Judgment of the Edomites

Judgment of the Edomites (Edom)

We should note that there are more Bible passages pronouncing judgment on the Edomites than on any other nation. Why would that be important to us today? I suspect that the Bible passages relative to Edom and the Edomites will be key to our understanding of events of “the Day of the Lord”.

First, let’s see if we can gain an understanding of just who the Edomites were, and who they are today.

Who Are the Edomites? by Chuck Missler

“There are more Bible passages pronouncing judgment on the Edomites than on any other nation.¹ But who are they? What relevance do they have for us today? As diligent students of the Word of God, it is essential for us to understand who they are and what eschatological implications they may have on our present geopolitical horizon.

The covenant birthright was a point of contention between Sarah vs. Hagar,² Isaac vs. Ishmael,³ and which then became the root of the hb’yae ~l’A[ olam ebah—the “Everlasting Hatred”—beginning in the womb with Esau and Jacob, and Esau’s sub-sequent contempt of the covenant birthright,⁴ and resulting in Esau’s spiteful intermarriage with the Ishmaelites, which con-tinued the “everlasting hatred” to this very day.⁵ Recognition of this “Everlasting Hatred”—and its embodiment in Islam—is essential to our understanding its eschatological implications, as well as the daily newscasts that dominate our mainline press.

The tensions continued as Israel, after the exodus from Egypt, was denied passage through their land of Edom.6 The misleading nature of the maps in many of our Bibles cause us to assume that the Edomites were confined east of the Jordan, south of Moab. However, the Edomites (“Idumeans” in Greek), under pressure from the Nabateans in the east, migrated west and established their own “Idumea” (see map, right).

Nomadic Nabateans migrated out of Arabia into Edom and drove the Edomites westward. Directly west of Edom were established routes of passage. Land there was historically more prosperous and resourceful than the land of Edom, which consisted of infertile deserts and jagged mountains. Further-more, the land bore a family association: after all, Esau was Jacob’s brother.

Hebron, 19 miles south of Jerusalem and 3400 ft. above sea level, became their new capital: established 1500 years earlier, unlike Jerusalem, it was left intact as prime real estate after the Babylonian deportation under Nebuchadnezzar.

As the Babylonians took Judah into captivity, and angry soldiers wrecked the walls, slew the people, and burned the city, we could have observed their neighboring citizens—the Edomites—encourage the Babylonians to ruin the city: “Raze it! Raze it!” they were calling. “Dash their little children against the stones and wipe out the Jews!”⁷

Hebron remained under Edomite control until Judas Maccabeus retook the city under Jewish control in 164 B.C. Thirty-eight years later, in 126 B.C., they had to be reconquered by the Jewish Army under prince and high priest John Hyrcanus. A pivotal event then took place in which Idumeans were forced to be proselytized into Judaism or flee or die. This resulted in many Idumeans pretending to become Jews, yet really were not.⁸

In 47 B.C. Julius Caesar promoted the Idumean Antipater as procurator over Judea, Samaria and Galilee. In 37 B.C., the Romans named Herod, son of Antipater, as King over Israel. (His mother was Nabatean). Thus, the Herods of the New Testament were Edomites: One of them killed the Jewish babies in his attempt to destroy Christ;⁹ another Herod murdered John the Baptist; another one killed James the brother of John.¹⁰

The Romans had two primary choices: Idumea or Philistia. Idumeans were viewed as practitioners of Judaism, and the tensions among them were regarded as simply a family squab-ble. They did not view the Idumeans as great an enemy to the Jews as the Philistines, so they named the region “Palestina,” which is the Latin for Philistia. Until 135 A.D., after the Bar Kokhba revolt, maps still dis-played Idumea. However, after the Romans chose to name the region “Palestina,” Idumea disappeared from future maps and history. The Edomites, subsequently known as Idumeans (nomadic Arabs), be-came assimilated into the “Palestinians” of today. The “tents of Edom” featured in Psalm 83 appear as refugee camps in the propaganda of the Palestine Authority today.

Furthermore, many orthodox Jews today continue to view the international “globalists” as Edomites, a term they regard as referring to Rome or any other ruling empire.…

The Example of Amschel Moses Bauer

In 1743 a goldsmith named Amschel Moses Bauer opened a coin shop in Frankfurt, Germany. He hung above his door a sign depicting a Roman eagle on a red shield. The shop became known as the Red Shield firm.

Amschel Bauer had a son, Mayer Amschel Bauer. At a very early age Mayer showed that he possessed immense intellectual ability, and his father spent much of his time teaching him everything he could about the money lending business and in the basic dynamics of finance.

A few years after his father’s death in 1755, Mayer went to work in Hannover as a clerk in a bank owned by the Oppenheimers. Mayer’s superior ability was quickly recognized and his advancement within the firm was swift. His success allowed him the means to return to Frankfurt and to purchase the business his father had established in 1743.

The big Red Shield was still displayed over the door. Recognizing the true significance of the Red Shield (his father had adopted it as his emblem from the Red Flag which was the emblem of the revolutionary minded Jews in Eastern Europe), Mayer Amschel Bauer changed his name to Rothschild, the German word for “red shield.” It was at this point that the House of Rothschild came into being.

Through his experience with the Oppenheimers, Mayer Rothschild learned that loaning money to governments and kings was much more profitable than loaning to private individuals. Not only were the loans bigger, but they were secured by the nation’s taxes.

Mayer Amschel Rothschild had five sons, Amschel, Salomon, Nathan, Karl and Jakob. Mayer spent the rest of his life instructing them all in the secret techniques of money creation and manipulation. As they came of age, he sent them to the major capitals of Europe to open branch offices of the family banking business. Amschel stayed in Frankfurt, Salomon was sent to Vienna, Nathan was sent to London, Karl went to Naples, and Jakob went to Paris.

In 1838 Nathan made the following statement: “Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”

The saga continues, in the minds of many, with involvements of Adam Weishaupt with the Illuminati; the secret meetings on Jekyll Island that established the Federal Re-serve; and, other tales of struggle for global power. Apparently there may be some who still appear today as “Jews” but, in actuality, are not.

I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

(Missler)

A good question that might be asked is “who are the Herods today?” Could they be the evil men and women of our day who claim to be Jews, but are really not, like the Rothschilds, Soros, and other globalists who claim to be Jewish or have some Jewish ancestry? If so, this would relate directly to the evil that is being manifested around the world in the “one-world government” globalist movement and the people driving it.

All of this makes the issue of Edom and the Edomites important for us today. Let’s find out what the Bible has to say about them.

Judgment upon Edom and the Edomites from the book of Obadiah

·       [Oba 1:1 NASB] The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom-- We have heard a report from the LORD, And an envoy has been sent among the nations [saying,] "Arise and let us go against her for battle"—

o   The Hebrew name Obadiah means "Worshipper of Yahweh" or "Servant of Yahweh.

o   Obadiah was probably written about 848-841 B.C. making him a contemporary of Elisha and Joel (2 Chron 17:7).

o   The judgment against the Edomites will include war.

·       [Oba 1:2 NASB] "Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised.

o   God does not like Edomites.

·       [Oba 1:3 NASB] "The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to earth?'

·       [Oba 1:4 NASB] "Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.

o   ” The Edomites boasted in their natural defenses. The ancient city of Petra - once the capital city of Edom, known as Sela - had amazing defenses. It is a city carved into the rock, accessible by a narrow canyon almost a mile long. At the end of the canyon there is a spectacular city carved in stone, and seemingly incapable of being conquered by any army.” (Guzik)

o   ”The Edomites boasted in their wisdom. The men of Edom - especially of the city Teman - were noted for their wisdom. The phrase men of the East in the Old Testament often refers to men from Edom, and passages like 1 Kings 4:30 declare the great wisdom of the men of the East. As well, Jeremiah 49:7 says of Edom: Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? This was another source of pride for the Edomites.” (Guzik)

o   “The Edomites boasted in their alliances and trusted in their allies - their confederacy, the men at peace with you (Obadiah 1:7). They thought that their alliances made them strong, and they were proud because of that strength.” (Guzik)

o   “Edomites” think they are stronger than others, smarter than others, and have alliances and allies that make them stronger than all others. Arrogance is a key marker of “Edomites”. This certainly reminds us of those powerful people in the world that believe they are the “masters” of the world today.

o   God will bring down the arrogant who believe they are above all others, even above God.

·       [Oba 1:5 NASB] "If thieves came to you, If robbers by night-- O how you will be ruined!-- Would they not steal [only] until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave [some] gleanings?

·       [Oba 1:6 NASB] "O how Esau will be ransacked, [And] his hidden treasures searched out!

·       [Oba 1:7 NASB] "All the men allied with you Will send you forth to the border, And the men at peace with you Will deceive you and overpower you. [They who eat] your bread Will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)

·       [Oba 1:8 NASB] "Will I not on that day," declares the LORD, "Destroy wise men from Edom And understanding from the mountain of Esau?

·       [Oba 1:9 NASB] "Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.

o   God’s judgment will be worse than just being robbed. They will be ruined. Nothing will be left.  Even all the hidden evil will be exposed and destroyed. Darkness will be exposed by “the Light”. What is hidden will be exposed.
    [Luk 8:17 NLT] For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.

o   The Edomite’s allies and “friends” will deceive, overpower, and ambush them.

o   In the end, “Edomites” will be totoally lacking in true wisdom and understanding.

o   The “mighty men” will be dismayed and cut off by slaughter.

o   Those that consider themselves wiser, smarter, and have more understanding than others (egotists and narcissists) will be destroyed in the end.

·       [Oba 1:10 NASB] "Because of violence to your brother Jacob, You will be covered [with] shame, And you will be cut off forever

o   Edom was the brother of Jacob (Israel). Their common ancestor was Isaac.

o   Shame is a consequence of violence to others, especially a “brother”.

·       [Oba 1:11 NASB] "On the day that you stood aloof, On the day that strangers carried off his wealth, And foreigners entered his gate And cast lots for Jerusalem-- You too were as one of them.

o   Edom did nothing when Judah was attacked. This made Edom as one of the attackers.

o   Attacking Israel militarily, financially, politically, or any other way is never a good idea.

·       [Oba 1:12 NASB] "Do not gloat over your brother's day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of [their] distress.

·       [Oba 1:13 NASB] "Do not enter the gate of My people In the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity In the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth In the day of their disaster.

·       [Oba 1:14 NASB] "Do not stand at the fork of the road To cut down their fugitives; And do not imprison their survivors In the day of their distress.

o   God’s judgment is coming upon the “Edomites” because of their terrible treatment of God’s people Israel.

§  First, they did nothing, then they rejoiced in their distress, then they took advantage of the vulnerable state, and then they joined in the violence against God’s people. This is a dangerous path for person or nation that follows this pattern with respect to Israel.

·       [Oba 1:15 NASB] "For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.

·       [Oba 1:16 NASB] "Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, All the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow And become as if they had never existed.

o   Although these prophecies did occur to the literal Edomites and Edom, here we find the hint that there is to be an even further fulfillment with regard to the remnant of the Edomites. This occurs in “the day of the Lord” and it is upon all the nations.

o   As nations and people treat God’s people Israel, so it shall be unto them.

o   [Jer 25:15 NASB] For thus the LORD, the God of Israel, says to me, "Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.

o   The wrath of God comes upon all the nations because of their ill treatment of Israel.

o   [Gen 12:3 NASB] And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

·        [Oba 1:17 NASB] "But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, And it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.

o    Here we find the promise of deliverance for Israel. During the turmoil of war that destroys the modern-day “Edomites”, there will be a remnant of Israel that will escape and survive.

o   [Isa 17:4 NASB] Now in that day the glory of Jacob will fade, And the fatness of his flesh will become lean. [Isa 17:6 NASB] Yet gleanings will be left in it like the shaking of an olive tree, Two [or] three olives on the topmost bough, Four [or] five on the branches of a fruitful tree, Declares the LORD, the God of Israel.

o   [Isa 11:11 NASB] Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea.

o   [Jer 50:20 NASB] 'In those days and at that time,' declares the LORD, 'search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.'

·       [Oba 1:18 NASB] "Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau [will be] as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken.

o   Israel, the house of Jacob and of Joseph, will be the fire and flame that completely destroys the house of Esau.

o   Here the house of Esau is equated to the Edomites. Esau was also known as Edom, the progenitor of the Edomites.

·       [Oba 1:19 NASB] Then [those of] the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau, And [those of] the Shephelah the Philistine [plain;] Also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, And Benjamin [will possess] Gilead.

·       [Oba 1:20 NASB] And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel, Who are [among] the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Will possess the cities of the Negev.

o   Israel will possess and occupy the land that once belonged to Esau. 

·        [Oba 1:21 NASB] The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion To judge the mountain of Esau, And the kingdom will be the LORD'S.

o   Edom will be destroyed with no one (deliverers) to help them, but deliverers will come to Israel. Here I take the “deliverers” to be God and those He chooses to use as His instruments to bring about the destruction of the Edomites.

o   Edom (the mountains of Esau) will be judged because Edom will have no deliverers, judges will rule over the territory of Edom, and judges will sit in judgment over Edom and their sins.

o   The end of the matter is that the kingdom will be the Lord’s. He is the King of kings. The world is purged of “Edomites” and the Edomite spirit when the Lord Jesus returns as King of kings to establish His throne on earth in Jerusalem. The judgement of “Edom” and the “Edomites” is a part of the “Last Wars” before Christ’s return.

o   “This note of encouragement may be the central purpose for this prophecy of Obadiah. We wonder if it ever had much of a reading in the streets or palaces of Edom, but it certainly was received as welcome encouragement among the suffering people of God. Obadiah tells all God's people: "Don't worry about those who ignore your need, those who rejoice at your problems, those who take advantage of your crises, those who join their hands with others in attacking you. I will take care of them." (Guzik)

It is not insignificant that there are more Bible passages pronouncing judgment on the Edomites than on any other nation. For us today, Obadiah tells us that the fate of the remnant of the Edomites, the fate of the Arabic tribal peoples around Israel (“Palestinians of the West Bank and southern Jordan” -  Salus), is sure and they will be defeated. There is also hints here that there is another remnant of the Edomites, those that call themselves Jews but are not, but are manifesting the evil spirit of the Edomites will, in the end, be destroyed. These are the “Herods” of our day and maybe more important to us than just the Palestinians. I think that we can rest assured that those people who are manisfesting this “Edomite” spirit in our day will be surely disposed of by the Lord in the days ahead as we move closere and closer to the day of the Lord’s return.

As we study the prophecies of the Day of the Lord, these prophecies give us insights and details of the events that are soon coming upon the earth. The great message found in these prophecies of judgment is:

[Gen 12:3 NASB] And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

Let us not be found on the wrong side of the treatment of Israel!

Judgment against Edom from Jeremiah 49:7-22

·       Edom's punishment (Isa 34:5-17; Ezek 25:12-14, 32:29, 35:15, 36:5; Joel 3:19; Amo 1:11; Obadiah 1:1, 8)

§   [Jer 49:7 NASB] Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Has good counsel been lost to the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?

§  [Jer 49:8 NASB] "Flee away, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan, For I will bring the disaster of Esau upon him At the time I punish him.

·       The Edomites lived east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River toward the couth mountain and desserts. They were founded by Esau (the son of Isaac, brother to Jacob).

·       "Edom's cardinal sin was its pride manifested in its unrelenting and violent hatred of Israel and its rejoicing in her misfortune (Obadiah 3, 10-14). There is no prophecy of future restoration for Edom." (Feinberg)

·       "When Judah felt the weight of Nebuchadrezzar in 589-587 b.c. Edom not only gave assistance but seems to have collaborated with the Babylonians (Ezekiel 25:12-14; Psalm 137:7; Obadiah; Lamentations 4:21)." (Thompson)

·       "Teman (lit. 'south') was either a district or a city of Edom, but here it is a poetic name for Edom." (Thompson)

·       At one time, Hebron was was an important city of the Edomites (known by the Romans as Idumaeans) in the days of the herdoian dynanty. Look at the location of Hebron today with respect to the territory that is proposed to be given to the Palistinines as a part of their hoped for nation.

·       The Edomites are told to dig in deep, as a soldier does in a foxhole or trench, trying to find some shelter against the judgment to come.

o   "Hide yourselves in holes of the earth, grots in the ground, clefts of the rocks, where you may best secure yourselves from the pursuing enemy." (Trapp)

·       "Dedan (Jeremiah 49:8), a tribe living south of Edom, was known for its commerce (Jeremiah 25:23; Ezekiel 25:13). The people of Dedan are warned to flee from their usual contacts with Edom, lest they be overtaken in its destruction." (Guzik)

·       “The calamity of Esau refers to Esau's sense that he lost everything when the birthright was given to Jacob. God promised that the Edomites would also feel that they lost everything when judgment came against them.” (Guzik)

·       No wisdom or good counsel can be found in Edom.

·       A promise of mercy in the midst of the judgment (Lam 4:22; Obadiah1:6)

§  [Jer 49:9 NASB] "If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave gleanings? If thieves [came] by night, They would destroy [only] until they had enough.

§  [Jer 49:10 NASB] "But I have stripped Esau bare, I have uncovered his hiding places So that he will not be able to conceal himself; His offspring has been destroyed along with his relatives And his neighbors, and he is no more.

§  [Jer 49:11 NASB] "Leave your orphans behind, I will keep [them] alive; And let your widows trust in Me."

·       "Contrary to the practice of grape gatherers, who left something for the poor, the enemies of Edom will leave nothing but will plunder everything." (Feinberg)

·       Edom is destroyed but in all of this God’s mercy is shown. God invites a remnant of orphans and widows to trust Him to preserve them.

·       This remnant of the Edomites is today probably the tribal peoples that come from the old areas of the Edomites. Many believe this remnant to be the Palestinians of the West Bank and southern Jordan.

·       We should expect the Palestinians to suffer defeat and great losses in the days ahead. But there will be a remnant that survives these days of trouble and war.

·       The judgment (Isa 34:6-15; Ezek 35:2-9)

§  [Jer 49:12 NASB] For thus says the LORD, "Behold, those who were not sentenced to drink the cup will certainly drink [it,] and are you the one who will be completely acquitted? You will not be acquitted, but you will certainly drink [it.]

§  [Jer 49:13 NASB] "For I have sworn by Myself," declares the LORD, "that Bozrah will become an object of horror, a reproach, a ruin and a curse; and all its cities will become perpetual ruins."

§  [Jer 49:14 NASB] I have heard a message from the LORD, And an envoy is sent among the nations, [saying,] "Gather yourselves together and come against her, And rise up for battle!"

§  [Jer 49:15 NASB] "For behold, I have made you small among the nations, Despised among men.

§  [Jer 49:16 NASB] "As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock, Who occupy the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as an eagle's, I will bring you down from there," declares the LORD.

·       Edom's cities will become a perpetual waste.

·       "The Edomites had long enjoyed a reputation for rugged military strength but their trust in the physical prowess would fail them at the critical moment." (Harrison)

·       "Bozrah is referred to because it was the capital of Edom in Jeremiah's time. It was midway between Petra and the Dead Sea, and here it represents all the Edomite cities (cf. Isaiah 63:1)." (Feinberg)

·       "The unusual noun in Jeremiah 49:16, tipleset, may be a derogatory substitute for one of Edom's deities." (Thompson)

·       "The 'rock' (sela, NIV, 'rocks') referred to was later called Sela (Petra, Greek) – the capital city and chief fortress of the Edomites." (Feinberg)

·       Again, arrogance is what deceives the Edomites and causes their downfall.

§  [Jer 49:17 NASB] "Edom will become an object of horror; everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss at all its wounds.

§  [Jer 49:18 NASB] "Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah with its neighbors," says the LORD, "no one will live there, nor will a son of man reside in it.

·       "The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities was so terrible, that, when God denounces judgments against incorrigible sinners, he tells them they shall be like Sodom and Gomorrah." (Clarke)

§  [Jer 49:19 NASB] "Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against a perennially watered pasture; for in an instant I will make him run away from it, and whoever is chosen I shall appoint over it. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me [into court?] And who then is the shepherd who can stand against Me?"

·       Many relate this to Nebuchadnezzar who did come against Edom from the area of the Jordan River. The implication is that the resisting of Nebuchadnezzar was as foolish as resisting God (“who can stand against Me?).

·       Today the Kingdom of Edom is no more and the area of the old Edom is pretty much a desert wasteland. However, the Descendants of the Edomites are still around. We can expect to see that old territory of the Edomites, the desert areas around Petra to become desolate but the descendants of the Edomites scattered around the Middle East.

§  [Jer 49:20 NASB] Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has planned against Edom, and His purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will drag them off, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them.

§  [Jer 49:21 NASB] The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The noise of it has been heard at the Red Sea.

·       There is a hint here that an earthquake is involved in this judgment and it is felt as far away as the Red Sea.

·       The hint of an earthquake reminds us of the earthquakes involved in the judgments and wars of the last days.

§  [Jer 49:22 NASB] Behold, He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

·       Bozrah means sheepfold or enclosure in Hebrew and was a pastoral city in Edom southeast of the Dead Sea. According to the biblical narrative, it was the home city of one of Edom's kings, Jobab son of Zerah (Genesis 36:32-33) and the homeland of Jacob's twin brother, Esau.  (Wikipedia)

·       The He here is the Lord. This destruction of “Edom” and the “Edomites” occurs as a part of the judgments against rebgellious mankind at the end of the age. It is all a part of the wars and events of the days of God’s wrath preceeding the Lord’s return as King of kings!