Genesis Chapter Thirty-Six

The Family History of Esau

Transitional Review

  1. In chapter 34 it ends with Jacob paralyzed by the prospect of the vengeance the Canaanites might try to reek on him for the massacre perpetrated by his sons.

  2. But God speaks again to him, reminding him of the last time (from Esau) he fled to save his life (35:1).

  3. Jacob is told to return to Bethel, where he first met God, who had promised to protect him and bring him back to his father’s house in peace.

  4. It was at Bethel that he had vowed to worship the LORD whenever he returned to Canaan.

  5. So far, Jacob had not fulfilled that vow, so he is told that notwithstanding his fears, he must "go up to Bethel" go on pilgrimage to the town that was holy/special to him.

  6. Without hesitation he complies, directing his household to prepare themselves to go on pilgrimage.

  7. Worship of God demands purity on the part of the worshipper, and the whole family is defiled in the wake of Dinah’s rape and the massacre that ensued.

  8. So he directed them to "put away the foreign gods"; we have to deduce where these idols came from.

  9. Mostly they came from the plunder of Shechem and were either in the possession of the women captives or were taken as valuable booty by the brothers.

  10. Further he directs his household to "purify themselves"; i.e., bathe, and "change their outer garments."

  11. This, says Jacob, will enable me to return to Bethel and worship the God who has protected me throughout my wanderings as He promised (34:3; 28:15, 20-22).

  12. In so doing Jacob seeks to encourage his household in the midst of testing and recent sinful behavior.

  13. Just as promptly, his household obeys, and Jacob buries the objects of veneration under a terebinth tree near Shechem.

  14. This gesture is seen as not merely purificatory, but represents moving forward despite past mistakes.

  15. Prompt obedience is promptly rewarded.

  16. As the later Israelites experienced when they entered Canaan to capture it (cf. Josh. 2:9), "a divine terror fell on the surrounding towns" (35:5), so that Jacob could proceed to Bethel unmolested, once again demonstrating that "I am really with you and will guard you wherever you go."

  17. In obedient gratitude Jacob builds an altar and once again calls the place "El of Bethel."

  18. This has elements of the story of Abraham who journeyed to Mt. Moriah to offer sacrifice and he named the place "The LORD will provide" (22:14).

  19. Similarly, Jacob made it back to Bethel at great risk and so survived and subsequently received a powerful reaffirmation of the promises (35:9-12)—a revelation that was to sustain him to his dying day (48:3-4).

  20. Once again he was reminded of his new name, Israel, for yet again he had struggled with God and had overcome (32:28).

  21. He was reassured that he would father a multitude of descendants, some of whom would be kings, and that the land would be theirs forever.

  22. But as ever in the Pentateuch, the fulfillment of these promises is always partial.

  23. Sorrow soon follows joy.

  24. Rachel had prayed, "May the LORD add another son to me" (30:24).

  25. But when at last her prayer is answered, she dies giving birth, naming him "Son of sorrow."

  26. Jacob optimistically calls him "Benjamin," "Son of the right," "Son of good fortune."

  27. But as the Joseph story will reveal, Rachel’s name for Benjamin proves more apt than Jacob hoped.

  28. More difficulty followed for Jacob when his oldest son in complete contempt for his father lies with his father’s concubine, Bilhah.

  29. The sons of Leah had protested vehemently over the rape of their sister "being a disgrace in Israel"; now Jacob’s firstborn commits a comparatively shameful deed against Israel himself.

  30. Yet, as will be demonstrated later, the sons of Jacob had deceived their father in the matter of the loss of Joseph sometime just before the Dinah incident.

  31. Joseph was presumed dead by Jacob and Rachel.

  32. Rachel’s naming of her 2nd son at the point of death is pregnant with meaning as per the name "Son of my sorrows."

  33. In her mind she had lost her firstborn, and now would never see her youngest son.

  34. Relations between the father and his sons continue to deteriorate.

  35. To add misery to insult Reuben sleeps with the Rachel’s maid Bilhah.

  36. The comment "Jacob heard about it" leaves the reader in suspense wondering when the storm will break.

  37. The listing of Jacob’s sons is not chronological but by maternal descent, illustrating the divisions within the family that will prove to be so important to the story of Joseph.

  38. Yet the list of sons (35:22-26) is a harbinger that the promise of a multitude of descendants is being fulfilled.

  39. One day there will be a nation; and one day there will be kings.

  40. Even the burial of Isaac in the ancestral burial plot on the real estate purchased by Abraham at Mamre in Kiryat-Arba, a place where the promises had been most fully ratified and revealed, was a pledge of Israel’s ultimate possession of the land during the reign of Messiah.

  41. The only aspect of the promise fully fulfilled to Jacob was the promises of safe passage after all the vicissitudes of his journey to Paddan-Aram and back, arriving safely at Shechem.

  42. But the final stage from Shechem to Bethel was risky, but he makes it, for divine terror falls on the towns and villages of Canaan.

  43. But the long-term hopes for nationhood and settlement throughout Canaan are still far from realized.

  44. Throughout the Jacob cycle there is a tension between the present reality and the future hope.

  45. Referring to this era the writer of Hebrews says, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exile on the earth…All these, having obtained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us (Church Age believers), so that apart from us they would not be made perfect (ultimate sanctification)." (Heb. 11:13; 39-40).

  46. For believers who lived and died under the Abrahamic Covenant in the Age of Israel the realization of these promises awaits the kingdom of God on earth in both the millennial and eternal state phases of that kingdom.

    47. The Family History of Esau (36:1-37:1)

    Title (v.1)

    VERSE 1 Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom) (~Ada/ aWh wf'[e tAdl.To hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun f.p.constr. toledoth "family history" always used in the plural with a pronominal suffix + proper noun Esau + pro.3m.s. hu "that is" + proper noun Edom (red)]).

    Esau’s Marriages in Canaan (vv. 2-5)

    VERSE 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite [Horite?] (yWIxih; !A[b.ci-tB; hn"[]-tB; hm'b'ylih\a'-ta,w> yTixih; !Alyae-tB; hd'['-ta, ![;n"K. tAnB.mi wyv'n"-ta, xq;l' wf'[e [proper noun Esau + Qal perf.3m.s. laqach take + d.o. marker + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + prep min w/noun f.p.constr. bath + proper noun Canaan + d.o. marker + proper noun Adah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Elon + def.art.w/proper noun Hittite + waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Oholibamah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Anah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Zibeon + def.art.w/proper noun Hivite]);

    VERSE 3 also Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaioth (tAyb'n> tAxa] la[em'v.yI-tB; tm;f.B'-ta,w> [waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Basemath + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Ishmael + noun f.s.constr. achoth sister + proper noun Nebaioth]).

    VERSE 4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel (laeW[r>-ta, hd'l.y" tm;f.b'W zp'ylia/-ta, wf'[el. hd'[' dl,Tew: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. yalad bear + proper noun Adah + prep lamedh w/proper noun Esau + d.o. marker + proper noun Eliphaz + waw w/proper noun Basemath + Qal perf.3f.s. yaladh bear + d.o. marker + proper noun Reuel]),

    VERSE 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush and Jalam and Korah (xr;qo-ta,w> ~l'[.y:-ta,w> ÎvW[y>Ð ¿vy[yÀ-ta, hd'l.y" hm'b'ylih\a'w> [waw w/proper noun Oholibamah + Qal perf.3f.s. yaladh bear +d.o. marker + proper noun Jeush + waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Jalam + waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Korah]).

    These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan (![;n"K. #r,a,B. Al-WdL.yU rv,a] wf'[e ynEB. hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Esau + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3p. yalad + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. erets land + proper noun Canaan]).

    Esau’s Move to Seir (vv. 6-8)

    VERSE 6 Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household (AtyBe tAvp.n:-lK'-ta,w> wyt'nOB.-ta,w> wyn"B'-ta,w> wyv'n"-ta, wf'[e xQ;YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. laqach take + proper noun Esau + d.o. marker + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ben + waw w/d.o. marker + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bath + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun f.p.cnstr. nephesh; "members" + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bayith household], as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan [![;n"K. #r,a,B. vk;r' rv,a] Any"n>qi-lK taew> ATm.h,B.-lK'-ta,w> WhnEq.mi-ta,w> [waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. miqeneh livestock + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. behemah cattle; "animals" + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. qineyan wealth, property; "goods" + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3m.s. rakash collect, gather property + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + proper noun Canaan], and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob [wyxia' bqo[]y: ynEP.mi #r,a,-la, %l,YEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. halak walk; "moved" + prep el + noun both s.abs. eretz land + prep min w/noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Jacob + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ach brother]).

    VERSE 7 For their property had become too great for them to live together (wD'x.y: tb,V,mi br' ~v'Wkr> hy"h'-yKi [part ki for + Qal perf.3m.s. hayah be + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.p.suff. rekush property + adj.m.s.abs. rab great + prep min w/Qal infin.constr. yashab dwell, sit, remain + adv yachadaw together], and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock [~h,ynEq.mi ynEP.mi ~t'ao tafel' ~h,yreWgm. #r,a, hl'k.y" al{w> [waw w/neg lo + Qal perf.3f.s. yakol be able; "could not sustain" + noun both s.abs. eretz land + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. magor sojourning; "where they sojourned" or "land of their sojournings" + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. nasha carry; "sustain" + d.o. marker w/3p.suff. + prep min w/noun both p.constr. paneh face; "because of" + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. miqeneh cattle; "livestock"]).

    VERSE 8 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom (~Ada/ aWh wf'[e ry[ife rh;B. wf'[e bv,YEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yashab sit, dwell, reside + proper noun Esau + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. har hill-country + proper noun Seir (hair) + proper noun Esau + pro.3m.s. hu he + proper noun Edom (red)]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-8

  47. The title for this chapter is found in the opening verse: "This is the family history of Esau, that is Edom."

  48. Each major section of Genesis has this type of heading (2:4; 11:27; 25:12,19; 37:2).

  49. The repetition of this heading in v. 9 requires explanation.

  50. The next major heading comes in 37:2, which likely makes 37:1, "Jacob settled in the land …of Canaan, the conclusion of this chapter (e.g., 37:1).

  51. 37:1 echoes 36:8, "So Esau settled in the mountain of Seir."

  52. Within the scheme of Genesis "a family history of Esau" is expected at this point.

  53. "A family history of Ishmael," Abraham’s older but non-covenant son (25:12-18) is followed by a much longer "family history of Isaac," the covenant and younger son (25:19-35:29).

  54. So here a fairly brief history of Esau, the non-covenant and elder twin, precedes the "family history of Jacob," the elect younger twin (37:2-50:26).

  55. In vv. 2-5 we have the genealogy of Esau’s three wives and his five sons born to him while he still resided in Canaan.

  56. Two of these women were of Canaanite extraction (Adah and Oholibamah) and one was the daughter of Ishmael (Basemath, cf. v.3); yet Hittite, Hivite and Ishmaelite is subsumed under the rubric of "Canaanite" (v.2).

  57. These three women are: Adah ("Oak"), Oholibamah ("Tent of High Place") and Basemath ("Sweet Smell").

  58. Esau was forty years of age when he married two women not mentioned in this genealogy: one Judith and one Basemath (26:34).

  59. Adah’s son Eliphaz means "God is my gold"; the name of Job’s friend); and Basemath’s son Reuel means "God is friend" and was a name used by Israelites (Num. 2:14; 1Chron. 9:8).

  60. Three sons were born to Oholibamah while residing in Canaan: Jerush ("may God help"), and Jalam (perhaps "youth" or "mountain goat") and Korah (undetermined; other Korah’s are mentioned in Num. 16:1; 1Chron. 2:43; Ps. 42:1).

  61. Verses 6-8 terminate Esau’s life in the land by describing his move from Canaan to Seir.

  62. The language of v. 7 echoes chapter 12 verse 5 where Abraham and Lot’s separation was initiated by a similar situation.

  63. V. 6 states the fact of Esau’s movement out of the land to "another land" while verse 7 presents the motivating factor.

  64. V. 8 informs the reader of Esau’s new homeland.

  65. The big question is: When did Esau make this move?

  66. At first glance it might appear that he had moved there during the years when Jacob was in Haran as he came from Seir with his four hundred warriors and met Jacob near the Jabbok river (32:3, 14, 16).

  67. Esau’s presence in Seir does not mean that he had officially relocated there as v. 6 records.

  68. The proposed scenario regarding the whereabouts of Esau is as follows: (1) he married when he was forty years old (26:34); (2) he lived at home for 34 years until the incident in Isaac’s tent led to the flight of Jacob; he and Jacob were 77 years of age; (3) during the 20 years of the separation of the twins Esau gathered a small army and proceeded to subdue Seir and the Horites and that is why he came from Seir to meet his brother (chap. 32); (5) Esau and Jacob continued to live in the land until the situation referred to in v.7 surfaced; (6) it was then that he officially left Canaan and permanently relocated his family and holdings in Seir; (7) years later he visited Canaan to bury his father Isaac (35:29b).

  69. During the time between his marriages and the time of his final exit from his homeland, his five sons grew up and were able to take care of his business interests in Canaan.

  70. During that time Esau was personally fulfilling the Isaac prophecy that said he would live by the sword (27:40 "By your sword you shall live.").

  71. It makes no logical sense whatsoever that Esau would have relocated to Seir without first establishing his presence there by the sword.

  72. This area was the habitation of the Horites, which according to the discussion of vv. 20ff, indicates that they were the conquered and the assimilated inhabitants of Seir that preceded the Edomite occupation.

  73. So the phrase in v. 6 that "he [Esau] moved from the face of his brother Jacob" due to the fact that the area in which the family had livestock "could not sustain them" must have taken place when Jacob was fully settled in the land of Canaan.

  74. An important detail: Esau took over the family business in the absence of Jacob, which was substantial and that explains the source of his physical assets (cf. 33:9 "I have plenty, my brother, let what you have be your own.").

  75. Jacob left the land broke, and he returns prosperous; he in just six years matched the wealth of his older brother.

  76. Some time after Jacob’s return there was a conflict of interest and Esau retired to Seir.

  77. The separation was amiable.

  78. So the expression "he went to a country away from the presence/face of his brother Jacob" is ironic to say the least and it shows us Esau’s total disregard for his heritage.

  79. Esau’s leaving was his own doing and shows demonstrates once again his rejection of the covenant promises.

  80. Another observation is that Esau’s deliberate exit from the land of promise was a move that mimicked Lot’s move away from the promises of God.

  81. Everything Esau did set him apart as a free spirit who had no regard for the faith of his fathers, including his marriages, his conquest of Seir, and finally his move away from the land proper.

  82. During the twenty years of the brothers’ separation, Esau built a small kingdom in Seir as evidenced by his army of 400 (cf. 32:6).

  83. Jacob was separated from the family holdings when he fled to Haran arriving there will little more than his walking staff.

  84. Esau was ahead of his brother Jacob in that he had family and wealth, but God prospered the elect heir with all those things.

  85. What Esau lacked was the spiritual verities which separated the brothers and their descendants for time and eternity.

  86. Seir is the original name of the land occupied by the descendants of Esau or Edom.

  87. It is a mountainous and extremely rugged country about 100 miles long.

  88. It extends south from Moab on both sides of the great depression (Arabah) connecting the southern part of the Dead Sea with the Gulf of Aqabah.

  89. The summit of Mt. Seir rises 3500 feet above the adjacent Arabah.

  90. The land is very rocky and not very fertile like Palestine (Mal. 1:2-4).

  91. Yet it had fields and vineyards, wells, and a N.S. highway ran through it, as it does to this very day (Num. 20:17, 19).

  92. Its capital was Sela during the Edomite kings era.

  93. Later the place was called Petra.

  94. In the Greek period the name of the land was called Idumea.

  95. The pre-Edomite inhabitants of this land were the Horites who were disposed by Esau’s descendants (Deut. 2:12; Josh. 24:4).

  96. The term Seir was used collectively of the inhabitants who lived in Mt. Seir (Ezek. 25:8).

  97. Although Esau remained outside the covenant promises due to his total unbelief, God still after a manner blessed him with children (vv. 4-5) and with property (vv. 6-7).

  98. He leaves with three wives (?) and five sons.

  99. Esau’s new homeland fulfilled the prophetic blessing Isaac bestowed on him (27:39-40).

    100. Esau’s Sons and Grandsons (vv. 9-14)

    VERSE 9 These then are the records of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir (ry[ife rh;B. ~Ada/ ybia] wf'[e tAdl.To hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun f.p.constr. toledoth + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr. abh father + proper noun Edom; "Edomites" + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. har "hill country" + proper noun Seir (hairy)]).

    VERSE 10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Esau's wife Adah, Reuel the son of Esau's wife Basemath (wf'[e tv,ae tm;f.B'-!B, laeW[r> wf'[e tv,ae hd'['-!B, zp;ylia/ wf'[e-ynEB. tAmv. hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. shem name + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Eliphaz + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Adah + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + proper noun Esau + proper noun Reuel + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Basemath + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + proper noun Esau]).

    VERSE 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz (waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah "were" + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Eliphaz + proper noun Teman + proper noun Omar + proper noun Zepho + waw w/proper noun Gatam + waw w/proper noun Kenaz]).

    VERSE 12 Timna was a concubine of Esau's son Eliphaz and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz (qlem'[]-ta, zp;ylia/l, dl,Tew: wf'[e-!B, zp;ylia/l, vg<l,ypi ht'y>h' [n:m.tiw> [waw w/proper noun Timna + Qal perf.3f.s. hayah "was" + noun f.s.abs. pilegesh concubine + prep lamedh w/proper noun Eliphaz + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Esau + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. yaladh bear + prep lamedh w/proper noun Eliphaz + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Esau + waw w/Qal impf. 3f.s. yaladh bear + prep lamedh w/proper noun Eliphaz + d.o. marker + proper noun Amalek]).

    These are the sons of Esau's wife Adah (adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Adah + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + proper noun Esau]).

    VERSE 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah (hZ"miW hM'v; xr;z<w" tx;n: laeW[r> ynEB. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Reuel + proper noun Nahath + waw w/proper noun Zerah + proper noun Shammah + waw w/proper noun Mizzah]).

    These were the sons of Esau's wife Basemath (wf'[e tv,ae tm;f.b' ynEB. Wyh' hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh these + Qal perf.3p. hayah + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Basemath + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + proper noun Esau]).

    VERSE 14 These were the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon (wf'[e tv,ae !A[b.ci-tB; hn"[]-tb; hm'b'ylih\a' ynEB. Wyh' hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + Qal perf.3p. hayah + noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper noun Oholibamah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Anah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Zibeon + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + proper noun Esau]: she bore to Esau, Jeush and Jalam and Korah [xr;qo-ta,w> ~l'[.y:-ta,w> ÎvW[y>Ð ¿vy[yÀ-ta, wf'[el. dl,Tew: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. yaladh bear + prep lamedh w/proper noun Esau + d.o. marker + proper noun Jeush + waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Jalam + waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Korah]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 9-14

  100. The heading from this section (v.9) repeats the heading of v. 1 and may suggest that what follows is a later insertion.

  101. These verses repeat the genealogical information given in vv. 1-5.

  102. V.1 identifies Esau as the ancestor (founder) of Edom.

  103. In these verses the family of Esau is traced to the third generation through the progeny of his sons.

  104. Through Eliphaz Esau comes by six grandsons including the bastard child Amalek, mothered by Timna, Eliphaz’s concubine.

  105. Through Reul Esau comes by four grandsons.

  106. There is no reference to grandchildren through Oholibamah’s three sons.

  107. One son by one mother fathers six sons.

  108. One son by another mother fathers four sons.

  109. Three sons by a third mother father no sons.

  110. The most prolific wife in terms of sons has no male grandchildren.

  111. It is odd that the reference to Oholibamah’s sons (2nd generation) is delayed until the names of the 3rd generation through Eliphaz and Reul have been listed (vv. 11-13).

  112. This sequence permits the grouping and the placing on the same level of ten (or nine) third-generation Esauites with the second generation Esauites.

  113. Including Amalek among Esaus’s legitimate offspring, the total number of Esau’s descendants through the 3rd generation is fifteen: fives sons and ten grandsons.

  114. Teman ("South") according to Amos 1:2 is a leading city, probably the capital of Edom.

  115. It was a target for judgment by the prophets (Jer. 49:20; Ezek. 25:13; Obad. 9).

  116. Kenaz, the 5th son of Eliphaz, was the name of a people (Kenizzites) whose land would be taken away and given to Abraham (Gen. 15:19), but elsewhere the Judahite Caleb is called a Kenizzite (Num. 32:12; Josh. 14:6, 14).

  117. Omar means "eloquent"; Zepho means "view"; and Gatam may mean "thin."

  118. Amalek (v.12) was Eliphaz’s son by his concubine Timna.

  119. He was the progenitor of a nomadic tribe that bears his name frequently in the OT (Ex. 17:8-16; Num. 14:39-45; Deut. 25:17-19; 1Sam. 15).

  120. His descendants lived a nomadic existence in contrast to the sedentary Edomites.

  121. This verse traces Amalek’s ancestry through a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz.

  122. Nothing of particular interest is known of the sons of Reuel son of Basemath (v. 13).

  123. No grandsons from Esau’s wife Oholibamah are listed only her sons (v. 14).

    124. Chiefs Descended from Esau (vv. 15-19)

    VERSE 15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau (wf'[e-ynEb. ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. alluph chief; from verb alaph which means ‘producing thousands’ + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Esau]).

    The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, are chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz (zn:q. @WLa; Apc. @WLa; rm'Aa @WLa; !m'yTe @WLa; wf'[e rAkB. zp;ylia [noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Eliphaz + noun m.s.abs. bekor firstborn + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr. alluph chief + proper noun Teman + noun m.s.constr. alluph + proper noun Omar + noun m.s.constr. alluph + proper noun Zepho + noun m.s.constr. alluph chief + proper noun Kenaz]),

    VERSE 16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek (qlem'[] @WLa; ~T'[.G: @WLa; xr;qo-@WLa; [noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Korah + noun m.s.abs.alluph + proper noun Gatam + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Amalek]).

    These are the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah (hd'[' ynEB. hL,ae ~Ada/ #r,a,B. zp;ylia/ ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + proper noun Eliphaz + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz land+ proper noun Edom + adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Adah]).

    VERSE 17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah (hZ"mi @WLa; hM'v; @WLa; xr;z< @WLa; tx;n: @WLa; wf'[e-!B, laeW[r> ynEB. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Reuel + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Nahath + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Zerah + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Shammah + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Mizzah]).

    These are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Esau's wife Basemath (wf'[e tv,ae tm;f.b' ynEB. hL,ae ~Ada/ #r,a,B. laeW[r> ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + proper noun Reuel + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz + proper noun Edom + adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Basemath + noun f.s.constr. ishshah + proper noun Esau]).

    VERSE 18 These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah (xr;qo @WLa; ~l'[.y: @WLa; vW[y> @WLa; wf'[e tv,ae hm'b'ylih\a' ynEB. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Oholibamah + noun f.s.constr. ishshah + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Jeush + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Jalam + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Korah]).

    These are the chiefs descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah (wf'[e tv,ae hn"[]-tB; hm'b'ylih\a' ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + proper noun Oholibamah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Anah + noun f.s.constr. ishshah + proper noun Esau]).

    VERSE 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs (~Ada/ aWh ~h,ypeWLa; hL,aew> wf'[e-ynEb. hL,a [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Esau + waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. alluph + pro.3m.s. hu "that is" + proper noun Edom]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 15-19

  124. The list of Edomite "chiefs" is almost identical to the list of Esau’s sons in vv. 10-14.

  125. The term translated "chiefs" is found 42x in this chapter and 14x in its parallel in 1Chron. 1:51-54, but elsewhere only 4x.

  126. Cf. Ex. 15:15: "Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed…"

  127. This suggests that "chief" (alluph) was an Edomite term.

  128. The term is basically a synonym for ‘leader.’

  129. This listing of Edomite chiefs immediately following the listing of Esau’s sons reflects political lineages in a political sphere.

  130. "Korah" is the only addition to the list of names, the 5th son of Eliphaz.

  131. There are two Korahs in these genealogies, one who is the fifth son of Esau by Oholibamah, and the one who is the fifth clan/chief of Eliphaz.

  132. V. 19 summarizes the data of vv. 9-14 ("these are the sons of Esau"), but also the data of vv. 15-19 ("these are their chiefs").

  133. So what we have is data about Esau’s family tree and the political structures arising from the family tree.

  134. Basically the term "chiefs" refers to tribal or clan leaders (it appears in the Ras Shamra texts as applied to the clan leaders of Hittites, Hurrians and other foreign neighbors of Ugarit).

    135. Descendants of Seir the Horite (vv. 20-28)

    VERSE 20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah (hn"[]w: !A[b.ciw> lb'Avw> !j'Al #r,a'h' ybev.yO yrIxoh; ry[ife-ynEb. hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Seir + def.art.w/proper noun Horite + Qal.part.m.p.constr. yashab dwell; "inhabitants" + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz + proper noun Lotan + waw w/proper noun Shobal + waw w/proper noun Zibeon + waw w/proper noun Anah]),

    VERSE 21 and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan (waw w/proper noun Dishon + waw w/proper noun Ezer + waw w/proper noun Dishan]).

    These are the chiefs descended from the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom (~Ada/ #r,a,B. ry[ife ynEB. yrIxoh; ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + def.art.w/proper noun Horites + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Seir + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz + proper noun Edom]).

    VERSE 22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna ([n"m.Ti !j'Al tAxa]w: ~m'yhew> yrIxo !j'Al-ynEb. Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Lotan + proper noun Hori + waw w/proper noun Hemam + waw w/noun f.s.constr. achot sister + proper noun Lotan + proper noun Timna]).

    VERSE 23 These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal, Shepho and Onam (~n"Aaw> Apv. lb'y[ew> tx;n:m'W !w"l.[; lb'Av ynEB. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Shobal + proper noun Alvan + waw w/proper noun Manahath + waw w/proper noun Ebal + waw w/proper noun Shepho + waw w/proper noun Onam]).

    VERSE 24 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah (hn"[]w: hY"a;w> !A[b.ci-ynEb. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Zibeon + proper noun Aiah + waw w/proper noun Anah]-- he is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness when he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon [wybia !A[b.cil. ~yrImox]h;-ta, At[or>Bi rB'd>MiB; ~miYEh;-ta, ac'm' rv,a] hn"[] aWh [pro.3m.s. hu he + proper noun Anah + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3m.s. matsa find + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. yemim "the hot springs" + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. midebar wilderness + prep beth w/Qal infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ra-ah pasture + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. chamor donkey + prep lamedh w/proper noun Zibeon + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. abh father]).

    VERSE 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah (hn"[]-tB; hm'b'ylih\a'w> !voDI hn"[]-ynEb. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Anah + proper noun Dishon + waw w/proper noun Oholibamah + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Anah]).

    VERSE 26 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran (!r'k.W !r't.yIw> !B'v.a,w> !D'm.x, !v'ydI ynEB. hL,aew> [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Dishon + proper noun Hemdan + waw w/proper noun Eshban + waw w/proper noun Ithran + waw w/proper noun Cheran]).

    VERSE 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan (!q'[]w: !w"[]z:w> !h'l.Bi rc,ae-ynEB. hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Ezer + proper noun Bilhan + waw w/proper noun Zaavan + waw w/proper noun Akan]).

    VERSE 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran (!r'a]w: #W[ !v'ydI-ynEb. hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Dishan + proper noun Uz + waw w/proper noun Aran]).

    Chiefs Descended from Seir the Horite (vv. 29-30)

    VERSE 29 These are the chiefs descended from the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah (hn"[] @WLa; !A[b.ci @WLa; lb'Av @WLa; !j'Al @WLa; yrIxoh; ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + def.art.w/proper noun Horites + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Lotan + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Shobal + proper noun Zibeon + proper noun Anah]),

    VERSE 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan (!v'yDI @WLa; rc,ae @WLa; !voDI @WLa; [noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Dishon + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Ezer + noun m.s.abs. alluph + Dishan]).

    These are the chiefs descended from the Horites, according to their various chiefs in the land of Seir (ry[ife #r,a,B. ~h,ypeLua;l. yrIxoh; ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + def.art.w/proper noun Horites + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. alluph + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz + proper noun Seir]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 20-30

  135. Two genealogies of Esau’s sons (vv. 9-14, 15-19) are now followed by a genealogy of "the sons of Seir the Horite."

  136. Seir is both the name of the area occupied by the Edomites as well as the name of its original settler.

  137. According to Deut. 2:12 the Horites were the original inhabitants of Edom but were later dispossessed: "The Horites formerly lived in Seir, but the sons of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave to them."

  138. The "sons of Esau" refers back to the conquest of Seir which was initiated by Esau and sons during the years of Jacob’s exile and somewhat beyond.

  139. Certainly he had a presence in Seir when he was reunited with Jacob as he invited Jacob to visit him there (cf. 33:14).

  140. Horite means "cave" indicating that they were cave dwellers.

  141. Actually when the Edomites conquered Seir they did not destroy all the Horites but several clans survived and intermarried with the Edomites.

  142. So Deut. 2:12 simplifies the picture given here in chap. 36.

  143. Vv. 9-19 lists Edomite clans while vv. 20-30 list Horite clans.

  144. Gen. 36 moves backward from the conquerors (vv. 9-19) to the conquered (vv. 20-30).

  145. Seven sons of Seir are mentioned as "the inhabitants of the land: "Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan."

  146. Between them they father 27 names in this list (28 if one counts Lotan’s sister Timna).

  147. Like the genealogy of Esau, this genealogy of Seir is traced through three generations.

  148. The genealogy is framed by references to the second generation (vv. 20,21 and vv. 29-30).

  149. In between these framing devices is data about the third generation (vv. 22-28).

  150. An otherwise unbroken list is interrupted only by the gloss on Anah, that it was he who "discovered lakes (hayyemim, lit. "waters") in the wilderness while he was pasturing the donkeys of Zibeon his father" (v. 24b).

  151. The best translation of hayyemim is still uncertain.

  152. The LXX simply transliterates the word as Iamein.

  153. It appears to be a homophone (sounds like) of the Hebrew word for "water lakes."

  154. Vulgate renders it "thermal springs" (aquae calidae).

  155. So RSV, NIV, JB, NAS (KJV has it that he found "mules"???).

  156. Whatever the exact significance of Anah’s find, it proved vital and significant in this arid land.

  157. The reader is left with puzzlement as to why Lotan’s sister Timan is included in this genealogy (v. 22).

    158. Kings of Edom (vv. 31-39)

    VERSE 31 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel (laer'f.yI ynEb.li %l,m,-%l'm. ynEp.li ~Ada/ #r,a,B. Wkl.m' rv,a] ~ykil'M.h; hL,aew> [waw w/adj.m.p.abs. elleh these + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. melek king + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3p. malak reign + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + proper noun Edom + prep lamedh w/noun both pl.constr. paneh face "before" + Qal infin.constr. malak reign + noun m.s.abs. melek king + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper noun Israel]).

    VERSE 32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah (hb'h'n>DI Ary[i ~vew> rA[B.-!B, [l;B, ~Ada/B, %l{m.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak reign + prep beth w/proper noun Edom + proper noun Bela + noun m.s.abs. ben + proper noun Beor + waw w/noun m.s.constr. shem name + noun f.s.constr. w/3m.s.suff. ir city + proper noun Dinhabah]).

    VERSE 33 Then Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place (hr'c.B'mi xr;z<-!B, bb'Ay wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: [l;B' tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die + proper noun Bela + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak reign + prep w/3m.s.suff. tachath after; "in his place" + proper noun Jobab + noun m.s.constr. w/proper noun Zerah + prep min w/proper noun Bozrah]).

    VERSE 34 Then Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place (ynIm'yTeh; #r,a,me ~v'xu wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: bb'Ay tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die + proper noun Jobab + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak + prep w/3m.s.suff. tachath "in his place" + proper noun Husham + prep min w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + def.art.w/proper noun Temanites]).

    VERSE 35 Then Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place; and the name of his city was Avith (tywI[] Ary[i ~vew> ba'Am hdef.Bi !y"d>mi-ta, hK,M;h; dd;B.-!B, dd;h] wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: ~v'xu tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth + proper noun Husham + prep w/3m.s.suff. tachath "in his place" + proper noun Hadad + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Bedad + def.art.w/Hiphil part.m.s.abs. nakah strike; "who defeated" + d.o. marker + proper noun Midian + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. shadeh field + proper noun Moab + waw w/noun m.s.constr. shem name + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ir city + propr noun Avith]).

    VERSE 36 Then Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place (hq'ref.M;mi hl'm.f; wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: dd'h] tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth + proper noun Hadad + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak + prep w/3m.s.suff. tachath after + proper noun Samlah + prep min w/proper noun Masrekah]).

    VERSE 37 Then Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River became king in his place (rh'N"h; tAbxor>me lWav' wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: hl'm.f; tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die + proper noun Samlah + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak "became king" + prep tachath "in his place" + proper noun Shaul + prep min w/proper noun Rehoboth + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. nahar river]).

    VERSE 38 Then Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place (rABk.[;-!B, !n"x'ƒl[;B; wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: lWav' tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth + proper noun Shaul + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak + prep w/3m.s.suff. tachath + proper noun Baal-Hanan + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Achor]).

    VERSE 39 Then Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar became king in his place; and the name of his city was Pau (W[P' Ary[i ~vew> rd;h] wyT'x.T; %l{m.YIw: rABk.[;-!B, !n"x'ƒl[;B; tm'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth + proper noun Baal-Hanan + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Achbor + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. malak + prep tachath w/3m.s.suff. "in his place + proper noun Hadar + waw w/noun m.s.constr. shem name + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ir city + propr noun Pau]; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab [bh'z"ƒyme tB; drej.m;-tB; laeb.j;yhem. ATv.ai ~vew> waw w/noun m.s.constr. shem name + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + proper noun Mehetabel + noun f.s.abs. bath + proper noun Matred + noun f.s.constr. bath + proper noun Mezahab]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 31-39

  158. This listing of Edomite kings was a post-Mosaic insertion to chapter 36.

  159. In fact it would appear that everything in this extended family tree of Esau was a later insertion beginning with verse 9 where that verse restates v. 1.

  160. This insertion was probably post-David.

  161. Over time the clans of Edom were brought together under a central ruler the first of which was king Bela (v.32).

  162. According to Num. 20:14 there were kings in Edom when Moses led the Israelites through the Transjordan.

  163. So the list begins with pre-Mosaic Edomite kings and moves forward to the last Edomite king, king Hadar (v.39).

  164. The listing of kings has eight generations beginning with Bela and ending with Hadad.

  165. V. 31 simply reports that kingship began in Edom before kings ruled in Israel (i.e., pre-Saul).

  166. What is interesting about this king list is that it reflects a non-dynastic monarchy.

  167. The successive kings of Edom were always outsiders who grabbed power.

  168. This is especially interesting in light of the fact that this is the only known case of a non-dynastic monarchy from the Near East.

  169. For example, Jobab, the second king, is not the son of Bela (the first king), but of Zerah.

  170. Secondly, the place of origin of the individual king is different.

  171. Thus Bela is from Dinhabah, but Jobab is from Bozrah.

  172. By contrast, the monarchical system in Israel whether we compare the several minor dynasties of the northern kingdom, or the major dynasty of the house of David of southern Judah, the Israelite system never produced a parallel to that of their Edomite cousins.

  173. The fact that there was no father-son succession during the centuries of the Edomite monarch invites comparison to the book of Judges, when national leaders arose to lead the Israelites in times of national crisis.

  174. "Bela" means "eloquent" and is also the name of Benjamin’s oldest son (46:21).

  175. His patron is "son of Beor" is the same as that of the prophet Balaam (Num. 22:5), but this does not prove their identity.

  176. "Dinhabah" is unknown.

  177. "Jobab" means "shrill" (cf. 10:29).

  178. "Bozrah" is one of the Edomite towns most often referred to (e.g., Isa. 34:6; Amos 1:12).

  179. "Husham" compares to the Arabic "broad nosed."

  180. "Hadad" is the name of the semitic storm god.

  181. Some have speculated that this Hadad reigned during the Judges era when Gideon defeated the Midianites (Judg. 7) but this is without proof.

  182. The location of Avith is not known.

  183. "Samlah" means "protection" and "Masrekah" is perhaps related to the noun "vine" which could be a vine-growing region.

  184. Gebel Mashraq, southwest of Maan is a possibility.

  185. "Shaul" means "requested" and is usually translated "Saul" in English, was also the name of Israel’s first king.

  186. The location of "Rebobot-hannahar" ("open spaces of the river") is uncertain but it does not refer to the Euphrates.

  187. "Baal-Hanan" means "Baal is gracious"; "Achbor" means "mouse."

  188. "Pau" is rendered "Pai" in 1Chron. 1:50, which could point to Wadi Fai on the south bank of the Dead Sea.

  189. "Mehetabel" means "El does good."

  190. "Matred" is perhaps a shortened theophany name meaning, "(God) expels (his enemies)."

  191. "Mezahab" means "waters of gold."

  192. Of passing interest is the fact that the first male name in chap. 36, apart from Esau, is Eliphaz which means "my God if fine gold" and the last name which means "goldwater."

  193. The inclusion of the Edomite kings points to the promise, fulfilled in part, to Abraham and Jacob that kings would arise from their loins (17:16; 35:11).

  194. The subjugation of Edom by David did not bring to an end Esau’s descendants for we find that there was a king of Edom at least as late as Jeremiah’s era (cf. Jer. 27:1-3).

  195. Also, during the reign of Solomon there was a Edomite prince in exile in Egypt whose name was Hadad (same as the 5th king in the list, but clearly not the same person; cf. 1Kgs. 11:14-22).

    196. The Clans of Esau (vv. 40-43)

    VERSE 40 Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth (ttey> @WLa; hw"l.[; @WLa; [n"m.Ti @WLa; ~t'mov.Bi ~t'moqom.li ~t'xoP.v.mil. wf'[e ypeWLa; tAmv. hL,aew [waw w/adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. shem name + noun m.p.constr. alluph + proper noun Esau + prep lamedh w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. mishpachat family; clan + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. maqom place + prep beth w/noun m.p.constr.w/3p.suff. shem name + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Timna + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Alvah + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Jetheth]),

    VERSE 41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon (!nOyPi @WLa; hl'ae @WLa; hm'b'ylih\a' @WLa; [noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Oholibamah + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Elah + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Pinon]),

    VERSE 42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar (rc'b.mi @WLa; !m'yTe @WLa; zn:q. @WLa; [noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Kenaz + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Teman + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Mibzar]),

    VERSE 43 chief Magdiel, chief Iram (~r'y[i @WLa; laeyDIg>m; @WLa; [noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Magdiel + noun m.s.abs. alluph + proper noun Iram]).

    These are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of the Edomites), according to their habitations in the land of their possession (~Ada/ ybia] wf'[e aWh ~t'Z"xua] #r,a,B. ~t'bov.mol. ~Ada/ ypeWLa; hL,ae [adj.p.abs. elleh + noun m.p.constr. alluph + proper noun Edom + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/3m.p.suff. moshab assembly; ‘according to their habitations’ + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.p.suff. achuzzah possession + pro.3m.s. hu "that is" + proper noun Esau + noun m.s.constr. abh father + proper noun Edom]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 40-43

  196. The final list in Esau’s genealogy names eleven clans descended from Esau.

  197. Seven of these names appear for the first time in this chapter (Alva, Jetheth, Elah, Pinon, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram).

  198. Four of the names have appeared already in this chapter: Timna (v.40) who we read was the concubine of Eliphaz (v.12), and as sister to Lotan, son of Seir (v.22); Oholibamah (v.41) was mentioned earlier as the daughter of Anah and the wife of Esau (vv. 2, 14, 18); Kenaz and Teman (v.42) appeared earlier as sons one and five of Eliphaz (v.11), and clans one and four of Esau through Eliphaz (v.15).

  199. The major problem with this eleven name list of the clans of Esau is its relationship, if any, to the fourteen names in vv. 15-19, each of which also represents a clan of Esau.

  200. Only two names (Teman and Kenaz) is common to vv. 15-19 and vv. 40-43.

  201. It has been proposed that the names in vv. 15-19 are genealogically arranged and those in vv. 40-43 are geographically arranged.

  202. These verses do refer to Esau’s clans by "families" and by "dwellings."

  203. The names here might refer to their districts or dwellings rather than to the chieftans.

  204. A tablet from Tell al-Ramah (between the Tigis and upper Khabur (Habor) that dates to the 18th century B.C. contains the names of a list of artisans who were recruited from various villages and townships for royal service, either administrative or military.

  205. Included is their place of origin and their tribal or family affliation.

  206. The general structure is (1) personal name; (2) the Sumerogram ("registered" or "supplied with provisions") followed by a toponym (3) the term ummutum together with a personal name.

  207. This structure, says the scholar Malamat, is exactly what one finds in Gen. 36:40ff., albeit in reverse order.

    208.  

    Observations on Esau and the Edomites

  208. That Esau became a nation recalls the promise to Rebekah that she would be the mother of two nations (25:23: "Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body. And one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older shall serve the younger.").

  209. That Edom (the nation) became part of the Davidic empire, though older than the nation Israel, and having kings before Israel, shows that the older did serve the younger.

  210. Fierce wars between the two peoples resulted in the supremacy of Israel (2Sam. 8:13-14; 1Kgs. 11:15-16; 2Kgs. 14:7) which is finds fulfillment in that part of Isaac’s blessing which reads: "By your sword you shall live, and your brother you shall serve" (27:40).

  211. Edom was not only Israel’s neighbor, but was regarded as their nearest relative (cf. Num. 20:14ff. "From Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us; Deut. 23:7 "You shall not detest and Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not detest and Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.").

  212. Esau’s family history is presented before the family history of Jacob in Genesis (cf. 27:1 cp. 36:1).

  213. The double title "this is the family history of Esau" (36:1, 9), makes it probable that originally, "the family history of Esau" consisted merely of 36:1-8; 37:1).

  214. Later 36:9-43 was inserted.

  215. Without the long insertion of 36:9-43, this first "family history of Esau" is comparable to the "family history of Ishmael" (25:12-18).

  216. Esau’s marriage to Canaanite women showed his disrespect for the traditions of his forefathers, for both Abraham and Isaac were concerned that their sons marry within the family lineage descended from Terah (24:3-4; 28:2).

  217. Not only did Esau forsake his family roots, he later abandoned the land of promise, and like Lot before him, with disastrous results with the passage of time.

  218. He decided that he could not live in Canaan with his brother Jacob, because "their property had become too great for them to live together" (36:7).

  219. But Esau, driven by his lust for fame and fortune led to his decision to leave Canaan and live in the less hospitable environs of Seir fulfilled another aspect of Isaac’s prophetic blessing (27:39 "Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling; and away from the dew of heaven.").

  220. This left Jacob as the uncontested heir of Abrahamic promise that his descendants would one day inherit the land of Canaan, "the land to which his father had migrated" (37:1).

  221. For Paul, the election of Jacob and the rejection of Esau is a special example of the doctrine of election (and calling).

  222. Esau the unbeliever and non-elect son was rejected do to the simple fact that he remained in a state of unbelief throughout his life (Rom. 9:10-12).

  223. Esau’s rejection, even before he was born, is based on the doctrine of foreknowledge (cf. Rom. 8:29 "whom He foreknew, He also predestined…"; cf. also 11:2a "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.").

  224. It is all summed up in Malachi’s words: "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated" (Mal. 1:2-3).

  225. The descendants of Edom turned out to be some of Israel’s bitterest foes and words of their final demise echo through the prophets Joel (3:19) and Amos (1:6,9,11; 2:1; 9:12), Obadiah (1:1) and Malachi (1:4).

  226. Edom epitomizes maximum hostility to the Abrahamic Covenant.

  227. Esau epitomizes a man of the cosmos who is permitted, even blessed, to attain the desires of his heart only to end up in eternal torment.

END: Genesis Chapter Thirty-Six

April, 2012

Jack M. Ballinger