History & Prophecy of Esau (PART 1)

EDOM History & Prophecy of Esau (PART 1)

Our story starts about 3800 yrs ago, with the birth of twin sons. Notice God speaks directly to Rebekah, a woman. He is not a chauvinist. 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel (aqeb); so he was named Jacob (yaqeb). Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. Genesis 25:21-26

= ‘Es au; Exact meaning unknown. First born. Red and hairy. We’re told that King David 'was of a ruddy countenance. ‘ David was edom, meaning red or ruddy in skin tone. Two Nations are within your womb =Ya’qub; heel grabber. Figuratively, liar, supplanter. (see Gen 27:36, Has 12:3)

The familiar story is in Gen 27. When Esau finally arrived Jacob had already stolen his father's blessing. But Esau wasn't totally out in the cold, Isaac felt bad that he had given Esau's blessing away. He felt a bit responsible, so Esau got what I call a left over blessing. The Supplanter

Esau’s Left Over Blessing 38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud. 39 His father Isaac answered him, "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above. 40 You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." Genesis 27:38-40 A grown man, the mighty hunter is crying. This is Esau’s left over blessing.

Esau goes away from the richness and the dew. The nation he fathers is called Edom. They are the descendants of Esau. Before I tell you about the land that he goes to, I think we need a little geography lesson on the next slide. At the time of the Exodus, we are told that Aaron, brother of Moses dies and is buried on Mt Hor. We don't know exactly where Mt Hor is located, but it is somewhere in southern Israel or Jordan. Mt. Hor is in Edom. Seir or Mt Seir- Mountain Range in S. Jordan, probably right on top of Sela Bible frequently refers to the 'Men of Seir'- general region of Edom- Seir is synonymous w/ Edom. There are 3 specific cities to mention. Bozrah, Sela, and Petra The last is the easiest to identify, Petra along WadiHasa is way down South. It is a beautiful well preserved city. Petra is capital of the Nabateans. They were going strong during the Greco Roman period. Unfortunately, it is not Edomite, it about 1000yrs too late, and really has nothing to do with our study. However, we're going to look at Petra anyway. Some people erroneously, I believe, think it is involved in the prophecy that we will be studying. Less easy to identify, and not nearly as beautiful or romantic as Petra are Bozrah and Sela. These are however the capital cities of EDOM.

EDOM MAP *^ MT. SEIR,SELA *BOZRAH ^ MT. HOR? ^ MT. HOR? ARAVAH * PETRA

This large valley is almost entirely below sea level. It is very dry and hot. Valley of Aravah is part of Great Rift Valley, it stretches from the Dead Sea, near Masada to Red Sea, near the modern resort town of Eliat. Aravah

Negev is the Hebrew word for dry. It also means the cardinal direction south. It refers to the entire region of Israel south of Beersheba. Negev from Aravah

was a red broth. The land that he settles in is also very red, Look at these mountains. Rich iron ore deposits would influence the economy of these people for the next 1000yrs. Next week in our prophecy lesson, you'll see the Red of Edom may even stand for blood, because in the EndTime a torrent of blood will be spilled in these hills. Aravah to Edom Highlands. Looking to East from the floor of the valley, you see the big mountains of Jordan. This is the highlands of Edom( 5-6000' asl), remember the valley is about 1000' BELOW SL, so the differential is about 7000ft. The word EDOM in Hebrew means RED. We are told that Esau himself was red/ruddy, the lintel soup he craved so much in Genesis 25:30

Genesis 25 tells us that Easu was a skillful hunter, very accurate with a bow. But after his father's partial blessing, he moved to the desert away from the richness and the dew, and I assume away from the bounty of antelope. Read Deut 2:12 below. The Horites lived around Mt. Hor. They were a primitive early Cannanite people displaced by Edom that lived around Mt. Hor, where Aaron died. Deut 2:12 12 Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land the LORD gave them as their possession Besides Esau do you know any famous Edomites?

WHO WAS CALEB, son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite? Numb 13:6, Numb 32:12, Jos 14:5 ---Caleb had1 of only 2 positive spy reports (out of 12 reports total) given to Moses. Caleb and Joshua were the only men of that generation to cross the Jordan river and possess the promised Land. The spies gathered a cluster of grapes so large that it took two men to carry it. (Numbers 13:23) WHO WAS CALEB?

Kenezite= descendant of Kenaz, Duke of Edom, linage of Esau. Genesis 36:15 " These [were] dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn [son] of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz," Deut 23:7-8 " Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he [is] thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land. The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation." Notice Caleb, himself, is never called a Kenezite. Jos 15:13 Caleb is given a part among the children of Judah. Num 13:6 Caleb is from tribe of Judah His father Jephunneh is a Kenezite (Num 32:12, Jos 14:16, Jos 14:14) Caleb an Edomite

I believe that Caleb's ancestor was a grandson of Esau, named Kenaz. Somehow this guy landed in captivity in Egypt, maybe captured as a slave, just like Joseph. I figure he connected with his cousins the children of Jacob. And eventually Caleb would be adopted into the House of Judah. Caleb is himself never referred to as a Kenezite. His father was a foreigner, a Kenezite. The rule in Deut is that after 3 generations, an Edomite that converts to Judaism is allowed full citizenship. An adopted son is just like a natural son. So Caleb is adopted into the house of Judah, he is an Israelite. If you want further documentation and scriptural references on this or anything I say, see me I'll be happy to oblige. HEBRON- The reason I want to make this point about Caleb is very interestingly, Caleb is granted Hebron as his inheritance by Joshua. Hebron is, of course, the site of the cave of Machpelah. The burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I find it glorious and refreshing that an adopted foreigner would be entrusted with the tomb of the Patriarchs. I too am an adopted foreigner into the family of God, I hope that He will someday entrust me with something so important.

---Caleb receives Hebron as his inheritance (Joshua 14:10) Tomb of Patriarchs in Hebron

Most scholars agree Job was an Edomite. This has been a Jewish tradition for 1000’s of years. In the opening words of the book of Job- he lived in the land of Uz. Job 1:1 “ In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. “ Lamentations tells us quite clearly that Uz is a poetical name for Edom. Lam 4:21 “Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.” See also Jeremiah 25:20 WHO WAS JOB? There is a long tradition of great wisdom in Edom. Jer 49:7 Concerning Edom: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?” Teman was a grandon of Esau. Jeremiah is referring here to their foolish decision to help Babylon. This tradition of great wisdom in the desert is carried into Psalms, Lamentations and Josephus. I think the wisdom of the Edomite nation may have started with Job himself.

One of Job's tormentors---I mean friends-- is clearly of Edomite descent. Eliphaz the Temanite, Teman was a grandson of Esau. WHO WAS JOB? Job's friends: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Na’amathite. Gen 36:4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau Gen 36:11 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz. Gen 25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

This is speculative, I can't prove it. But maybe Job is Jobab, the 2nd king of Edom. Then that would mean that his story happens during the 400 yrs that Israel is locked up in slavery in Egypt. An interesting aside note: the kings of Edom are not patrilineal, not a father-son continuum. Apparently these kings must have been elected somehow. See also 1 Chronicles 1. Does Job= Jobab? Gen 36:31 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned : 32 Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah. 33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king. 34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.

Here is another interesting aside: Gen. 36 gives the generations of Esau, his sons and grandsons. KJV calls each of them Dukes of Edom, NIV calls them Chiefs of their nation. The Hebrew word Aluf, translated Duke by KJV and Chief by NIV, has been reborn in the 20th century. The Israeli military, the IDF, doesn’t have ‘generals’, they call their head military captain Aluf. = Aluf, Allufim (pl) = Duke (KJV), Chief (NIV) Gen 36:15-19 (NIV) These were the chiefs among Esau's descendants: The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam and Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in Edom; they were grandsons of Adah. The sons of Esau's son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath. The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah:Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah. These were the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these were their chiefs.

Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory." But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword." The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else." Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them. By the time of the Exodus, Edom is quite well established. Numbers 20:14-21

The King’s Highway is a well used caravan trade route. Greatly improved the by the Romans, and was continually used up until fairly modern times. It runs straight up the Aravah Valley, along the Jordanian side.

The dotted line is the King’s Hwy. It goes right up the gut, straight to the Dead Sea. But Edom said ‘Nooo’, so Israel had to go South, the WRONG way, then cut across the mountains, all the way around the backside of Edom. Don't you know the Israelites were hacked. EDOM MAP KADESH BARNEA *^SELA, MT. SEIR *BOZRAH ^ MT. HOR? ARAVAH

A probable Israelite comment: “We SHOULD be going right up the flat valley path on a paved road. But no-oo, Look at those stinking mountains, where Moses, that jerk, is taking us.” Edom Highlands

When they are climbing over these mountains, can't you hear all the complaining? Edom Highlands

These mountains are high enough to get snow in the winter. The Israelites are wearing sandals and their light fabric clothes from hot, semi-tropical Egypt. SNOW IN EDOM

Bozrah Remember Jobab, the 2nd king of Edom ruled from Bozrah. This is near the southern end of the dead sea in the Valley of Salt. Bozrah was the first capital of Edom and was one of the most important cities. Unfortunately, there isn't much archaeologically of interest left. I have very little to show you. On top of this flattop hill site is the modern Jordanian village of Beisurra.

The name Bozrah, means 'sheepfold'- like a pen where you keep the flock safe at night away from the lions and wolves. Remember that because later, Bozrah is going to come back in a big way. Sheep pen = Bozrah

If you listen to the news, you may have heard about the 3rd largest city in Iraq, BASRA. It is the same name, but a different place. In Hebrew/Edomite/ and even Arabic the word Bozrah means “sheepfold.” Like a pen to keep the sheep safe at night from lions or thieves. BOZRAH/ BASRA BASRA of IRAQ BOZRAH of EDOM

EDOM MAP Bozrah of Edom is just south of Sela. Sela was the second capital of Edom. Sela is a Hebrew/Edomite word for "the Rock.“ It is probably built upon Mt Seir. KADESH BARNEA *^SELA, MT. SEIR *BOZRAH ^ MT. HOR? ARAVAH * PETRA

Sela was located on top of the small mountain in the center of this picture. The mountain has very steep cliffs on all sides, and is separated from the rear mountain by a tremendous gorge with sheer rock sides. Up there, it is a breath taking view. Sela later eclipsed Bozrah and became the main capital of Edom. Obadiah speaks poetically of the mountainous geography. “This is what the Sovereign LORD says about Edom--the pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?' ‘Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ declares the LORD. “ Obadiah 1:3-4

The entrance to Sela is by a giant staircase. See the man standing here in black pants. This is the bottom of the massive stairway that leads up to the top of Sela. While much of the stairs are in ruins, it is possible to scramble up to the top. There are dams/reservoirs built into the wall of these stairs. Probably a defense system. They stored massive quantities of sand or gravel behind these dams, that could be released to literally sweep an attacking army off their feet and bury them alive. Man in black pants for scale

There is a famous Assyrian inscription located on the top of this mountain. This cliff in its day would have been plastered smooth, with statues that hung over the edge. Sela’s Clifftop

Highplace 1 There are two very well preserved 'high places’ on Sela. A highplace is an ancient platform for altars where sacrifices were made to the gods.

The second highplace is in the north west corner of town , and it commands a spectacular view of the nearby mountains. Can you picture an Edomite priest with his arms up in the air, sacrificing a goat, to his pagan idol? Highplace 2

We mentioned that iron ore makes these mountains red. Copper smelting There is also a lot of copper in these mountains. It was an extremely valuable resource in antiquity.

Khirbat en-Nahas This town had dozens of copper smelt pits and mining operations from a very early period, about the time of the Exodus. This could very well be one of the industrial strategic cities that the king of Edom did not want the Israelites getting close too. Copper production is big money, and he certainly didn't want a bunch of ex-slaves from Egypt trying to cash in on his deal.

Our history picks back up in the 11th Century BC. After Saul became king, he fought the Edomites, and wherever he turned he inflicted punishment on them. Saul – 1050-1010 BC Saul Fights and defeats Edom 1 Samuel 14:47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.

But it wasn't until David that Edom was fully conquered, and as Isaac had prophesied the older would serve the younger. David 1010- 970 BC David Subdues Edom 2 Samuel 8:13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Psalm of Victory Psalm 60: 6-8 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph." That idiom may not make much sense to us today. But in Biblical times to hand your sandal to another man is the seal of a binding contract. See Ruth 4:7. So to toss your sandal over Edom is to own it.

Solomon had wives from Edom, his navy is based from the red sea port of Ezion Geber (modern Eliat), which is in Edom. 1 Kings 11:1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. Solomon –970 -930 BC 1 Kings 9:26-28 King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. During the Solomnic period the copper mining at Kirbet en-Nahas and nearby site of Timna reach their peak of productivity spawning the legends of King Solomon’s Mines. Solomon’s Pillars at Timna National Park in Negev

Solomon –970 -930 BC Solomon still controls Edom as his father David had, but there start to be problems. These political tensions would continue for the next 100 years. 1 Kings 11:14 Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.

After 5 generations down from Solomon, in the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled and King Jehoram was lucky to escape with his own life. Freedom under Jehoram –850BC 2 Kings 8: 20-22 In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. So Jehoram went to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night; his army, however, fled back home. To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. REMEMBER ISAAC’S LEFTOVER BLESSING FOR ESAU? Genesis 27: 40 “You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck."

Drop down another 50 yrs. (pun intended) King Amaziah tries to recapture Edom. Amaziah 796- 771 BC 2 Chron 25: 11 Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. 12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces. Dropping enemy POWs from a cliff, very well might have been that big cliff that we looked at a few minutes ago right in Sela. He captured the city. These people were decimated right at the high place of their own gods in their own city. The gods could not protect them, because they are made of wood and stone.

The next big appearance of Edom in Bible history is at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's sack of Jerusalem. Babylonians totally destroyed the holy city of Jerusalem and raze the temple of Yahweh. Destruction of Jerusalem 586 BC

The Temple is leveled. Everything is burned or torn apart. The Edomites help the Babylonians. Easu and Jacob were brothers, but the Edomites show no compassion for their cousins. Because of their actions they incur the wrath of God and curse of Obadiah.

11 On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12 You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. 13 You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor look down on them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. 14 You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble. 15 "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head. Obadiah 1:11-15

6 But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged! 7 All your allies will force you to the border; your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it. 8 "In that day," declares the LORD, "will I not destroy the wise men of Edom, men of understanding in the mountains of Esau? Obadiah 1:6-8 Note the legendary wisdom of the Edomites. Obadiah's prophecy came to pass and Nebuchadnezzar soon destroyed Edom too.

Remember, Edom is Hebrew for RED. In this map red is the extent of the Edomite Kingdom. It was destroyed about 550BC, 35 yrs after the destruction of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar hauled them into exile as well. The vacuum of a vacant land was soon filed by nomadic Arabs, who moved in to live in the empty cities. They became the Nabatean empire. Green color of this map. Nabateans were the founders of Petra. There was also a remnant of Edomites that remained in the land. They became Idumeans, the ruddy brown color on this map. IDUMEA is a Greek word, it came during the Roman period. Can you see the root word Edom in that spelling? During the Greek Hellenistic period they were forced to convert to Judaism by John Hyrcannus, Hasmonean King of the Jews about 120BC.

The most famous Idumean is HEROD the great, ruler of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth. He wasn't Jewish at all, he was Idumean. By Herod's time, the Idumeans were fully integrated, I'm sure Herod was permitted to enter the Temple as a 3rd Generation adoptee. “You shall not abhor an Edomite.” Deut 23:7 Herod the Great Stone bust of Herod, Caesarea

Great or Wicked? We call him Herod the Great according to his Greco-Roman title. After all, he built cities. He greatly enlarged and remodeled the Temple compound. He created jobs, and was a great patron of the arts. He was personal friends with Caesar. His resume and accomplishments are impressive. However, to this very day, Jews call him Herod the Wicked.

History & Prophecy of Esau (PART 1)