Genesis Chapter 36

Esau’s Genealogy

36:1-4

We are given an important piece of information that Esau is also known as Edom. In later times we are told of the Edomites; these are peoples who are descended from Esau. Keep in mind that at the time of Jesus’ life on Earth, the scriptures tells us that King Herod was an Edomite. (2. – 4.) These verses list the names of Esau’s wives and the sons born to Esau in the land of Canaan. Notice that all Esau’s sons were born in the land of Canaan; whereas all of Israel’s sons were born outside the land of Canaan, except Benjamin. Yet, all of Israel’s sons came with him into the promised land of Canaan, out of the pagan land.

36:5-7

Esau takes his wives, sons, daughters all the members of his household, along with all his livestock and possessions ( he was now very wealthy) and moves away from his brother Jacob. We are told the land could not sustain all the peoples and herds. So, since Jacob’s tribe was much stronger and his influence more powerful than Esau; evidently Esau decided he would move away from Jacob and his clan. Now we see that Esau, and his sons, do just the opposite of what Israel and his sons had done. They went from the land of Canaan (the Promised Land) into the pagan lands. Just because we are born in a Christian family does NOT mean we ARE Christians. Some of us were born and raised in families that were not really Christian, yet we have chosen to follow God’s Words of Truth and become followers of Christ. By following God’s Truth and being obedient to His Word, we know we are now in His spiritual ‘Promised Land’; the condition of being a child of the Living God, Creator of the Universe.

This move into the land of Seir would also fulfill the prophesy from Isaac that Esau would ‘shake’ or remove the ‘yoke’ of his brother from his ‘neck’. Genesis 27:39-40. It is amazing how God clearly shows that His Word will be fulfilled. In this instance it happened within their lifetimes.

36:8

Again we are told that Esau, and his entire clan, dwells in the hill country of Seir, and that Esau is Edom. This information may not seem important to us, but it was very important to the Israelites as Edomites continued to be hostile to Israelites throughout hundred of years, down through Old Testament times.

36:9-14

The Genealogy and history of Esau and his descendants continues with the names of each son, their wives, a concubine, and their sons, and descendants. This Genealogy was no doubt given to Israel to keep for posterity as Esau knew his brother was the one chosen by God. Notice that verse 12, The mention of Timna, the concubine, gives us the beginning of the Amalekites.

36:15-19

Now the Chiefs, or Dukes, of the sons of Esau are listed with their descendants. Keep in mind that all the Arab tribes came from Abraham; some through Hagar, the Egyptian, and some through Keturah, the last wife of Abraham, whom he married after Sarah’s death. Esau had children from both lineages, and there was intermarriage between the tribes.

36:20-28

Now we are also given the lineage of Seir, the Horite, who inhabited the land when Esau entered it. Presumably all this information was given to Israel by Esau.

36:29-30

This next group of “Dukes” were from the Horite clan.

36:31-39

Suddenly we are told of a list of kings that reigned in the land of Edom; before there were any kings over the children of Israel. It is unclear what the relation to Esau was of these kings. They probably chose a king from their own tribe to rule over the growing population. It is also unclear if this lineage of kings extended beyond the time of Esau. Some of the kings are given with the land area, or city, they ruled over. Sometimes we are told a king ‘smote’ or killed, the prior king to usurp his position. It was obviously not a peaceful kingdom. This book of Genesis was most likely compiled by Moses; thus he may have inserted this bit of information regarding the kings ruling the peoples. Moses knew that someday the Israelites would have a king, although they had never had one during his lifetime.

36:40-43

We are again given a list of Dukes that came from Esau, according to their families, and the location, or place, they lived. It appears that Esau was the overlord, or head of the Dukes. Thus the promises from Isaac to Esau were fulfilled.

All these descendants from Esau are carefully listed, with even some of the wives and daughters being listed; yet we are not told that ANY of them chose to follow God. All the material wealth and power on earth is worthless if the people do not know and follow their Creator. Do we remember this Truth in our dealings with earthly treasures, positions, family, friends, and especially God?