capital at Selah (of which Pet ra is t he Greek translat ion rema hied in the hands of the Nabataans, who had held it since p.c. 300. The Roman conquest swept away the last remnant of Edomitie independence. The country. now called after the Greek front was placed Wider control of a proeurator and grouped with ,Judea, Samaria, and Galilee; and Antipater. an Idumaan, succeeded. by gaining the favor of the Romans, in obtaining this posi tion. 114, son was the fatuous Herod the Great. (See ANTIPATER; 'HEROD.) After the destruction of Jerusalem. the country was merged in Arabia Petnra. and the name hlunnea disappears.