Idumea, Idumeans

Idumea was the Greek name for the region south of Judah where many Edomites settled after Edom became weaker. The Idumeans were their descendants, and the Bible connects their family line with Esau.

The term Idumea comes from the Greek form of Edom, which means “red.” The change from Edomite to Idumean resulted from the conquests of Alexander the Great, which made Greek the common language of the area.

The name Idumea referred to the former land of the Edomites. It also referred to part of southern Judah. The descendants of Esau lived there after the Jews were taken to Babylon. This happened after Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah in 586 BC.

During the intertestamental period, the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, Idumea’s northern border was at Beth-zur. Beth-zur was a few miles north of Hebron. Idumea also included part of the Shephelah, the low hill country of Judah, extending down into the former Philistine country (1 Maccabees 4:15, 22, 61; 5:65).

The Idumeans were first known as Edomites. Later, they were known as Nabateans, and finally as Idumeans. Their ancestors came from the family line of Esau, Jacob’s older brother. Jacob cheated Esau out of both his birthright, the special rights of the firstborn son, and his blessing from his father (Genesis 27:1–45). This led to conflict between the Israelites and Esau’s descendants throughout the biblical period.

Because of this long conflict, the Edomites were glad when the Babylonians conquered Israel. After 586 BC, the Babylonians took control of the kingdom. Then the Edomites moved into the land that the Israelites had left.

About 300 BC, Arabian tribes invaded Edom and took Petra, the Edomite capital. This forced the Edomites who remained to move into the area south of Judah. This area later became part of Idumea.

The people who attacked Edom were called Nabateans. They made Sela, also called Petra, the center of their caravan trade. Caravan trade was the transport and sale of goods by groups of travelers. Their trade routes went from east to west and from north to south.

The Nabateans were desert traders. Greek ideas also influenced them. At Petra, they shaped the bowl-like valley into a great city. They cut temples, tombs, and other buildings into the colorful red sandstone.

The Nabateans also became skilled traders and farmers. Josephus, a Jewish historian, said they were not known for war. Instead, they were skilled in trade, art, and farming.

The Nabateans also built Avedat, a strong desert city in an important location. Together, Avedat and Petra gave them control of the caravan routes. The Nabateans were powerful from about 100 BC to AD 100. After that, the Romans slowly weakened them. The Romans changed the trade routes from south of the Dead Sea to the area around Damascus and Palmyra.

During the intertestamental period the Jews who returned to their land had small battles along the border with the Idumeans. Judas Maccabeus captured Hebron (1 Maccabees 5:65). John Hyrcanus forced the Idumeans to become Jews and be circumcised. Antipater, the governor of Idumea, was an Idumean. Julius Caesar made him procurator, or Roman governor, of Judea. Antipater appointed his son Herod as governor of Galilee. This helped Herod later become king of Judea. He became known as Herod the Great.

After the Romans conquered Judea in AD 70 and again in AD 135, Idumea disappeared from history. In recent years, archaeologists have begun to uncover some of the history of the Idumeans and the Nabateans, the people who conquered them.

See also Edom, Edomites; Judaism.