What Can We Learn from the Judgment of the Edomites?

And that sibling/cousin rivalry would continue throughout much of the history of the Old Testament. We see the Edomites mentioned in Amos’ prophecy of judgment. What more can we learn about the Edomites?

Where Was Edom?

The Hebrew word Edom means “red.” Perhaps this is because of their relation to Esau. Or it could be because of the red cliffs of the area. It, like many of the civilizations in the Transjordan, thrived because of its strategic location along the trade route between Arabia and the Mediterranean. Its copper industry led to a thriving industry.

Much after the time of Amos, both Edom and Moab were conquered by Nabataeans. Losing their land, they moved closer to southern Judea and merged. By the time of the New Testament, the two peoples seemed to have merged and became known as the Idumaeans.

Today, there is no nation of Edom. They had joined the Israelites in the revolt against Rome in 70AD. Rome wiped them off the map. The location where Edom was is found in the southwestern part of modern-day Jordan. To place this in the context of the prophecy of Amos, the land of Edom is in the southeast corner. It is south of Moab and Ammon and Damascus. This major player in biblical history is essentially no more, as God said (Malachi 1:2-5).

Where Does Edom Appear in the Bible?

After Esau fled from Jacob, he settled in what would become known as Edom. And it appears that the land had become rather prosperous. While the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt the Edomites were growing. When God delivered the Israelites, they would pass through the land of the Edomites on the way to the Promised Land. But God told them not to try to take that land—God had given it to Esau (Dt. 2:1-5).

However, the Edomite king—much like the black knight of Monty Python fame—said, “none shall pass” to the Israelites (Numbers 20:14-21). This refusal of passage led to deep resentment between the nations. We read of several battles between the nations in the book of Kings and Samuel.

The Edomites appear again in the prophecy of Ezekiel—raiding Judah after the Babylonians had conquered them (Ezekiel 25:12-14). This action led to pronouncements of judgment in Jeremiah (49:7-22), Malachi (1:2-5), and in Amos. The entire book of Obadiah is devoted to the pride and downfall of the Edomites.

What Did They Do in Amos’ Day?

This is the message which Amos delivered to Edom:

Thus says the Lord: 

“For three transgressions of Edom, 
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, 
because he pursued his brother with the sword 
and cast off all pity, 
and his anger tore perpetually, 
and he kept his wrath forever. 

So I will send a fire upon Teman, 
and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.”

The Edomites have already been mentioned in Amos’ prophecy. They, it appears, were a key part of an abominable slave trade. Yet, it is not this which is part of the indictment. Rather, they are condemned for “pursuing his brother with his sword.”

There is some debate about what is meant by that phrase. It could be a reference to treaties that other nations made with the Edomites. And rather than resolving differences through sane and peaceful methods, they instead took up arms. But more than likely it is a reference to the continual warring between the nation of Edom and Judah. Gary Smith provides a helpful summary of the offense:

Edom’s guilt revealed itself in the wrathful attitude it had toward Judah. The natural instincts to cherish a relative were replaced by the raging hatred of a wild beast. In anger Edom lost control of her emotions and nurtured a bitter grudge against her neighbor. Relentlessly Edom attacked and attacked for the sake of spite. ‘Keeping his wrath forever’ identifies the nation’s preoccupation with inhuman and senseless behavior which characterizes a maniac. Because of these rebellious acts, God will judge Edom. (Smith, 88)

Certainly, the status of innocent victims cannot be claimed by the Israelites or any of the other locales who were “brothers” to Edom. Yet there seems to have been a prideful and over-the-top aggression within the Edomites. Because of this, Israel’s neighbors would be judged.

How Should We Respond?

Bitterness is often related to pride. The two seem to also be combined in the Edomites. These will be judged because they will keep us from humble repentance. And apart from humble repentance, we will never embrace God, by grace through faith.

But Amos’ primary concern here isn’t the sin of Edom. As heinous as that sin would be—Amos is doing something different. He is evoking the sense of justice in the heart of the Israelites. Nobody likes to be around pride and bitterness. The Israelites could have seen with surprising accuracy the depth of wickedness in their “cousin.” But could they see it within themselves?

Amos will eventually tell the Israelites that the same breach of brotherly love and care is present in their own heart. Just as God is judging the Edomites—he will also be judging the same wickedness in the heart of the Israelites.

As we interact with the story of the Edomites we are confronted with the result of their bitter pride. The Edomites are no more. Such is the destiny of all who choose this path. It is one that consumes. The unending anger which tears at others will eventually double back upon the possessor of such. And ultimately will leave us cast off from God. Those who fail to pity will not themselves be pitied.

The story of the Edomites is a call to repentance, and ultimately a call to embrace Christ. He is the only One who can overcome our pride and swallow up our bitterness. He not only forgives and cleanses the sin that we’ve committed—he is also able to heal that which is committed against us. This is a much better path than that foolishly chosen by Esau and the Edomites.

Sources:
Gary V. Smith, Amos, Mentor Commentaries (Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 1998), 88.

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