Bible Dictionary
CHILDREN OF THE EAST
The children of the East was a general designation for peoples living east of Palestine, including groups associated with Mesopotamia, Kedar, and the land of Uz. They were noted in Scripture for their wisdom and connections with Israel.
Definition
The children of the East was a general designation for peoples living east of Palestine. It could include inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Kedar, and the region associated with Job’s land of Uz.
Biblical Usage
Jacob came to the land of the children of the East, identified with Haran. Kedar’s inhabitants were so called, and Job was described as the greatest of them. Their wisdom is contrasted with Solomon’s, and wise men from the East came seeking Jesus.
Historical Background
The Hebrews viewed their own land as central and described other regions by their relation to it. Many eastern inhabitants were regarded as descendants of Abraham and therefore related to Israel.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>est (bene qedhem): A term which in a general way designated the inhabitants of the country East of Palestine The Hebrews thought of their own country as occupying the central place, and of the other parts of the world in relation to this. They spoke of the "queen of the south" (Mt 12:42), and of the "king of the south" (Da 11:5,6). They spoke of people coming from "the east and the west" and sitting down with the patriarchs (Mt 8:11).</p><p>The term "children of the east" seems to have been applied to the inhabitants of any part of the country East of Palestine It is stated that Jacob, when he fled from Esau, "came to the land of the children of the east" (Ge 29:1), and the place to which he came was Haran in Mesopotamia. In Jer 49:28 the inhabitants of Kedar are called "the children of the east," and in later Jewish literature, Kedar is identified with the Arabs (see KEDAR). Job was designated as "the greatest of all the children of the east" (Job 1:3), and the land of Uz was mentioned as his home (Job 1:1). While it is impossible absolutely to locate the land of Uz, it must have been on the edge of the desert which was East of Palestine. The children of the east seem to have been famous for their wisdom. It is said that "Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east" (1Ki 4:30), and "Wise-men from the east" came to Jerusalem seeking the one that was born king of the Jews (Mt 2:1).</p><p>Many of the inhabitants of the east country were regarded as descending from Abraham (see Ge 25:6), and hence, they were related to Israel.</p><p>A. W. Fortune</p>