The Edomites, also known in later sources as Idumeans, were an ancient Semitic people who lived in the region south of Judea, historically associated with the descendants of Esau in biblical tradition. In the Hellenistic period, particularly during the late 2nd century BC, the political landscape of the region changed significantly under the Hasmonean dynasty.
During the reign of John Hyrcanus (r. approximately 134–104 BC), the Hasmonean state expanded its territory and incorporated Idumea. Ancient historical accounts, including those of Josephus, report that the Idumeans were required to adopt Jewish customs and undergo circumcision as part of their integration into the Hasmonean kingdom.
This process is often described by historians as forced conversion or enforced Judaization, although interpretations vary regarding the extent of coercion versus political assimilation. The integration led to the gradual absorption of Idumeans into the Jewish population of the region over time.
Some individuals of Idumean origin later became prominent in Jewish and Judean society during the late Second Temple period. One notable example often cited in historical sources is the family of Herod the Great, whose lineage is described as Idumean through paternal ancestry.
The Hasmonean period was characterized by both religious and political expansion, and the incorporation of Idumea reflects broader patterns of state formation and identity consolidation in the region during the Hellenistic era.
Over time, the distinct identity of the Edomites/Idumeans diminished as they were assimilated into the broader population of Judea, particularly under Roman rule following the end of Hasmonean independence.
This historical episode is studied in the context of ancient state expansion, religious identity, and cultural assimilation in the eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic period.
