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Genesis Chapter Thirty-six

 

Genesis 36 Outlines

The Family of Esau (v.1~14)

The Chiefs of Edom (v.15~19)

The Sons of Seir (v.20~30)

The Kings of Edom (v.31~39)

The Chiefs of Esau (v.40~43)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 36

This chapter gives us a genealogical account of Esau's family of his wives and sons with whom he removed from Seir Genesis 36:1; of his sons' sons or grandsons who were dukes in the land of Edom Genesis 36:11; after which is inserted a genealogy of Seir the Horite into whose family Esau married and of his children and the dukes among them Genesis 36:20; then follows a list of the kings of Edom before there were any in Israel Genesis 36:31; and the chapter is closed with a brief narration of the dukes of Esau according to their families Genesis 36:40.

 

Genesis 36:1.  Now this is the genealogy of Esau who is Edom.

   YLT 1And these [are] births of Esau who [is] Edom.

Now these are the generations of Esau who is Edom.

Who was surnamed Edom from the red pottage he sold his birthright for to his brother Jacob Genesis 25:30; an account is given of him and his posterity not only because he was a son of Isaac lately made mention of as concerned in his burial; but because his posterity would be often taken notice of in the sacred Scriptures and so their genealogy would serve to illustrate such passages; and MaimonidesF13Moreh Nevochim par. 3. c. 50. p. 510. thinks the principal reason is that whereas Amalek a branch of Esau's family were to be destroyed by an express command of God it was necessary that all the rest should be particularly described lest they should all perish together; but other ends are answered hereby as partly to show the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham concerning the multiplication of his seed and the accomplishment of the oracle to Rebekah signifying that two nations were in her womb one of which were those Edomites; as also to observe how the blessing of Isaac his father came upon him with effect Genesis 22:17.

 

Genesis 36:2.  2 Esau 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;

   YLT 2Esau hath taken his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite and Aholibamah daughter of Anah daughter of Zibeon the Hivite

And Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan ....

Of the Canaanites the posterity of cursed Canaan most of them were of them though not all the two following were and so those if different from them in Genesis 26:34 one of his wives was of the family of Ishmael as after related:

Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite;

according to Jarchi and Aben Ezra this is the same with Bashemath Genesis 26:34; and that she had two names:

and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

the daughter of the one and the granddaughter of the other it being usual in Scripture to call grandchildren children for Zibeon and Anah were father and son Genesis 36:24; and the Samaritan Septuagint and Syriac versions read here "the daughter of Anah the son of Zibeon": there are an Anah and a Zibeon who were brethren Genesis 36:20; wherefore Aben Ezra supposes that these two brothers or the father and son lay with the same woman and it could not be known whose child it was that was born of her and therefore this was called the daughter of them both. Jarchi supposes this wife of Esau to be the same with Judith Genesis 26:34; but not only the names differ but also the names of their fathers and of the tribe or nation they were of.

 

Genesis 36:3.  3 and Basemath Ishmael’s daughter sister of Nebajoth.

   YLT 3and Bashemath daughter of Ishmael sister of Nebajoth.

And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter sister of Nebaioth ....

The eldest son of Ishmael see Genesis 28:9; called there Mahalath.

 

Genesis 36:4.  4 Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau and Basemath bore Reuel.

   YLT 4And Adah beareth to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath hath born Reuel;

And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz ....

This son of Esau according to JeromF14Trad. Heb. in Gen. fol. 71. L. tom. 3. is the same with him mentioned in the book of Job as one of his friends that came to visit him Job 2:11; and so says the Targum of Jonathan on Genesis 36:10; but he rather was the grandson of this man since he is called the Temanite:

and Bashemath bare Reuel;

the name is the same with Reuel or Raguel the name of Jethro; but cannot be the same person as is said by some for he was a Midianite and not an Edomite Exodus 2:18.

 

Genesis 36:5.  5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush Jaalam and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

   YLT 5and Aholibamah hath born Jeush and Jaalam and Korah. These [are] sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

And Aholibamah bare Jeush and Jaalam and Korah ....

In this genealogy mention is made of another Korah among the sons of Eliphaz Genesis 36:16; which Jarchi thinks is the same with this and takes him to be a bastard and begotten in incest by Eliphaz on his father's wife Aholibamah; but Aben Ezra observes that some are of opinion that there were two Korahs one the son of Aholibamah and the other the son of Adah; but he thinks there were but one which was the son of Aholibamah and is reckoned among the sons of Eliphaz because he dwelt among them; or perhaps his mother died when he was little and Adah brought him up with her sons and so was reckoned her son; such were the children of Michal Saul's daughter:

these are the sons of Esau which were born to him in the land of Canaan;

and we do not read of any born to him elsewhere; so that of all his wives which some think were four others five he had but five sons; what daughters he had is not related though from Genesis 36:6 it appears he had some.

 

Genesis 36:6.  6 Then 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.

   YLT 6And Esau taketh his wives and his sons and his daughters and all the persons of his house and his cattle and all his beasts and all his substance which he hath acquired in the land of Canaan and goeth into the country from the face of Jacob his brother;

And Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters ....

The names of his wives and sons are before given; but what were the names of his daughters or their number is not said:

and all the persons of his house:

his menservants and maidservants that were born in his house or bought with his money; the word for "persons" signifies "souls"F15נפשות "animus" Pagninus Montanus &c. and is sometimes used for slaves that are bought and sold see Ezekiel 27:13

and his cattle and all his beasts;

his sheep and oxen camels and asses:

and all his substance which he had got in the land of Canaan:

before he went to Seir the first time part of which he might leave behind in Canaan with servants to improve it; and also that part of his father's personal estate which fell to him at his death as well as what he might further acquire after his death during his stay in Canaan:

and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob;

not into another part of the same country; but into another country as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan supply it and so the Arabic version even unto Seir as appears by what follows; and whither he had been before and had obtained large possessions and now having got all he could at his father's death and collecting together all his other substance thought fit to retire from thence to Seir which he liked better and for a reason afterwards given; God thus disposing his mind and making the circumstances of things necessary that he should remove in order to make way for Jacob and his posterity to dwell in a land which was designed for them: and so the Samaritan and Septuagint versions read it "and he went out of the land of Canaan": and the Syriac version is "and he went to the land of Seir". Some render the words to this sense that he went thither "before the coming of Jacob"F16מפני יעקב "ante adventum" Jahakobi Junius & Tremellius. ; and it is true that he did go thither before his brother came again into Canaan; but of this the text speaks not for what follows will not agree with it; others better "because of Jacob"F17"Propter Jacobum" Piscarat. ; not for fear of him as the Targum of Jonathan which paraphrases the words "for the terror of his brother Jacob was cast upon him;'but because he knew by the blessing of his father and the oracle of God and his concurring providence in all things that the land of Canaan belonged to him and also for a reason that follows.

 

Genesis 36:7.  7 For 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.

   YLT 7for their substance was more abundant than to dwell together and the land of their sojournings was not able to bear them because of their cattle;

For their riches were more than that they might dwell together ....

And therefore it was proper to part as Abraham and Lot had done before Genesis 13:6

and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle;

their cattle were so numerous that they could not get pasturage for them there not being enough left them by the inhabitants of it for them to occupy; nor could they hire land of them sufficient for them both; they being not possessors but sojourners in it and therefore could have no more of it than the inhabitants thought fit to let unto them.

 

Genesis 36:8.  8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

   YLT 8and Esau dwelleth in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

Thus dwelt Esau in Mount Seir ....

Before he is said to be in the land of Seir Genesis 32:3; now to dwell in a mount of that name; from which driving the Horites he seized upon and dwelt in it; it had not its name from his own rough shaggy hair as Josephus saysF18Antiqu. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 3. much less from the satyrs and hairy demons that frequented it as R. Abraham SebaF19Tzeror Hammor fol. 47. 1. but rather from Seir the Horite who inhabited the land Genesis 36:20; unless he had his name from the mountain which might be so called from its being rough and rugged like shaggy hair and being covered with bushes and brambles which carried such a resemblance; and so it stands opposed to Mount Halak near it Joshua 11:17 which signifies the bald or smooth mountain being destitute of shrubs &c. The Targum of Jonathan calls this mountain Mount Gabla and one part of the land of Edom or Idumea was called Gobolites as JosephusF20Antiqu. l. 2. c. 1. sect. 2. relates perhaps the same with Gebal Psalm 83:7; hither Esau went and took up his residence after things were amicably adjusted between him and his brother Jacob; the Jews sayF21Pirke Eliezer c. 38. fol. 43. 1. that Isaac left all he had to his two sons and that after they had buried him Esau said to Jacob let us divide what our father has left us into two parts and I will choose because I am the firstborn; so Jacob divided it into two parts; all that his father had left he made one part and the land of Israel the other part and Esau took what his father left see Genesis 36:6; and the land of Israel and the cave of Machpelah he delivered to Jacob and they drew up everlasting writings between them. Now this or something like it being the case and those the circumstances of fixings thus and by that means so it came to pass that Esau dwelt in Seir; and Jacob remained secure and quiet in the land of Canaan:

Esau is Edom

so called from the red pottage he had of Jacob which is repeated to fix the odium of that transaction upon him as well as for the sake of what follows showing the reason why his posterity were called Edomites.

 

Genesis 36:9.  9 And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.

   YLT 9And these [are] births of Esau father of Edom in mount Seir.

And these are the generations of Esau ....

Or the posterity of Esau his children and grandchildren as before and hereafter related:

the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir;

from whom they of that mountain and in the adjacent country had the name of Edomites or Idumeans.

 

Genesis 36:10.  10 These 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.

   YLT 10These [are] the names of the sons of Esau: Eliphaz son of Adah wife of Esau; Reuel son of Bashemath wife of Esau.

These are the names of Esau's sons ....

In this and some following verses an account is given of the sons of Esau which agrees with what is before observed and of his sons' sons:

Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau:

who seems to be his first wife and this his first son:

Reuel the son of Bashemath and wife of Esau;

his second son by another wife a daughter of Ishmael Genesis 36:3.

 

Genesis 36:11.  11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman Omar Zepho [a] Gatam and Kenaz.

   YLT 11And the sons of Eliphaz are Teman Omar Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz;

And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman ....

This was his firstborn and from him the city of Teman in Edom or Idumea had its name see Jeremiah 49:7; and Eliphaz is called the Temanite from hence Job 2:11; four more sons are mentioned:

Omar Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz;

but I do not find that any towns or cities or any part of the land of Edom were denominated from any of them; only it may be observed that Zepho is called Zephi in 1 Chronicles 1:36; the account seems fabulous and not to be depended on which Josephus Ben GorionF23Hist. Heb. l. 1. c. 2. vid. Chizzuk Emunab par. l. c. 6. p. 66. & Nachman apud Buxtorf. Lex. Talmud. col. 31 32. gives of him of opposing the burial of Jacob being taken by Joseph and carried into Egypt and at his death fleeing to Carthage and from thence to the Romans and was king of themF24Vid. Huls. Theolog. Jud. par. 1. p. 132 &c. .

 

Genesis 36:12.  12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz Esau’s son and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.

   YLT 12and Timnath hath been concubine to Eliphaz son of Esau and she beareth to Eliphaz Amalek; these [are] sons of Adah wife of Esau.

And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son ....

She is said to be the sister of Lotan the eldest son of Seir the Horite Genesis 36:22; in 1 Chronicles 1:36 mention is made of Timna among the sons of Eliphaz and of Duke Timnah here Genesis 36:40; and GerundinsisF25Apud Menasseh ben Israel conciliator in Gen. Quaest. 57. p. 81. is of opinion that Timnah the concubine of Eliphaz after she had bore Amalek conceived and bore another son and she dying in childbirth he called it by her name to perpetuate her memory: but Jarchi says that Eliphaz lay with Lotan's mother the wife of Seir the Horite of whom was born Timna and when she grew up she became his concubine and so was both his daughter and his concubine:

and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek;

from whence the Amalekites sprung often mentioned in Scripture whom the Israelites were commanded utterly to destroy 1 Samuel 15:18

these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife;

that is her grandsons.

 

Genesis 36:13.  13 These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath Zerah Shammah and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath Esau’s wife.

   YLT 13And these [are] sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah Shammah and Mizzah; these were sons of Bashemath wife of Esau.

And these are the sons of Reuel ....

Another son of Esau's; this man had four sons as follow:

Nahath and Zerah Shammah and Mizzah:

of whom we know no more than their names unless Maps or Massa which PtolemyF26Geograph. l. 5. c. 16. places in Idumea should have its name from Mizzah:

these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife;

her grandsons as before.

 

Genesis 36:14.  14 These 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.

   YLT 14And these have been the sons of Aholibamah daughter of Anah daughter of Zibeon wife of Esau; and she beareth to Esau Jeush and Jaalam and Korah.

And these were the sons of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon Esau's wife ....

See Gill on Genesis 36:2; here also the Samaritan and Septuagint versions read "the daughter of Anah the son of Zibeon":

and she bare to Esau Jeush and Jaalam and Korah;

this is repeated from Genesis 36:5; no mention is made of her grandchildren as of his other wives.

 

Genesis 36:15.  15 These 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

   YLT 15These [are] chiefs of the sons of Esau: sons of Eliphaz first-born of Esau: chief Teman chief Omar chief Zepho chief Kenaz

These were dukes of the sons of Esau ....

Ben Melech says the difference between a duke and a king was that a king is crowned and a duke is not crowned; but Jarchi interprets the word of heads of families which seems probable; so that as Esau's sons and grandsons are before related here it is suggested that they had large and numerous families of which they were the heads and governors; and in this and the following verses Genesis 36:16; the sons and grandsons of Esau by his several wives are rehearsed as in the preceding verses with the title of "duke" given to each of them.

 

Genesis 36:16.  16 Chief Korah [b] Chief Gatam and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.

   YLT 16chief Korah chief Gatam chief Amalek; these [are] chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these [are] sons of Adah.

Duke Korah ....

Only among the sons of Eliphaz is reckoned Duke Korah not before mentioned among his sons and is left out in the Samaritan version; See Gill on Genesis 36:7; to which it may be added that according to GerundinsisF1Apud Menaasseh ut supra. (conciliator in Gen. Quaest. 57. p. 81.) this is the same with Timna related among the sons of Eliphaz 1 Chronicles 1:36; who was called by his father Korah: or this might be a grandson of Eliphaz.

 

Genesis 36:17.  17 These 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.

   YLT 17And these [are] sons of Reuel son of Esau: chief Nahath chief Zerah chief Shammah chief Mizzah; these [are] chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these [are] sons of Bashemath wife of Esau.

And these are the sons of Reuel....

See Gill on Genesis 36:15.

 

Genesis 36:18.  18 And 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.

   YLT 18And these [are] sons of Aholibamah wife of Esau: chief Jeush chief Jaalam chief Korah; these [are] chiefs of Aholibamah daughter of Anah wife of Esau.

And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esua's wife;....

See Gill on Genesis 36:15.

 

Genesis 36:19.  19 These were the sons of Esau who is Edom and these were their chiefs.

   YLT 19These [are] sons of Esau (who [is] Edom) and these their chiefs.

These are the sons of Esua ....

See Gill on Genesis 36:15.

 

Genesis 36:20.  20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan Shobal Zibeon Anah

   YLT 20These [are] sons of Seir the Horite the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah

These are the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land ....

 "Before" as the Targum of Jonathan adds that is before it was inhabited by Esau and his posterity and called Edom and had from him the name of Seir; but the Horites dwelt here before him even in Abraham's time Genesis 14:6; and who were so called from their dwelling under ground in holes and caves with which the further part of the land of Edom abounded and are the same the Greeks call Trogloditae: Jarchi says from their Rabbins these were very expert in the nature of the land and knew what was fit for olives and what for vines. Now the genealogy of this man is here given partly to show who were the ancient inhabitants of this land before they were drove out and succeeded by Esau and his sons Deuteronomy 1:12; and partly because of the intermarriages of Esau and his posterity with them whereby they more easily came into the possession of the country; for Esau married the daughter of Anah the son of Zibeon a son of Seir Genesis 36:11; and Eliphaz took Timna a sister of Lotan the son of Seir to be his concubine Genesis 36:12; the names of the sons of Seir follow:

Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah:

the first of these is saidF2Shalshalet Hakabala fol. 79. 1. to be the same with Latinus a king that reigned in Italy which seems to be taken from the fancied resemblance of names. Zibeon and Anah are here spoken of as brethren the sons of Seir; whereas in Genesis 36:24; they are made mention of as father and son; see Gill on Genesis 36:2; Zibeon according to the Jewish writersF3T. Bab. Pesachim fol. 54. 1. & Bava Bathra fol. 115. 2. Bereshit Rabba sect. 82. fol. 72. 1. committed incest with his mother whence came Anah and is called his brother because of the same mother and his son as being begotten by him. They seem to seek for such kind of copulations to reproach the Edomites.

 

Genesis 36:21.  21 Dishon Ezer and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites the sons of Seir in the land of Edom.

   YLT 21and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan; these [are] chiefs of the Horites sons of Seir in the land of Edom.

And Dishon and Ezer and Dishan ....

These were three others of the sons of Seir which with the other four before mentioned made seven:

these are the dukes of the Horites the children of Seir in the land of Edom;

these were in the land of Edom before it was so called and possessed by the Edomites and whose posterity afterwards became tributary to them.

 

Genesis 36:22.  22 And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam.[c] Lotan’s sister was Timna.

   YLT 22And the sons of Lotan are Hori and Heman; and a sister of Lotan [is] Timna.

And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman ....

The first of these seems to have his name from the general name of the tribe or nation and the other is called Homam 1 Chronicles 1:39

and Lotan's sister was Timna:

whom Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau took for his concubine Genesis 36:12; for the sake of which her relation to Lotan is here mentioned; and she is said to be the sister of this man particularly though there were seven brethren of them because she might be his sister both by father and mother's side when she was not of the other only by the father's side.

 

Genesis 36:23.  23 These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan [d] Manahath Ebal Shepho [e] and Onam.

   YLT 23And these [are] sons of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal Shepho and Onam.

And the children of Shobal were these ....

Who was the second son of Seir and whose sons were the five following:

Alvan and Manahath and Ebal Shepho and Onam;

in 1 Chronicles 1:40 Alvan is called Alian and Shepho is Shephi.

 

Genesis 36:24.  24 These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water[f] in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon.

   YLT 24And these [are] sons of Zibeon both Ajah and Anah: it [is] Anah that hath found the Imim in the wilderness in his feeding the asses of Zibeon his father.

And these are the children of Zibeon ....

The third son of Self and who had two sons:

both Ajah and Anah;

of the latter it is observed:

this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father;

who observed while he was feeding his father's asses in the wilderness that the he asses coupled with mares or horses with the she asses and produced another sort of creatures called mules; and by this means found out the way how such creatures might be produced and practised it: so Aelianus saysF4De Animal. l. 12. c. 16. that mules are not the produce of nature but you may call it an adulterous invention of human contrivance and boldness and a theft: this is the common interpretation and to which our version leads: but against it it may be observed that the word for "mules" is different from this here used nor is this word ever used of mules nor does it appear that there were any creatures of this sort before the days of David; nor is the word translated "found" ever used of that which before was not in being but of what already existed; nor is there any mention of horses or mares in this account also; had it referred to a mixture of these creatures with asses it would not have been omitted. Some think therefore the words are to be rendered "he found waters in the wilderness"; sources and collections of waters which were not usual in a wilderness and of great worth and use in desert lands as Edom was and in those hot countries and the Vulgate Latin version renders it "hot waters"; but then to the fixing of either of these versions the word must be altered either in its points or letters for which there is no authority. The Targum of Onkelos renders it mighty ones or giants and may signify the "Emim" the "aleph" being changed for "yod" as Aben Ezra observes; and then the sense is that these gigantic people who were so called from the terror they taught upon their neighbours and who dwelt near the Horim in Seir Deuteronomy 2:10 as they used to steal from their flocks Anah lighted on them in the wilderness and fell upon them and took them; and with this agrees the Samaritan version "he found giants in the wilderness"; and so Abendana interprets the words: Aben Ezra observes that many interpret the word of plants or herbs; and a very learnedF5Wagenseil in Sota p. 217 218. man is of opinion that the word used is the name of an useful herb or plant first discovered by Anah. This Anah though a keeper of his father's asses is afterwards called Duke Anah; it being the custom of the sons of great personages to be the keepers of flocks and herds; See Gill on Genesis 29:9.

 

Genesis 36:25.  25 These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.

   YLT 25And these [are] sons of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah daughter of Anah.

And the children of Anah were these .... Dishon

the name of one of his uncles. Genesis 36:21

and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah;

Aben Ezra thinks this is not the same Anah that was mentioned in the beginning of this verse; since if he was the same there was no need to mention him again but that he is the same that is mentioned in Genesis 36:2; but if he is not the same that is spoken of in this verse and Genesis 36:24 it is difficult to account for the mention of him at all in this place: that he is the same as in Genesis 36:2 seems to be right though it is attended with this difficulty that the Anah and Aholibamah there are represented as of the Hivites whereas here they are reckoned among the Horites; but it may be as Ainsworth observes on Genesis 36:20 that the Horites were of the race of the Hivites originally; and indeed this Aholibamah being the wife of Esau seems to be the reason of this particular notice taken of her here. She is omitted in 1 Chronicles 1:41.

 

Genesis 36:26.  26 These were the sons of Dishon:[g]Hemdan [h] Eshban Ithran and Cheran.

   YLT 26And these [are] sons of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran.

And these are the sons of Dishon ....

Not of Dishon the son of Anah but of Dishon the son of Seir Genesis 36:21; and they are the four following:

Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran;

the first of these is called Amram or rather Chamram 1 Chronicles 1:41.

 

Genesis 36:27.  27 These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan Zaavan and Akan.[i]

   YLT 27These [are] sons of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan.

The children of Ezer are these ....

Another son of Seir who had the following sons:

Bilhan and Zaavan and Achan;

the two last are called Zavan and Jakan in 1 Chronicles 1:42.

 

Genesis 36:28.  28 These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

   YLT 28These [are] sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

The children of Dishon are these ....

The last of the seven sons of Seir and who had two sons:

Uz and Aran;

from the former of these the land of Uz inhabited by the Edomites had its name Lamentations 4:21; some have taken this to be the country of Job Job 1:1.

 

Genesis 36:29.  29 These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan Chief Shobal Chief Zibeon Chief Anah

   YLT 29These [are] chiefs of the Horite: chief Lotan chief Shobal chief Zibeon chief Anah

These are the dukes that came of the Horites ....

Not that succeeded one after another as the kings next mentioned did but were together at the same time heads of respective families and governors of them; and then the seven sons of Seir are rehearsed in this verse and Genesis 36:30 in their order with the title of "duke" annexed to each of them "Duke Lotan" &c.

 

Genesis 36:30.  30 Chief Dishon Chief Ezer and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

   YLT 30chief Dishon chief Ezer chief Dishan: these [are] chiefs of the Horite in reference to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

These are the dukes that came of Hori ....

The ancestor of Seir whence he is called the Horite unless the singular is put for the plural used in Genesis 36:29

among their dukes in the land of Seir;

not that there were other dukes besides them in the land of Seir until Esau got among them but these were they whose habitations were before in the land of Gabla (or Seir); as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it; or "in" or "according to their dukedoms" as the Septuagint version; in their respective families where they had the government and which became very numerous.

 

Genesis 36:31.  31 Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:

   YLT 31And these [are] the kings who have reigned in the land of Edom before the reigning of a king over the sons of Israel.

And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom ....

In the land that was afterwards called the land of Edom; for this laud was not so called when these kings began to reign: for according to Bishop CumberlandF6Orig. Gent. Antiq. p. 1-24. and those that follow himF7Bedford in his Scripture Chronology and the Authors of the Universal History. these were Horite kings who after their defeat by Chedorlaomer Genesis 14:5; in order to secure themselves the better from such a calamity for the future set up a kingdom and which appears by the following account to be elective; and so MaimonidesF8Morch Nevochim par. 3. c. 50. p. 510. observes that not one of these kings were of Edom: and these were:

before there reigned any king over the children of Israel;

and there being no kings over Israel until many years after the times of Moses hence some have thought these words are inserted by some other writer after him; but there is no need to suppose that; for Moses knew from foregoing prophecies and promises that kings would arise out of them and reign over them Genesis 17:6; and this he was so certain of that he himself by divine direction gave laws and rules to the children of Israel respecting their future kings Deuteronomy 17:14; besides Moses himself was king in Jeshurun or Israel Deuteronomy 33:5 so that it is the same as if he had said these are the kings that reigned in Edom before this time.

 

Genesis 36:32.  32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

   YLT 32And Bela son of Beor reigneth in Edom and the name of his city [is] Dinhabah;

And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom ....

His name was not Balac as the Septuagint version which may lead to think of Balak king of Moab; nor is this the same with Balaam the son of Beor who lived ages after as some in Aben Ezra: who he was we know no more of than what is here said; he was the first Horite king and is placed by Mr. BedfordF9Scripture Chronology p. 316. in A. M. 2002:

and the name of his city was Dinhabah

the place either where he was born or where he had been governor before but of it we read nowhere else.

 

Genesis 36:33.  33 And when Bela died Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.

   YLT 33and Bela dieth and reign in his stead doth Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah;

And Bela died ....

How long he reigned is not known with any certainty nor whether he left any sons behind him; if he did they did not succeed him in the throne; for

Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead:

this king some have thought to be the same with Job and from whom one of the books of Scripture has its name; but neither their names nor age nor country agree: who this Jobab and his father Zerah were cannot be said: they seem to be of the same country in which Jobab reigned since he is said to be of Bozrah a famous city of Idumea after spoken of in the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah and others Isaiah 34:6; Jarchi takes it to be a city of Moab and indeed it is sometimes placed in Moab and sometimes in Edom it being on the borders of both and sometimes belonged to the one and sometimes to the other. According to Mr. BedfordF11Scripture Chronology p. 327. this king began his reign A. M. 2135 so that the former king must have reigned about forty two years; which is a space of time he allows to each successor taking them one with another the particular and exact time of each reign he not being able to fix.

 

Genesis 36:34.  34 When Jobab died Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

   YLT 34and Jobab dieth and reign in his stead doth Husham from the land of the Temanite.

And Jobab died ....

According to Mr. Bedford A. M. 2177:

and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead;

or of the land of the south as the Targum of Jonathan of the southern part of the land of Idumea as it was afterwards called; the metropolis of which was the city of Teman after spoken of in Scripture which had its name from Teman the son of Eliphaz; See Gill on Genesis 36:11.

 

Genesis 36:35.  35 And 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.

   YLT 35And Husham dieth and reign in his stead doth Hadad son of Bedad (who smiteth Midian in the field of Moab) and the name of his city [is] Avith;

And Husham died ....

As is thought about A. M. 2219 above forty years after the death of Abraham as computed by the above writer:

and Hadad the son of Bedad (who smote Midian in the field of Moab) reigned in his stead:

who he or his father were we have no other account nor of this warlike action of his; probably the Midianites came out to invade him hearing of which he went out against them and met with him in the fields of Moab which were near to Midian and fought them and conquered them: Jarchi says the Midianites came out to make war against the Moabites and the king of Edom went out to help the Moabites and hence he says we learn that Midian and Moab were near each other; and in the days of Balaam they made peace that they might combine against Israel: this battle is supposed to be fought in the twelfth year of his reign; and it is thought to be in his reign that Esau came with his family and dwelt in SeirF12Bedford's Scripture Chronology p. 343 349. ; though some place it later either in the following reign or in that of his successorsF13Universal History vol. 2. p. 170. :

and the name of his city was Avith:

where it was is not certain.

 

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

   YLT 36and Hadad dieth and reign in his stead doth Samlah of Masrekah;

And Hadad died ....

As is supposed about A. M. 2241.

and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead;

but who he was or the place he was of cannot be said.

 

Genesis 36:37.  37 And when Samlah died Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place.

   YLT 37and Samlah dieth and reign in his stead doth Saul from Rehoboth of the River;

And Samlah died ....

As is supposed about A. M. 2283.

and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead;

Rehoboth was one of the cities built by Ashur Genesis 10:11; and was situated near the river Euphrates; and so the Targum of Jonathan calls it Rehoboth which is by Euphrates; but JeromF14De loc. Heb. fol. 93. M. & 94. A. from Eusebius takes it to be another city by a river in Edom and says that there was in his days a garrison in the country of Gabalena (a part of Idumea) a large village called by that name.

 

Genesis 36:38.  38 When Saul died Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

   YLT 38and Saul dieth and reign in his stead doth Baal-hanan son of Achbor;

And Saul died ....

About A. M. 2325:

and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead:

whose name inverted is observed by Grotius to be the same with Hannibal; it signifies a gracious lord or king.

 

Genesis 36:39.  39 And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died Hadar[j] reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau.[k] His wife’s name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mezahab.

   YLT 39and Baal-hanan son of Achbor dieth and reign in his stead doth Hadar and the name of his city [is] Pau; and his wife's name [is] Mehetabel daughter of Matred daughter of Me-zahab.

And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died ....

About A. M. 2367.

and Hadar reigned in his stead;

the last of the Horite kings when an end was put to this monarchy by the united families of Seir and Esau and changed into dukedoms; of which there were seven of the race of Seir and fourteen of the race of Esau of whom an account is given in the preceding part of this chapter: as for this last king it is further said of him:

and the name of his city was Pau;

but where it was cannot be said:

and his wife's name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mezahab;

this woman seems to be a person of note by the particular mention made of her; but whether the names of her ancestors are the names of men or women it is not certain: some take Matred to be the name of her father and Mezahab the name of her grandfather; but according to Aben Ezra Marred was the name of her mother who was the daughter of Mezahab her grandfather; whom the Targum of Jonathan interprets melter of gold as does Saadiah Gaon.

 

Genesis 36:40.  40 And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau according to their families and their places by their names: Chief Timnah Chief Alvah [l] Chief Jetheth

   YLT 40And these [are] the names of the chiefs of Esau according to their families according to their places by their names: chief Timnah chief Alvah chief Jetheth

And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau ....

After the regal monarchy ceased the government in Edom was by dukes and of these there were two sons one of which an account has been given of already who were partly of the race of Seir and partly of the race of Esau; and who were dukes not by succession but together in and over their respective families: and it may be observed that neither Esau nor his sons by his two first wives Eliphaz and Reuel are called dukes only his three sons by his last wife; all the rest are his grandsons and sons of the two former which seems to give some light as to the time when those dukedoms took place; and very probably it was by the joint influence of Seir and Esau whose families had intermarried that an end was put to the regal power and who for a course of years governed in the above manner: and they of Esau's race in those times are said to be "dukes in the land of Edom" as a learned manF15Shuckford's Connection p. 192. has observed; whereas those that follow which are a second race of them are called "dukes of Edom" Genesis 36:43; who took possession of the country and ruled in it driving out the Horites and succeeding in their stead: these are described

according to their families;

they were the heads of:

after their places by their names;

the places where they lived which were called after their names and are as follow:

Duke Timnah Duke Alvah Duke Jetheth;

these were both the names of the dukes and of the places where they governed called after their names; so Timnah or Themna as Jerom calls it is by him said to be a city of the princes of Edom the same he says of JethethF16De loc. Heb. fol. 92. F. 95. C. so the like may be concluded of Alvah.

 

Genesis 36:41.  41 Chief Aholibamah Chief Elah Chief Pinon

   YLT 41chief Aholibamah chief Elah chief Pinon

Duke Aholibamah Duke Elah Duke Pinon.

The former is the name of a woman Genesis 36:2; here the name of a man and also of the place of which he was duke; for Jerom observesF17De Loc. Heb. fol. 93. K. that Oolibama is a city of the princes of Edom and who also makes mention of Elath a country of the princes of Edom and a city of Esau ten miles from Petra to the eastF18Ib. fol. 91. E. and the seat of Duke Pinon was very probably Phinon which lay between Petra and ZoarF19Eusebius apud Reland. Palestin. illustrat. p. 71. .

 

Genesis 36:42.  42 Chief Kenaz Chief Teman Chief Mibzar

   YLT 42chief Kenaz chief Teman chief Mibzar

Duke Kenaz Duke Teman Duke Mibzar.

There was a Kenaz the son of Eliphaz and so a Teman a son of his who were both dukes; but these seem to be different from them though the latter might be duke of the place called Teman from him: which in Jerom's timeF20De loc. Hebrews 3. fol. 95. B. was a village five miles distant from Petra and where was a Roman garrison and so Mabsar in his timesF21Ib. was a large village in the country of Gabalena (a part of Idumea) and called Mabsara and belonged to the city Petra.

 

Genesis 36:43.  43 Chief 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.

   YLT 43chief Magdiel chief Iram: these [are] chiefs of Edom in reference to their dwellings in the land of their possession; he [is] Esau father of Edom.

Duke Magdiel Duke Iram ....

Magdiel also JeromF23De loc. Hebrews 3. fol. 93. B. says was in the country of Gabalena formerly possessed by the dukes of Edom; and the Targum of Jonathan says this duke was called Magdiel from the name of his city which was a strong "migdal" or tower: and Jarchi's note upon this word is this is Rome; so the Jewish writers elsewhere sayF24Pirke Eliezer c. 38. that Esau had an hundred provinces from Seir to Magdiel; as it is said "Duke Magdiel Duke Iram" this is Rome:

these be the dukes of Edom according to their habitations in the land of their possession;

the former race of dukes as has been observed were dukes in the land of Edom were sojourners in the land at least had not sovereign dominion or were not the only dukes in it; there were dukes of the race of Seir at the same time; but now these having driven out the Horites were sole possessors and sovereign lords; and thus while Israel and his posterity were sojourners in a strange land Esau and his family were possessors and lords of a country they could call their own:

he is Esau the father of the Edomites;

that is Edom the dukes of whose race are before reckoned up; the same is Esau who had the name of Edom from selling his birthright for a mess of red pottage: and this is the man from whom the Edomites or Idumeans sprung often hereafter spoken of in the Scripture though no more in this history. He is saidF25Shalshalet Hakabala fol. 5. 1. to be killed by the tribes of Israel at the funeral of Jacob he coming forth with a great army to hinder his interment in the cave of Machpelah: it is a tradition of the JewsF26T. Hieros. Gittin fol. 47. 2. he was slain by Judah.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

a.    Genesis 36:11 Spelled Zephi in 1 Chronicles 1:36

b.    Genesis 36:16 Samaritan Pentateuch omits Chief Korah.

c.Genesis 36:22 Spelled Homam in 1 Chronicles 1:39

d.    Genesis 36:23 Spelled Alian in 1 Chronicles 1:40

e.    Genesis 36:23 Spelled Shephi in 1 Chronicles 1:40

f. Genesis 36:24 Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate (hot springs); Septuagint reads Jamin; Targum reads mighty men; Talmud interprets as mules.

g.    Genesis 36:26 Hebrew Dishan

h.    Genesis 36:26 Spelled Hamran in 1 Chronicles 1:41

i.  Genesis 36:27 Spelled Jaakan in 1 Chronicles 1:42

j.  Genesis 36:39 Spelled Hadad in Samaritan Pentateuch Syriac and 1 Chronicles 1:50

k.Genesis 36:39 Spelled Pai in 1 Chronicles 1:50

l.  Genesis 36:40 Spelled Aliah in 1 Chronicles 1:51