Descendants of Esau
Edom was another name for Esau. Genesis connects the name with the red stew Esau wanted when he came in exhausted from the field. Esau became the father of a people called Edomites, while his twin brother Jacob became the father of Israel (Genesis 25:30; Genesis 36:1).
That family link matters. The story is not simply about two unrelated ancient nations. Israel and Edom came from two brothers whose relationship had begun with rivalry, deception, anger, and, eventually, a moving reunion (Genesis 27:41; Genesis 33:4). Their descendants carried a complicated shared history.
Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
Their land was called Seir
The Edomites settled in the hill country of Seir, a rugged region south-east of the Dead Sea. Genesis says Esau made his home there, and it identifies him with Edom (Genesis 36:8). The Bible also lists Edomite chiefs and kings, showing that Edom became an organised people with its own leadership (Genesis 36:15-19; Genesis 36:31).
Their location placed them near important travel routes and directly alongside Israel's wider neighbourhood. So Edom appears repeatedly in the Old Testament, not as a distant name, but as a familiar neighbour.
Relatives, yet often enemies
When Israel travelled from Egypt towards the promised land, Moses asked Edom for permission to pass through its territory. Edom refused and came out with a strong force, so Israel turned away rather than fight (Numbers 20:14-21). It was a painful moment because Moses had appealed to the shared family history.
Still, the Lord told Israel not to despise an Edomite, calling Edom Israel's brother (Deuteronomy 23:7). That command holds together two truths we often find hard to keep together: wrongdoing should be named honestly, and people should not be stripped of their dignity or treated as beyond concern.
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.
Why the prophets spoke against Edom
Later, Edom's hostility towards Judah became especially severe when Jerusalem fell. Obadiah condemns Edom for violence against its brother Jacob, for standing by during disaster, rejoicing over Judah's suffering, and taking advantage of those fleeing (Obadiah 1:10-14). The prophet's message is clear: God sees cruelty, betrayal, and opportunism, even when they happen in the chaos of war.
Edom's story is therefore more than a map lesson. It shows how old wounds can grow into lasting bitterness between peoples. It also reminds readers that family connection alone does not guarantee faithfulness. The Bible invites us to take seriously both God's justice and his call to treat even difficult neighbours with honour.