Genesis36
New International Version
1 This is the account of the family line of Esau (that is, Edom).
2 Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite—
3 also Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.
4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel,
5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in Canaan.
6 Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob.
7 Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock.
8 So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.
9 This is the account of the family line of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.
10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.
11 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.
12 Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.
13 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
14 The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon, whom she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
15 These were the chiefs among Esau’s descendants: The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
16 Korah, Gatam and Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in Edom; they were grandsons of Adah.
17 The sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
18 The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah.
19 These were the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these were their chiefs.
20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the region: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
21 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.
22 The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
23 The sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.
24 The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.
25 The children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.
26 The sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.
27 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.
28 The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
29 These were the Horite chiefs: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
30 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These were the Horite chiefs, according to their divisions, in the land of Seir.
31 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:
32 Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah.
33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.
34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.
35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.
36 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.
37 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.
38 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.
39 When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.
40 These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,
41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.
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Genesis 36Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 36. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Esau and his descendants. (1-43).
vv1-43
The registers in this chapter show the faithfulness of God to his promise to Abraham. Esau is here called Edom, that name which kept up the remembrance of his selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Esau continued the same profane despiser of heavenly things. In outward prosperity and honour, the children of the covenant are often behind, and those that are out of the covenant get the start. We may suppose it a trial to the faith of God's Israel, to hear of the pomp and power of the kings of Edom, while they were bond-slaves in Egypt; but those that look for great things from God, must be content to wait for them; God's time is the best time. Mount Seir is called the land of their possession. Canaan was at this time only the land of promise. Seir was in the possession of the Edomites. The children of this world have their all in hand, and nothing in hope, Lu 16:25; while the children of God have their all in hope, and next to nothing in hand. But, all things considered, it is beyond compare better to have Canaan in promise, than mount Seir in possession.
Key Words
תּוֹלְדָה: (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history
עֵשָׂו: Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity
אֱדֹם: Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אִשָּׁה: a woman
עָדָה: Adah, the name of two women
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אֵילוֹן: Elon, the name of a place in Palestine, and also of one Hittite, two Israelites
חִתִּי: a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth
אׇהֳלִיבָמָה: Oholibamah, a wife of Esau
Cross References
Genesis 36Joshua notes God gave Mount Seir to Esau for his possession, matching Esau dwelling there.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses records that God gave Mount Seir to Esau for a possession, confirming the narrative.
Supported by JFB
Israel is commanded not to abhor an Edomite, because he is a brother.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the initial names of Esau's Hittite and Hivite wives, reconciling genealogical differences.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Records Esau marrying Mahalath (Bashemath), Ishmael's daughter and sister of Nebajoth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God declares He laid Esau's mountains waste, contrasting with Jacob's inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Introduces Amalek, son of Eliphaz, whose descendants became Israel's perpetual enemies starting at Rephidim.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains why Esau is called Edom, referencing the red pottage for which he sold his birthright.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel separation of Abraham and Lot due to their vast possessions, similar to Jacob and Esau.
Supported by John Calvin
Eliphaz the Temanite, Job's friend, descended from Esau's firstborn Eliphaz and his son Teman.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Balaam prophesies that Edom shall be a possession, and Amalek's end shall be destruction.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains how the descendants of Esau destroyed and succeeded the Horites of Seir.
Supported by JFB
The parallel genealogical register of Esau's sons in the Chronicles.
Supported by John Calvin
God promised kings would come from Jacob, yet Edom had kings first, testing Israel's faith.
Supported by John Calvin