In Genesis 36, we find a narration of the genealogy of Esau. The Edomite people descended from Esau, the son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob.
Interestingly, the name Edom means “red,” which is easily linked with Esau, who sold his birthright for red stew and thereby earned the name Edom (Genesis 25:30). In spite of the connection with Esau, some believe that the kingdom of Edom was associated with red before Esau took control of it because of the red cliffs located in its area.
Abraham was determined that Isaac not take a wife from among the daughters of Canaan (Genesis 24:37). Esau’s marriage to Canaanite women caused much grief to Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34-35).
Esau’s painful cry to Isaac Have you only one blessing, my father? (Genesis 27:38) proved unfounded. God blessed Esau because he was a descendant of Abraham, and God blessed him in the only way he really cared about – materially.
Despite God having promised to multiply Jacob and to enrich him, Esau is the one who increases and is enriched first. The fulfillment of God’s promise to Jacob began to appear later, but the effect of the blessing remained longer, and has its complete accomplishment in spiritual Israel. God promised Jacob that kings should come out of his loins (Gen. 35: 11), yet Esau’s blood becomes royal long before any of Jacob’s did. However, not much is mentioned about Esau’s lineage after the third and fourth generation.
Esau has moved his family, his servants, and all that he owns away from Jacob and outside of the land of promise (Gen. 36:8). The two brothers were once so opposed that Jacob fled to avoid being murdered (Gen. 27:42). Later, they seem to have reconciled (Gen. 33:1–4). The reason for this separation is simply population. Between them, Jacob and Esau owned too much livestock for the land to support both tribes living in proximity. This echoes the reason given for Abraham and Lot parting ways earlier in Genesis (Gen. 13:8–13).
Seir is already inhabited by the Horites (Gen. 14:6), whom Esau’s tribes will overcome (Deut. 2:12). Mt. Seir was land to the south and east of the Dead Sea, and became known as the land of Edom.
The descendants of Esau will become known as the nation of Edom (Gen. 25:30; 36:1). Jacob’s sons will father the tribes of Israel (Gen. 35:10). The Old Testament records many incidents of strife between these nations, as they grow to become vehement enemies (Nbrs. 20:14–21; 1 Sam. 14:47; 2 Kings 8:20; Obadiah 1:8–11).
Esau was the father of Edom. Edom and the Edomites are mentioned some 130 times in the Bible. They were an important group of neighbors to Israel.
When the Israelites came through the wilderness to the Promised Land in the time of Moses, the Edomites refused them passage through their land (Numbers 20:21). This was a source of great discouragement for the nation (Numbers 21:4).
Even so, God commanded special regard for the Edomites among Israel: You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother (Deut. 23:7).
Both Saul and David fought against the Edomites, with David conquering them and forcing them into labor (1 Samuel 14:47–48; 2 Samuel 8:13–14). During the reign of Jehoram (Joram), Edom rebelled against Judah and set up their own independent king (2 Kings 8:20–22). The Edomites continued to be a problem for the Israelites and even raided Judah after it fell to the Babylonians (Ezekiel 25:12–14). Because of Edom’s sin in raiding Judah and taking delight in Israel’s fall during the Babylonian Captivity, the Lord pronounced judgment on Edom (Jeremiah 49:7–22). God declared that Edom would be a wasteland, occupied only by wild animals (Malachi 1:2–5).
In the book of Obadiah we are told that the Edomites were proud, violent, and apathetic to the destruction of Israel. Just as God said in Obadiah, the region has been mostly unoccupied and brought to nothing (the entire book of Obadiah records an extended prophecy against Edom).
In addition, several of the prophets spoke about and against Edom, including Jeremiah (Jer. 49:17-18) and Ezekiel (Eze. 25:12-14).
Notable among this list is Amalek. From him came the Amalekites, notable enemies of Israel (Ex. 17:8-16; Deut. 25:17-19; 1 Sam. 15:1-8). In addition, the names of the descendants of Esau don’t reflect a godly heart.
· Dishon means gazelle.
· Alvan means wicked.
· Ithran means advantage.
· Aran means mountain goat.
· Baal-Hanan – his name embraced the false god Baal.
When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, at that point, the descendants of Esau disappeared from human history, just as God had said.