Amos 1:11-12

Edom. The home of the Edomites was S. of the Dead Sea, immediately on the E. of the deep depression, which extends from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akabah, in ancient times the S. part of the -Arábah (comp. on Amos 6:14), now the valley of the -Arăbah. The capital of Edom was Sela (Petra), remarkably situated in a hollow, shut in by mountain-cliffs and accessible only through two narrow defiles (cf. Robinson, B.R[131] ii. 128 ff.; Sinai and Palestine, p. 87 ff.; Hull, Mount Seir, p. 85 ff.; Pusey, Minor Prophets, on Obadiah, p. 235). Though now desolate, and inhabited only by wandering Bedawin, Edom was in ancient times fertile and prosperous; and its people were quite one of the more considerable and powerful of Israel's neighbours. Much jealousy and rivalry, breaking out at times into open hostilities, prevailed between the two nations: this is prefigured in the story of their ancestors, both at the time of their birth (Genesis 25:22 f.), and subsequently (ib.Genesis 27:41, cf. Genesis 32:7 ff.), and is often alluded to in the Old Testament, especially in its later parts. David subdued Edom, ruling it by means of Jewish -deputies," or governors (2 Samuel 8:13 f.; 1 Kings 11:15 f.; cf. 1 Kings 22:47); and this state of dependence appears to have continued until, some two centuries afterwards, under Jehoram (849 842 b.c.), it successfully revolted (2 Kings 8:20-22). Amaziah (801 792) gained a victory (2 Kings 14:7), which so weakened Edom that his successor, Uzziah (ib.2 Kings 14:22), was able to plant Jewish colonists in Elath, on the Red Sea; but it was never again permanently subject to Judah.

[131] .R.… Edw. Robinson, Biblical Researches in Palestine(ed. 2, 1856).