Genesis 36NKJV
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Genesis36

New King James Version

1Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom.

2Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

3and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

4Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel.

5And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

6Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob.

7For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock.

8So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

9And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.

10These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.

11And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.

12Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.

13These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

14These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.

15These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,

16Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.

17These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

18And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah.

19These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.

20These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.

22And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.

23These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

24These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon.

25These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.

26These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

27These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

28These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

29These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah,

30Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

31Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:

32Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

33And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.

34When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

35And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.

36When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

37And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place.

38When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

39And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

40And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,

41Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,

42Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,

43Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 36.

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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.

Cross References

Genesis 36
v8Joshua 24:4thematic

Joshua notes God gave Mount Seir to Esau for his possession, matching Esau dwelling there.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v8Deuteronomy 2:5thematic

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

v2Genesis 26:34thematic

Provides the initial names of Esau's Hittite and Hivite wives, reconciling genealogical differences.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Genesis 28:9thematic

Records Esau marrying Mahalath (Bashemath), Ishmael's daughter and sister of Nebajoth.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v8Malachi 1:3thematic

God declares He laid Esau's mountains waste, contrasting with Jacob's inheritance.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Exodus 17:8-16thematic

Introduces Amalek, son of Eliphaz, whose descendants became Israel's perpetual enemies starting at Rephidim.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Genesis 25:30thematic

Explains why Esau is called Edom, referencing the red pottage for which he sold his birthright.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v7Genesis 13:6thematic

Parallel separation of Abraham and Lot due to their vast possessions, similar to Jacob and Esau.

Supported by John Calvin

v11Job 2:11thematic

Eliphaz the Temanite, Job's friend, descended from Esau's firstborn Eliphaz and his son Teman.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Numbers 24:18-20thematic

Balaam prophesies that Edom shall be a possession, and Amalek's end shall be destruction.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Deuteronomy 2:12thematic

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

v31Genesis 35:11thematic

God promised kings would come from Jacob, yet Edom had kings first, testing Israel's faith.

Supported by John Calvin