Bible Studies In The Word of God

The Edom Region of The TransJordan

 

Stretching 110 miles from the Zered canyon to the Gulf of Aqaba, Edom is the largest region of Transjordan. The geography of Edom is complex, with limestone plateaus in the north giving way to a rugged and awesome sandstone topography in the south. Most of Edom is true desert. Here the open expanse of the vast Arabian Peninsula encroaches closely onto the settled lands of Palestine.

 

The word Edom is derived from a Hebrew word that means "red," probably reflecting the reddish color of the sandstone cliffs in the region that front the rift valley. Edom is an alternate name for Esau, the brother of Jacob (Israel) and ancestor of the Edomites (Gen. 25:30; 36:19). The name Esau is related to Seir, yet another name for Edom (Gen. 14:6; 36:19-20; Deut. 1:2; Josh. 24:4). Both Esau and Seir apparently come from a Hebrew word meaning "hairy." It has been suggested that the trees that lined the scarp of Edom in antiquity looked "hairy" when viewed from the rift valley below, and hence the name, but this is unlikely.

 

The narrow gulf of the Red Sea that touches the southern point of Palestine is called the Gulf of Eilat today by Israelis and the Gulf of Aqaba by Jordanians. The former name is more appropriate when discussing the Negev, while the latter is best used in the context of Edom (cp. 1 Kings 9:26).