The Edomites

"'Esau. Edomites Today' discusses the Biblical background and historical development of Esau and his offspring. This work is the fruit of thorough research and reliable references are given. Sources used include Scripture, Rabbinical writings, historical documents, academic studies, and other works of relevance"--

No nation has been subjected to a wider range of biblical attitudes and emotions than Edom. In some sources, Edom is perceived as Israel’s brother; in many others, the animosity toward Edom is tremendous. The book of Genesis introduces Isaac, his wife Rebecca, and their twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Rivalry between the brothers emerges even before their birth and escalates over the course of their lives. The question of which son should be favored also causes tension in the parents’ relationship, and most of the Genesis text concerning Isaac and Rebecca revolves around this issue. The narrative describes the fraternal conflict between Jacob and Esau at length, and many hold that this description is a reflection of the hostility between Edom and Israel. However, the relationship between the brothers is not always depicted as strained. The twofold relationship between the brothers in Genesis—brotherhood and fraternity coupled with hatred and rivalry—introduces a dichotomy that is retained throughout the Hebrew Bible. In this monograph, Assis elucidates the complex relationship between Edom and Israel reflected in the Bible, to attempt to clarify the source of this complexity and the function that this relationship serves in the various biblical texts and Israel’s early history. He shows how this relationship plays an important role in the formation of Israel’s identity, and how the historical interaction between the nations influenced the people’s theological conception, as reflected in prophetic literature, poetry, and biblical narrative.

One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike.

From two leading Christian apologists, here is a fascinating survey of the most important Old and New Testament archaeological discoveries through the ages. Biblical archaeology has always stirred excitement among believers and curiosity among unbelievers. The evidence dug up with a spade can speak volumes—and serve as a powerful testimony of the reliability of Scripture. Norm Geisler and Joe Holden have put together an impressive array of finds that confirm the biblical peoples and events of ages past. In a user-friendly format written in popular style, they... examine the latest finds and explain their significance include more than 150 photographs provide an instructive chart of artifacts (along with fast facts) sample a variety of finds—papyri, inscriptions, scrolls, ossuaries, and more If readers are looking for just one book to cover this topic both concisely and comprehensively, this is it!

The subject of the present book is the theme of Edom in the Old Testament. In the four long oracles against Edom (Isa. 34, Jer. 49.7-22, Ezek. 35, Obadiah), this nation serves as Israel's antagonist and the representative of the enemy nations. Edom also appears in the book of Genesis: Jacob's brother Esau is the patriarch of the Edomites and Esau himself is called Edom as well (Gen. 25-36). Although there is no such negative estimation of Edom as in the prophecies, here too Edom represents the nations, and serves as Israel's opponent. This study discusses the origin and development of Edom's exceptional role. It extensively analyses the connections between Obadiah (the only one of the four major oracles in which, like in Genesis, Edom is called Israel's brother), the other oracles, and Genesis. It sketches the literary history of these texts and discusses the possible historical background of the conceptions they share. Can the similarities in Edom's role be explained by assuming the same historical background for the two sets of texts? If so, why do the major oracles against Edom present an extremely negative, and the Jacob-Esau stories a relatively positive picture of Edom?

Jacob and Esau is a profound new account of two millennia of Jewish European history that, for the first time, integrates the cosmopolitan narrative of the Jewish diaspora with that of traditional Jews and Jewish culture. Malachi Haim Hacohen uses the biblical story of the rival twins, Jacob and Esau, and its subsequent retelling by Christians and Jews throughout the ages as a lens through which to illuminate changing Jewish-Christian relations and the opening and closing of opportunities for Jewish life in Europe. Jacob and Esau tells a new history of a people accustomed for over two-and-a-half millennia to forming relationships, real and imagined, with successive empires but eagerly adapting, in modernity, to the nation-state, and experimenting with both assimilation and Jewish nationalism. In rewriting this history via Jacob and Esau, the book charts two divergent but intersecting Jewish histories that together represent the plurality of Jewish European cultures.

In many ways Germany is one of the most important nations that has ever existed. It is still important and in the future may become even more so. The Edomites settled in Germany and have influenced its national identity and historical attitude. Edom was the twin brother of Jacob (Israel).The two entities are adversaries to each other. In the End Times it was prophesied that there would be a final war between Edom (Esau) and Joseph the leading Israelite Tribe. Descendants of Edom were to be found in many countries and at some stage were predominant in Germany. Meanwhile, Israel became the Jews of Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes. Joseph is dominant in the English-speaking nations. This work proves the Israelite origin of certain western peoples. It also shows the Edomite influences in Germany and other countries. At an early stage Esau (Edom) merged with the Hurrian inhabitants of Seir who are ascribed "Indo-European" attributes. The Edomites were to be found in several areas throughout the Middle East including Tyre of the Phoenicians and the region of Assyria. Later, different groups of Edomites went all over the world. Many came to Rome and to what is now Germany. These same movements of population also brought the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel to the west. Edomites had assisted the Assyrians in exploiting the labor of Israelite captives and transporting them to areas of Western Europe. Like the Israelites, Edomites were also to be found in areas of Celtic civilization. The Celtic god Esus derives from the Phoenician god Isus whose cult derived from worship of Esau. Esus evolved into the Germanic idol known as Wotan who many considered to personify Germany. Hitler was later equated with Wotan. An additional name in Germans for Wotan was "Koz" which was also the name of the national god of the Idumeans (of Edom) in the Middle East. It had been prophesied that Esau would live by his sword and enjoy material benefits from his land. This has been fulfilled by Germany. The Germans display many of the known characteristics of Edom even though most Germans are not necessarily descended from Esau. It is enough that an influential minority come from Esau and that they have helped determine the German national Identity. In the past there were many Israelites in Germany but this Hebrew element mostly moved out to North America and other areas.