SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL

A. Edom is the nation east of the Dead Sea, which came from Esau, Jacob's brother (cf. Genesis 25-28; 32-33). Edom means "red" while Esau means "hairy" (cf. Gen 25:25, 30).

B. Israel was commanded to respect Edom because they were kinsmen (cf. Deut. 23:7)

C. Israel and Edom had continuing problems.

1. Num. 20:14-21

2. Jdgs. 11:16-17

3. 1 Sam. 14:47-48

4. 2 Sam. 8:14

5. 1 Kgs. 11:14-22

6. 2 Kgs. 14:22; 16:5-6

7. 2 Chr. 20:10-30; 21:8ff

8. Amos 1:6, 9

D. Prophecies against Edom.

1. Isa. 34:5ff; 63:1ff

2. Jer. 49:7-22

3. Lam. 4:21-22

4. Ezek. 25:12-14; 35:1-15; 36:2-6

5. Amos 1:11-12

E. In Obadiah, Edom was condemned because of

1. her pride, vv. 3-4

a. in geographical security

b. in political alliances and military power

c. in commercial wealth

d. in traditional wisdom

2. her violation of Judah, her kinsman, Obad. vv. 10-14

a. rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem (Lam. 2:15-17; 4:21)

b. refused to help (Obad. v. 11)

c. active support of enemy (Obad. v. 14)

d. took Judah's property (Jer. 13:19)

3. her rejection and disdain of YHWH (Obad. v. 16)

F. Edom may be a symbol (type) for all nations who rebelled against God and His people, Obad. vv. 15-21 (cf. Psalm 2).

G. Possible historical fulfilment of this prophecy

1. destruction of Edom by Neo-Babylon about 5 years after the fall of Jerusalem, 580 b.c.

2. displacement of Edom from Petra by Nabatean Arabs about 550-449 b.c. (cf. Mal. 1:2-5). Edom is not mentioned in Nehemiah's list of surrounding enemies, but is replaced by Arab tribes. Edom moved to the Negev.

3. defeat of Edom by Alexander's general, Antigonus in 312 b.c. (recorded in Diodorus Seculus)

4. defeat of Edom in the Negev by Judah Maccabaeus around 175 b.c. (cf. I Maccabees 5.3,15; II Maccabees 10.15; Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 12.8.1; 13.9.1

5. Edom forced to accept Judaism by John Hyrcanus in 125 b.c. They are now called Idumeans.

6. The Roman General, Titus, completely destroyed the Idumean influence in a.d. 70.