9 And these are the generations H8435 of Esau H6215 the father H1 of the Edomites H123 in mount H2022 Seir: H8165
10 These are the names H8034 of Esau's H6215 sons; H1121 Eliphaz H464 the son H1121 of Adah H5711 the wife H802 of Esau, H6215 Reuel H7467 the son H1121 of Bashemath H1315 the wife H802 of Esau. H6215
11 And the sons H1121 of Eliphaz H464 were Teman, H8487 Omar, H201 Zepho, H6825 and Gatam, H1609 and Kenaz. H7073
12 And Timna H8555 was concubine H6370 to Eliphaz H464 Esau's H6215 son; H1121 and she bare H3205 to Eliphaz H464 Amalek: H6002 these were the sons H1121 of Adah H5711 Esau's H6215 wife. H802
13 And these are the sons H1121 of Reuel; H7467 Nahath, H5184 and Zerah, H2226 Shammah, H8048 and Mizzah: H4199 these were the sons H1121 of Bashemath H1315 Esau's H6215 wife. H802
14 And these were the sons H1121 of Aholibamah, H173 the daughter H1323 of Anah H6034 the daughter H1323 of Zibeon, H6649 Esau's H6215 wife: H802 and she bare H3205 to Esau H6215 Jeush, H3274 and Jaalam, H3281 and Korah. H7141
15 These were dukes H441 of the sons H1121 of Esau: H6215 the sons H1121 of Eliphaz H464 the firstborn H1060 son of Esau; H6215 duke H441 Teman, H8487 duke H441 Omar, H201 duke H441 Zepho, H6825 duke H441 Kenaz, H7073
16 Duke H441 Korah, H7141 duke H441 Gatam, H1609 and duke H441 Amalek: H6002 these are the dukes H441 that came of Eliphaz H464 in the land H776 of Edom; H123 these were the sons H1121 of Adah. H5711
17 And these are the sons H1121 of Reuel H7467 Esau's H6215 son; H1121 duke H441 Nahath, H5184 duke H441 Zerah, H2226 duke H441 Shammah, H8048 duke H441 Mizzah: H4199 these are the dukes H441 that came of Reuel H7467 in the land H776 of Edom; H123 these are the sons H1121 of Bashemath H1315 Esau's H6215 wife. H802
18 And these are the sons H1121 of Aholibamah H173 Esau's H6215 wife; H802 duke H441 Jeush, H3266 duke H441 Jaalam, H3281 duke H441 Korah: H7141 these were the dukes H441 that came of Aholibamah H173 the daughter H1323 of Anah, H6034 Esau's H6215 wife. H802
19 These are the sons H1121 of Esau, H6215 who is Edom, H123 and these are their dukes. H441
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 36
Commentary on Genesis 36 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 36
Ge 36:1-43. Posterity of Esau.
1. these are the generations—history of the leading men and events (compare Ge 2:4).
Esau who is Edom—A name applied to him in reference to the peculiar color of his skin at birth [Ge 25:25], rendered more significant by his inordinate craving for the red pottage [Ge 25:30], and also by the fierce sanguinary character of his descendants (compare Eze 25:12; Ob 10).
2, 3. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan—There were three, mentioned under different names; for it is evident that Bashemath is the same as Mahalath (Ge 28:9), since they both stand in the relation of daughter to Ishmael and sister to Nebajoth; and hence it may be inferred that Adah is the same as Judith, Aholibamah as Bathsemath (Ge 26:34). It was not unusual for women, in that early age, to have two names, as Sarai was also Iscah [Ge 11:29]; and this is the more probable in the case of Esau's wives, who of course would have to take new names when they went from Canaan to settle in mount Seir.
6, 7. Esau … went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob—literally, "a country," without any certain prospect of a settlement. The design of this historical sketch of Esau and his family is to show how the promise (Ge 27:39, 40) was fulfilled. In temporal prosperity he far exceeds his brother; and it is remarkable that, in the overruling providence of God, the vast increase of his worldly substance was the occasion of his leaving Canaan and thus making way for the return of Jacob.
8. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir—This was divinely assigned as his possession (Jos 24:4; De 2:5).
15-19. dukes—The Edomites, like the Israelites, were divided into tribes, which took their names from his sons. The head of each tribe was called by a term which in our version is rendered "duke"—not of the high rank and wealth of a British peer, but like the sheiks or emirs of the modern East, or the chieftains of highland clans. Fourteen are mentioned who flourished contemporaneously.
20-30. Sons of Seir, the Horite—native dukes, who were incorporated with those of the Edomite race.
24. This was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness—The word "mules" is, in several ancient versions, rendered "water springs"; and this discovery of some remarkable fountain was sufficient, among a wandering or pastoral people, to entitle him to such a distinguishing notice.
31-39. kings of Edom—The royal power was not built on the ruins of the dukedoms, but existed at the same time.
40-43. Recapitulation of the dukes according to their residences.