Genesis 36:1

The Descendants of Esau

36:1 What follows is the account of Esau (also known as Edom). ¹ 

Genesis 36:43

36:43 chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements ²  in the land they possessed. This was Esau, the father of the Edomites.

Genesis 36:8-9

36:8 So Esau (also known as Edom) lived in the hill country of Seir. ³ 

36:9 This is the account of Esau, the father ⁴  of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir.

Genesis 36:19

36:19 These were the sons of Esau (also known as Edom), and these were their chiefs.

Genesis 32:3

32:3 Jacob sent messengers on ahead ⁵  to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region ⁶  of Edom.

Genesis 36:21

36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants ⁷  of Seir in the land of Edom.

Genesis 36:31

36:31 These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: ⁸ 

Genesis 25:30

25:30 So Esau said to Jacob, “Feed ⁹  me some of the red stuff – yes, this red stuff – because I’m starving!” (That is why he was also called ¹⁰  Edom.) ¹¹ 

Genesis 36:16-17

36:16 chief Korah, ¹²  chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons ¹³  of Adah.

36:17 These were the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these were the sons ¹⁴  of Esau’s wife Basemath.

¹ sn Chapter 36 records what became of Esau. It will list both his actual descendants as well as the people he subsumed under his tribal leadership, people who were aboriginal Edomites. The chapter is long and complicated (see further J. R. Bartlett, “The Edomite King-List of Genesis 36:31-39 and 1 Chronicles 1:43-50,” JTS 16 [1965]: 301-14; and W. J. Horowitz, “Were There Twelve Horite Tribes?” CBQ 35 [1973]: 69-71). In the format of the Book of Genesis, the line of Esau is “tidied up” before the account of Jacob is traced (37:2). As such the arrangement makes a strong contrast with Jacob. As F. Delitzsch says, “secular greatness in general grows up far more rapidly than spiritual greatness” (New Commentary on Genesis, 2:238). In other words, the progress of the world far out distances the progress of the righteous who are waiting for the promise.

² tn Or perhaps “territories”; Heb “dwelling places.”

³ tn Traditionally “Mount Seir,” but in this case the expression בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר (bÿhar se’ir) refers to the hill country or highlands of Seir.

⁴ sn The term father in genealogical records needs to be carefully defined. It can refer to a literal father, a grandfather, a political overlord, or a founder.

⁵ tn Heb “before him.”

⁶ tn Heb “field.”

⁶ tn Or “sons.”

⁷ tn Or perhaps “before any Israelite king ruled over [them].”

⁸ tn The rare term לָעַט (la’at), translated “feed,” is used in later Hebrew for feeding animals (see Jastrow, 714). If this nuance was attached to the word in the biblical period, then it may depict Esau in a negative light, comparing him to a hungry animal. Famished Esau comes in from the hunt, only to enter the trap. He can only point at the red stew and ask Jacob to feed him.

⁹ tn The verb has no expressed subject and so is given a passive translation.

¹⁰ sn Esau’s descendants would eventually be called Edom. Edom was the place where they lived, so-named probably because of the reddish nature of the hills. The writer can use the word “red” to describe the stew that Esau gasped for to convey the nature of Esau and his descendants. They were a lusty, passionate, and profane people who lived for the moment. Again, the wordplay is meant to capture the “omen in the nomen.”

⁹ tc The Samaritan Pentateuch omits the name “Korah” (see v. 11 and 1 Chr 1:36).

¹⁰ tn Or “grandsons” (NIV); “descendants” (NEB).

¹⁰ tn Or “grandsons” (NIV); “descendants” (NEB).