Psalm 83, the Ever-lasting Hatred and the Edomites 519-1 - 6

The Edomites’ hatred of Israel goes back to the time of Abraham. Abraham’s covenant with God passed to Isaac. Rebecca, the wife of Isaac, was told by God that she had two nations warring in her womb. These were Jacob, later renamed Israel by God, and Esau. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of porridge and later Rebecca and Jacob deceived Isaac and to giving Jacob his blessing. There has been an obsessive hatred of the Jews by the descendants of Ishmael and Esau.

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau and often battled the Jewish nation and often allied themselves with whoever was fighting Israel, The Book of Obadiah is a one chapter book that really shows the anger of God. Jeremiah 49 predicted utter destruction of Edom as did the Book of Obadiah. Amos 1 also told of their destruction.

During the Maccabean wars, the Edomites were conquered by the Jews and forced to convert to Judaism. Herod the Great was appoint King by Rome thinking he was a Jew, however, he was an Edomite; “say they are Jews, and are not.”

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Revelation 3:9, “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” A future defeat of the Edomites?

Psalm 83 and the “Inner Ring of countries” in close proximity to Israel.

Psalm 83:4, “4, They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5, For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.”

Asaph, the author of Psalm 83, refers to the Edomites several times including verse 6, “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes.” Tabernacles of Edom? Tents of Edom, today’s Palestinian refugees, Gaza? The homeland of Edom is modern-day Southern Jordan so the West Bank?

Psalm 83 tells of a future battle between Israel and her inner ring neighbors. The defeat of her neighbors will be so complete that Israel will be living in un-walled villages, a prerequisite to the Battle of Gog and Magog.