EDOMITES
Name given to the descendants of Edom (Gen. 36:1-19) and to all those who joined them.
As soon as Jacob returned from Mesopotamia, Esau occupied the land of Edom (Gen. 32:3; Deut. 2:4, 5).
At first they were governed by tribal chiefs, but when the Hebrew monarchy emerged, they were governed by kings (Gen. 36:31-39). Saul fought against the Edomites, and David placed garrisons in Edom after conquering the country (1 Chron. 18:13).
The Edomites helped Israel and Judah in their fight against the king of Moab, but under the reign of Jeroboam’s son they rebelled. Joram could not dominate them (2 Kings 8:20-22); Amaziah succeeded in the Valley of Salt and took Shelah, the capital (2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chron. 25:11, 12).
John Hyrcanus forced the Edomites to be circumcised and join the Jewish people.
The Herodians were Edomites and many of the Zealots who took part in the defense of Jerusalem. After this event, history says very little about them.