G
E N E S I S
CHAP. XXXVI.
In this chapter we have an account of the
posterity of Esau, who, from him, were called Edomites, that Esau who sold his
birthright, and lost his blessing, and was not loved of God as Jacob was. Here
is a brief register kept of his family for some generations. 1. Because he was
the son of Isaac, for whose sake this honour is put upon him. 2. Because the
Edomites were neighbours to Israel, and their genealogy would be of use to
give light to the following stories of what passed between them. 3. It is to
show the performance of the promise to Abraham, that he should be "the
father of many nations," and of that answer which Rebekah had from the
oracle she consulted, "Two nations are in thy womb," and of the
blessing of Isaac, "Thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth."
We have here, I. Esau's wives, ver. 1-5. II. His remove to mount Seir, ver.
6-8. III. The names of his sons, ver. 9-14. IV. The dukes who descended of his
sons, ver. 15-19. V. The dukes of the Horites, ver. 20-30. VI. The kings and
dukes of Edom, ver. 31-43. Little more is recorded than their names, because
the history of those that were out of the church (though perhaps it might have
been serviceable in politics) would have been of little use in divinity. It is
in the church that the memorable instances are found of special grace, and
special providence; for that is the enclosure, the rest is common. This
chapter is abridged, 1 Chron. i. 35, &c.
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The
Generations of Esau.
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B. C. 1780.
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1 Now these are the generations
of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the
daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the
daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 And
Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 And Adah bare
to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel; 5 And Aholibamah bare
Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were
born unto him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau took 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 had got in the
land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother
Jacob. 7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell
together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because
of their cattle. 8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is
Edom.
Observe here, 1.
Concerning Esau himself, v. 1. He is called Edom (and again, v.
8), that name by which was perpetuated the remembrance of the foolish bargain
he made, when he sold his birthright for that red, that red pottage.
The very mention of that name is enough to intimate the reason why his family
is turned off with such a short account. Note, If men do a wrong thing they
must thank themselves, when it is, long afterwards, remembered against them to
their reproach. 2. Concerning his wives, and the children they bore him in the
land of Canaan. He had three wives, and, by them all, but five sons: many a
one has more by one wife. God in his providence often disappoints those who
take indirect courses to build up a family; yet here the promise prevailed,
and Esau's family was built up. 3. Concerning his removal to mount Seir, which
was the country God had given him for a possession, when he reserved Canaan
for the seed of Jacob. God owns it, long afterwards: I gave to Esau mount
Seir (Deut. ii. 5; Josh. xxiv. 4), which was the reason why the Edomites
must not be disturbed in their possession. Those that have not a right by
promise, such as Jacob had, to Canaan, may have a very good title by
providence to their estates, such as Esau had to mount Seir. Esau had begun to
settle among his wives' relations, in Seir, before Jacob came from Padan-aram,
ch. xxxii. 3. Isaac, it is likely, had sent him thither (as Abraham in
his life-time had sent the sons of the concubines from Isaac his son into the
east country, ch. xxv. 6), that Jacob might have the clearer way made
for him to the possession of the promised land. During the life of Isaac,
however, Esau had probably still some effects remaining in Canaan; but, after
his death, he wholly withdrew to mount Seir, took with him what came to his
share of his father's personal estate, and left Canaan to Jacob, not only
because he had the promise of it, but because Esau perceived that if they
should continue to thrive as they had begun there would not be room for both. Thus
dwelt Esau in Mount Seir, v. 8. Note, Whatever opposition may be
made, God's word will be accomplished, and even those that have opposed it
will see themselves, some time or other, under a necessity of yielding to it,
and acquiescing in it. Esau had struggled for Canaan, but now he tamely
retires to mount Seir; for God's counsels shall certainly
stand, concerning the times before appointed, and the bounds of our
habitation.
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The Dukes of Edom.
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B. C. 1729.
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9 And these are the generations
of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: 10 These are
the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the
son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were
Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was
concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were
the sons of Adah Esau's wife. 13 And these are the sons of
Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of
Bashemath Esau's wife. 14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah,
the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau
Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 15 These were dukes of the
sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman,
duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and
duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the
land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. 17 And these are
the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke
Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of
Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 18 And
these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam,
duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the
daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. 19 These are the sons of
Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
Observe here, 1.
That only the names of Esau's sons and grandsons are recorded, only their
names, not their history; for it is the church that Moses preserves the
records of, not the record of those that are without. Those elders that lived
by faith alone obtained a good report. It is Sion that produces the men of
renown, not Seir, Ps. lxxxvii. 5. Nor does the genealogy go any further than
the third and fourth generation; the very names of all after are buried in
oblivion. It is only the pedigree of the Israelites, who were to be the heirs
of Canaan, and of whom were to come the promised seed, and the holy seed, that
is drawn out to any length, as far as there was occasion for it, even of all
the tribes till Canaan was divided among them, and of the royal line till
Christ came. 2. That these sons and grandsons of Esau are called dukes,
v. 15-19. Probably they were military commanders, dukes, or captains,
that had soldiers under them; for Esau and his family lived by the sword,
ch. xxvii. 40. Note, Titles of honour have been more ancient out of the
church than in it. Esau's sons were dukes when Jacob's sons were but plain
shepherds, ch. xlvii. 3. This is not a reason why such titles should
not be used among Christians; but it is a reason why men should not overvalue
themselves, or others, for the sake of them. There is an honour that comes
from God, and a name in his house that is infinitely more valuable. Edomites
may be dukes with men, but Israelites indeed are made to our God kings and
priests. 3. We may suppose those dukes had numerous families of children and
servants that were their dukedoms. God promised to multiply Jacob, and to
enrich him; yet Esau increases, and is enriched first. Note, It is no new
thing for the men of this world to be full of children, and to have their
bellies too filled with hidden treasures, Ps. xvii. 14. God's promise
to Jacob began to work late, but the effect of it remained longer, and it had
its complete accomplishment in the spiritual Israel.
20 These are the sons of Seir the
Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites,
the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of
Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23
And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal,
Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon;
both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the
wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And the
children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of
Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and
Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The children of Ezer are
these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. 28 The children of Dishan are
these; Uz, and Aran. 29 These are the dukes that came
of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that
came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
In the midst of
this genealogy of the Edomites here is inserted the genealogy of the Horites,
those Canaanites, or Hittites (compare ch. xxvi. 34), that were the
natives of Mount Seir. Mention is made of them, ch. xiv. 6, and of
their interest in Mount Seir, before the Edomites took possession of it, Deut.
ii. 12, 22. This comes in here, not only to give light to the story, but to be
a standing reflection upon the Edomites for intermarrying with them, by which,
it is probable, they learned their way, and corrupted themselves. Esau having
sold his birthright, and lost his blessing, and entered into alliance with the
Hittites, his posterity and the sons of Seir are here reckoned together. Note,
Those that treacherously desert God's church are justly numbered with those
that were never in it; apostate Edomites stand on the same ground with
accursed Horites. Particular notice is taken of one Anah who fed the asses of
Zibeon his father (v. 24), and yet is called duke Anah, v.
29. Note, Those that expect to rise high should begin low. An honourable
descent should not keep men from an honest employment, nor a mean employment
hinder any man's preferment. This Anah was not only industrious in his
business, but ingenious too, and successful; for he found mules, or (as
some read it) waters, hot-baths, in the wilderness. Those that are
diligent in their business sometimes find more advantages than they expected.
31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom,
before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And
Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was
Dinhabah. 33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah
reigned in his stead. 34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of
Temani reigned in his stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son
of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the
name of his city was Avith. 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah
of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of
Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. 38 And Saul
died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 39
And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the
name of his city was Pau; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the
daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 40 And these are
the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families,
after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 42 Duke Kenaz, duke
Teman, duke Mibzar, 43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be
the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their
possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.
By degrees, it
seems, the Edomites wormed out the Horites, obtained full possession of the
country, and had a government of their own. 1. They were ruled by kings, who
governed the whole country, and seem to have come to the throne by election,
and not by lineal descent; so bishop Patrick observes. These kings reigned in Edom
before there reigned any king over the children of Israel, that is, before
Moses's time, for he was king in Jeshurun, Deut. xxxiii. 5. God had
lately promised Jacob that kings should come out of his loins (ch.
xxxv. 11), yet Esau's blood becomes royal long before any of Jacob's did.
Note, In external prosperity and honour, the children of the covenant are
often cast behind, and those that are out of covenant get the start. The
triumphing of the wicked may be quick, but it is short; soon ripe, and as soon
rotten: but the products of the promise, though they are slow, are sure and
lasting; at the end it shall speak, and not lie. We may suppose it was
a great 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. 2. They were afterwards governed by dukes, again here named, who, I
suppose, ruled all at the same time in several places in the country. Either
they set up this form of government in conformity to the Horites, who had used
it (v. 29), or God's providence reduced them to it, as some conjecture,
to correct them for their unkindness to Israel, in refusing them a passage
though their country, Num. xx. 18. Note, When power is abused, it is just with
God to weaken it, by turning it into divers channels. For the transgression
of a land, many are the princes thereof. Sin brought Edom from kings to
dukes, from crowns to coronets. We read of the dukes of Edom (Exod. xv: 15),
yet, long afterwards, of their kings again. 3. Mount Seir is called the
land of their possession, v. 43. While the Israelites dwelt in the
house of bondage, and their Canaan was only the land of promise, the Edomites
dwelt in their own habitations, and Seir was in their possession. Note, The
children of this world have their all in hand, and nothing in hope (Luke xvi.
25); while the children of God have their all in hope,
and next to nothing in hand. But, all things considered, it is better to have
Canaan in promise than mount Seir in possession.
Contents
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