Edomite in 12 Easy Lessons

We have very meager evidence for reconstructing the Edomite language. In the past scholars have relied principally on seals, which bear personal names and occasionally titles. But the situation is beginning to improve. Edomite ostraca like the one found at H|orvat ‘Uza are coming to light.

Edomite belongs to a group of languages known as Northwest Semitic. These languages, indigenous to ancient Syria and Canaan, are usually divided into two subgroups: Aramaic dialects, which were apparently native to central Syria, and Canaanite languages, including Hebrew, Ugaritic, Phoenician (the language of ancient Lebanon), and Ammonite, Moabite and Edomite (the three principal languages of ancient Transjordan).