or ESAU, the son of Isaac and brother of Jacob. The name of Edom, which signifies red, was given him, either because he held his birthright to Jacob for a mess of red pottage, or by reason of the colour of his hair and complexion. Idumaea derives its name from Edom, and is often called in Scripture the land of Edom. See the next article.

or IDUMEA, in Ancient Geography, a district of Arabia Petraea; a great part also of the south of Judea was called Idumea, because occupied by the Idumeans, upon the Jewish captivity, quite to Hebron. But the proper Edom or Idumæa appears not to have been very extensive, from the march of the Israelites, in which they compassed it on the south eastwards, till they came to the country of the Moabites. Within this compass lies Mount Hor, where Aaron died; marching from which the Israelites fought with King Arad the Canaanite, who came down the wilderness against them (Moses). And this is the extent of the Idumæa Propria lying to the south of the Dead sea; but in Solomon's time extending to the Red sea, (1 Kings ix. 26.)

EDMUND I. and II. See (History of) England.