Genesis 36WEB
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Genesis36

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).

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

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

4Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.

5Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.

7For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock.

8Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

9This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:

10these are 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.

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

12Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s wife.

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

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

15These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,

16chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah.

17These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

18These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.

19These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.

20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.

22The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.

23These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

24These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.

25These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.

26These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

27These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

28These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

29These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,

30chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

31These are 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. The name of his city was Dinhabah.

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

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

35Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.

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

37Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.

38Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

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

40These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,

41chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,

42chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,

43chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, 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