Edom played a notorious role in the destruction of Jerusalem and the sequential misery of the people of the land. The treacherous and bitter relationship between Edom and Israel can be traced a long time back. There was rivalry between their ancestors, Esau and Jacob (see Genesis 25:23; Genesis 36:1; Jeremiah 49:7–22; Ezekiel 25:12–14; Ezekiel 35:1–15; Amos 9:12; Obadiah 1:10–16). The land Edom, inhabited by the Edomites, was situated southeast of Judah (in this passage it is called Uz
(see Genesis 10:23; Job 1:1; Jeremiah 25:20). The recent history was that Edom refused to help Judah against the Babylonians. Instead, they assisted the Babylonians, at least on a diplomatic level (see Psalm 137:7; Ezekiel 25:12–14; Ezekiel 35:15; Joel 3:19–21; Obadiah 1:10–14). For this they were rewarded with some of the rural areas of Judah.1 In addition to Edom’s lack of assistance to Jerusalem, they also rejoiced at Jerusalem’s fall and took advantage of their misery.
21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.