1Das sind die Nachkommen Esaws, das ist Edom. 2Esaw hatte seine Frauen von den Töchtern Kenaans genommen: Ada, Tochter des Hittiters Elon, Oholibama, Tochter der Ana, der Tochter des Hiwwiten Zib'on, 3und Basemat, Tochter Jischmaëls, Schwester Nebajots. 4Und Ada gebar Esaw den Elifas, und Basemat gebar Rëuël. 5Oholibama gebar Jëusch, Ja'lam und Korah. Dies sind die Söhne Esaws, die ihm im Land Kenaan geboren wurden. 6Und Esaw nahm seine Frauen und seine Söhne und Töchter, samt allen Seelen seines Hauses, sowie seine Herden und all sein Vieh und all sein Gut, das er im Land Kenaan erworben hatte, und er zog in ein Land, hinweg von seinem Bruder Jaakob; 7denn ihre Habe war zu groß, als daß sie hätten beisammen wohnen können, und das Land, in dem sie sich aufhielten, konnte sie nicht tragen wegen ihrer Herden. 8So ließ sich Esaw auf dem Gebirge Sëir nieder - Esaw, das ist Edom. 9Und dies sind die Nachkommen Esaws, des Vaters von Edom, im Gebirge Sëir. 10Dies sind die Namen der Söhne Esaws: Elifas, Sohn Adas, des Weibes Esaws, Rëuël, Sohn Basemats, des Weibes Esaws. 11Und die Söhne des Elifas waren: Teman, Omar, Zefo, Gaatam und Kenas. 12Und Timna war eine Kebse des Elifas, des Sohnes Esaws, und sie gebar Elifas den Amalek; dies sind die Kinder Adas, des Weibes Esaws. 13Und dies sind die Söhne Rëuëls: Nahat und Serah, Schamma und Misa. Dies waren die Söhne Basemats, des Weibes Esaws. 14Und dies waren die Söhne Oholibamas, der Tochter Anas, der Tochter Zib'ons, des Weibes Esaws; sie gebar Esaw Jëusch, Ja'lam und Korah. 15Dies sind die Vasallenfürsten der Söhne Esaws. Die Söhne des Elifas, des Erstgeborenen Esaws: Vasallenfürst Teman, Vasallenfürst Omar, Vasallenfürst Zefo, Vasallenfürst Kenas, 16Vasallenfürst Korah, Vasallenfürst Gaatam, Vasallenfürst Amalek; dies sind die Vasallenfürsten des Elifas im Land Edom, dies die Söhne Adas. 17Und dies sind die Söhne Rëuëls, des Sohnes Esaws: Vasallenfürst Nahat, Vasallenfürst Serah, Vasallenfürst Schamma, Vasallenfürst Misa; dies sind die Vasallenfürsten Rëuëls im Land Edoms; dies die Söhne Basemats, des Weibes Esaws. 18Und dies sind die Söhne Oholibamas, des Weibes Esaws: Vasallenfürst Jëusch, Vasallenfürst Ja'lam, Vasallenfürst Korah; dies sind die Vasallenfürsten Oholibamas, der Tochter Anas, des Weibes Esaws. 19Dies sind die Söhne Esaws und dies ihre Vasallenfürsten, das ist Edom. 20Dies sind die Söhne Sëirs, die Horiten, die Bewohner des Landes: Lotan, Schobal, Zib'on und Ana, 21und Dischon, Ezer und Dischan; dies sind die Vasallenfürsten der Horiten, die Söhne Sëirs, im Land Edom. 22Und Lotans Söhne waren: Hori und Hemam, und Lotans Schwester war Timna. 23Und dies sind die Söhne Schobals: Alwan, Manahat und Ebal, Schefo und Onam. 24Und dies sind die Söhne Zib'ons: Aja und Ana; dies ist Ana, der die Jemiter in der Wüste fand, als er seinem Vater Zib'on die Esel weidete. 25Und dies sind die Söhne Anas: Dischon, und Oholibama war die Tochter Anas. 26Und dies sind die Söhne Dischons: Hemdan, Eschban, Jitran und Keran. 27Dies sind die Söhne Ezers: Bilhan, Saawan und Akan. 28Dies sind die Söhne Dischons: Uz und Aran. 29Dies sind die Vasallenfürsten der Horiten; Vasallenfürst Lotan, Vasallenfürst Schobal, Vasallenfürst Zib'on, Vasallenfürst Ana, 30Vasallenfürst Dischon, Vasallenfürst Ezer, Vasallenfürst Dischan; dies sind die Vasallenfürsten der Horiten nach ihren Vasallenfürsten im Land Sëir. 31Und dies sind die Könige, die im Land Edom regierten, bevor (dort) ein König von den Kindern Jisraëls regierte. 32Und es regierte in Edom Bela, Sohn Beors, und der Name seiner Stadt war Dinhaba. 33Als Bela starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Jobab, Sohn Serahs aus Bozra. 34Als Jobab starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Huscham aus dem Land der Temaniter. 35Als Huscham starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Hadad, Sohn Bedads, der Midjan im Gefild Moabs schlug, und der Name seiner Stadt war Awit. 36Als Hadad starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Samla aus Masreka. 37Als Samla starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Schaul aus Rehobot-ha-Nahar. 38Als Schaul starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Baal-Hanan, Sohn Achbors. 39Als Baal-Hanan, Sohn Achbors, starb, wurde König an seiner Statt Hadar; und der Name seiner Stadt war Pau, und der Name seines Weibes Mehetab'el, Tochter Matreds, Tochter Me-Sahabs. 40Und dies sind die Namen der Vasallenfürsten Esaws nach ihren Geschlechtern, nach ihren Ortschaften, mit ihren Namen: Vasallenfürst Timna, Vasallenfürst Alwa, Vasallenfürst Jetet, 40Vasallenfürst Oholibama, Vasallenfürst Ela, Vasallenfürst Pinon; 41Vasallenfürst Kenas, Vasallenfürst Teman, Vasallenfürst Mibzar, 42Vasallenfürst Magdiël, Vasallenfürst Iram; dies sind die Vasallenfürsten Edoms nach ihren Wohnsitzen in dem Land ihres Besitzes, das ist Esaw, der Vater Edoms.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Observe here, 1. Concerning Esau himself,
Gen 36:1. He is called
Edom (and again,
Gen 36:8), 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 2:5;
Josh 24:4), 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,
Gen 32:3. 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,
Gen 25:6), 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, Gen 36:8. 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.
9 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 men of renown, not Seir,
Pss 87:5. 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, Gen 36:15-
Gen 36:19. Probably they were military commanders, dukes, or captains, that had soldiers under them; for Esau and his family lived
by the sword, Gen 27:40. 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,
Gen 47:3. 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, Pss 17:14. 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 In the midst of this genealogy of the Edomites here is inserted the genealogy of the Horites, those Canaanites, or Hittites (compare
Gen 26:34), that were the natives of Mount Seir. Mention is made of them,
Gen 14:6, and of their interest in Mount Seir, before the Edomites took possession of it,
Deut 2:12,
Deut 2:22. 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 (
Gen 36:24), and yet is called
duke Anah, Gen 36:29. 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 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, Gen 36:3. God had lately promised
Jacob that kings should come out of his loins (
Gen 35:11), 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 (
Gen 36:29), 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 20:18. 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 15:15), yet, long afterwards, of their kings again. 3. Mount Seir is called
the land of their possession, Gen 36:43. 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 16:25); 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.