Idumaea
LocationsGeographical Setting
Idumaea was the Hellenistic and Roman name for the territory of ancient Edom, situated south of Judea.
What is the meaning of Idumaea in the Bible?
Idumaea designates the region of Edom, located south of the Dead Sea and extending into the Negev desert, which was inhabited by the descendants of the Edomites and subsequently incorporated into the Judean state under the Hasmonean dynasty before becoming a Roman province.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying Idumaea as the southern neighbor of Judea clarifies the geopolitical context of the New Testament, particularly regarding the Herodian dynasty's Edomite origins and the regional dynamics surrounding the Jewish-Roman wars.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.