The Lord did not at this time allow the nation of Judah to perish, nor did He allow the dynasty of David to come to an end, yet because of its apostasy, Judah was permitted to suffer a measure of affliction. The Edomites, who had been subject to Judah for a century and a half, made an endeavor during Jehoram’s reign to secure their independence. When God established Israel in Palestine He planned that eventually Jerusalem should become the capital of the entire earth, which would be one nation and people, a united, happy, and peaceful brotherhood, one in the worship of the God of heaven (see COL 290; DA 577). But instead of letting the light of truth shine forth to others, they absorbed the darkness of the nations that surrounded them.

 They evidently overthrew the government of the previous king, who held his crown from Judah, and chose for themselves a new and independent sovereign who terminated the payment of tribute to Judah. It was David who had made Edom tributary to himself (2 Sam. 8:14). At the time of Solomon, Edom must have continued in a state of vassalage, for Solomon had a navy at Ezion-geber on the southern borders of Edom (1 Kings 9:26), and this situation continued throughout the reign of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:47, 48).