Idumaea
Idumaea, located in the southern region of modern Israel, has its historical roots in Edom, the territory originally inhabited by the Edomites, traditional adversaries of the Israelites. In the fourth century BC, the Nabataean Arabs displaced the Edomites from their homeland, leading to their settlement in the southernmost areas of Judah, which subsequently became known as Idumaea. The region gained prominence when John Hyrcanus I of the Hasmonaean dynasty conquered Idumaea around 129 BC, compelling its inhabitants to adopt Judaism, although their acceptance within the Jewish community remained contentious.
During the Roman era, Idumaea became significant through figures like Antipater, a local chieftain whose influence extended to Roman politics. His son, Herod the Great, ruled over Idumaea after establishing himself as king of Judaea, integrating the territory into his realm. Following Herod's death in 4 BC, Idumaea transitioned into a Roman province, becoming part of the broader province of Judaea by AD 6. Throughout its history, Idumaea witnessed migration and political upheaval, particularly during the Jewish Revolts against Roman authority, which shaped its cultural and religious dynamics. The region's narrative reflects complex interactions between various cultures and religions over centuries.
Subject Terms
Idumaea
(now in southern Israel) derived its name but not its location from Edom, whose people, the traditional enemies of the Israelites, were driven out of their homeland (Mount Seir, south of the Dead Sea and bordering on the Red Sea) by the Nabataean Arabs in the fourth century BC and settled in the southernmost regions of Judah (Judaea), henceforward known as Idumaea
About 129, the Hasmonaean ruler John Hyrcanus I occupied the country and forcibly converted its inhabitants to Judaism, ordering that they should undergo circumcision, although Jewish public opinion never wholly recognized them as co-religionists. The commercial centers of Adora (Adoraim, Dura) and Marisa (Tel Maresha, Tell Sandahanna) were removed from Jewish control by Pompey the Great, who organized them as cities (c 64). The country moved into world history, however, when its native hereditary chieftain Antipater (whose father had been the Hasmonaean governor) became the most important Jew of his time, influencing Roman decisions regarding local problems (62, 55) and, above all, winning conspicuous favor from Julius Caesar by sending troops to help him at Alexandria (48).
Then his son Herod the Great became the king of Judaea, as a client of Antony (40), and when Herod gained control of Idumaea three years later, the territory was incorporated in his state as one of its provinces. An attempt by an Idumaean noble, Costobarus, to secede and assert his independence (with the support of Cleopatra VII of Egypt) was crushed c 34, and the country remained under Herod's control until his death (4 BC): whereupon it passed first to his son Archelaus, and then to the Roman province of Judaea (AD 6).
During the first Jewish Revolt (First Roman War, 66–73), large numbers of Idumaeans evacuated their homeland (to escape Vespasian's retribution) and poured into Jerusalem, where they joined up with extremist political elements. Before the Second Revolt (132–35), the great Rabbi Akiba, unlike many other Jewish leaders, showed a policy of studied liberalism toward the Idumaean and Egyptian descendants of proselytes, because, it was believed, he foresaw the fatal effects that divisions would exercise upon the forthcoming rebellion—although, alternatively, his motives may have been wholly religious. From c 400 Idumaea was part of the Roman province of Palaestina Prima.