דברי הימים א, פרק א׳, פסוק נ״א

The political structure of Edom eventually underwent a major transformation, shifting away from a centralized monarchy. Following the death of King Hadad, the era of kingship in the region came to an end. Instead of crowning a new monarch to rule over the entire nation, the people transitioned to a system of self-rule driven entirely by local governance [מצודת דוד].

Under this new decentralized structure, the nation was guided by regional leaders whose titles carried significant power and authority [מצודת ציון]. Rather than acting as absolute monarchs, these figures functioned as civil governors or minor princes. Each leader took charge of a distinct tribe within Edom, managing the affairs of their specific local communities [ביאור שטיינזלץ].