Edom

/ee"deuhm/, n.

1. Esau, the brother of Jacob.

2. Greek, Idumaea, Idumea. an ancient region between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, bordering ancient Palestine. See map under Philistia.

3. the kingdom of the Edomites located in this region.

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Ancient country of the Middle East, south of the Dead Sea.

The Edomites probably occupied the area с 13th century BC. Though closely related to the Israelites, they were in frequent conflict with and were probably subject to the Israelite kingdom (11th–10th century BC). Located on the trade route between the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea coast, Edom was known for its copper industry. Later conquered by the Nabataeans, the Edomites migrated to southern Judaea. Edom and neighbouring Moab were known in Maccabean and Roman times as Idumaea.

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▪ ancient country, Middle East

      ancient land bordering ancient Israel, in what is now southwestern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The Edomites probably occupied the area about the 13th century BC. Though closely related to the Israelites (according to the Bible, they were descendants of Esau), they had frequent conflicts with them and were probably subject to them at the time of the Israelite kingdom (11th–10th century BC). Edom prospered because of its strategic location on the trade route between Arabia and the Mediterranean and its copper industry at Ezion-geber. Edom and Moab were later conquered by the Nabataeans, and the Edomites migrated to southern Judaea, where they were known in New Testament times as Idumaeans.

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