The Edomites

Abstract

The geographically southernmost entity among Israel’s neighbors, the Edomites, appear in the Hebrew Bible in a fascinatingly close role to Israel—literally as Israel’s twin brother (Gen 25–26). Most like its assessment of the Arameans, the biblical tradition acknowledges the familial bonds between Israel and Edom but at the same time blames Edom for various political infractions and disloyalty. The names of some Edomite kings are known from Assyrian administrative texts in the eighth century BCE, a period of Assyrian domination generally over the region. Not many Edomite written materials remain, and no royal inscriptions. However, a small number of native inscriptions attest to the prominence of the deity Qos as the primary Edomite deity, and excavations at key sites such as Qitmit and En Hatzeva within the last few decades have revealed artifacts that help us begin to understand Edomite religion and iconography.