New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Genesis 36
2
Esau got his wives from among the women of Canaan. He married Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. He also married Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.
Reference
People
3
And he married Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 28:9
5
Oholibamah had Jeush, Jalam and Korah. All of them were Esau's sons. They were born in Canaan.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Genesis 35:29
6
Esau moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. He took with him his wives, his sons and daughters, and all of the people who lived with him. He also took his livestock and all of his other animals. He took everything he had gotten in Canaan.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 32:3
7
Jacob and Esau owned so much that they couldn't remain together. There wasn't enough land for both of them. They had too much livestock.
Reference
9
Here is the story of Esau. He's the father of the people of Edom. They live in the hill country of Seir.
10
Here are the names of Esau's sons. They are Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.
12
Esau's son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna. She had Amalek by Eliphaz. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Adah.
Reference
People
13
The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.
People
14
Esau's wife Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon. She had Jeush, Jalam and Korah by Esau.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 36:2
15
Here are the chiefs who were among Esau's sons. Eliphaz was Esau's oldest son. The sons of Eliphaz were Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
Reference
16
Korah, Gatam and Amalek. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Eliphaz. They were Adah's grandsons.
17
The sons of Esau's son Reuel were Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Reuel. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.
Reference
18
The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah were Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. They were the chiefs who were sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah. She was Anah's daughter.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 36:14
19
That was the family line of Esau. And those were the chiefs. Esau was also called Edom.
20
Seir the Horite had sons living in the same area. They were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
Reference
People
23
The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 1:40
24
The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. He was the Anah who discovered the hot springs of water in the desert. He found them while he was taking care of the donkeys that belonged to his father Zibeon.
People
25
The children of Anah were Dishon and Oholibamah. Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Genesis 36:2
26
The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 1:41
29
The Horite chiefs were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 36:20
30
Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. They were the Horite chiefs in the land of Seir. They are listed tribe by tribe.
32
Bela became the king of Edom. Bela was the son of Beor. Bela's city was called Dinhabah.
📍 Dinhabah
People
33
When Bela died, Jobab became the next king. Jobab was the son of Zerah from Bozrah.
Reference
📍 Bozrah 1
People
35
When Husham died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad was the son of Bedad. Hadad had won the battle over Midian in the country of Moab. Hadad's city was called Avith.
📍 Locations
People
37
When Samlah died, Shaul became the next king. Shaul was from Rehoboth on the river.
📍 Rehoboth 2
People
39
When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad's city was called Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel. She was the daughter of Matred. Matred was the daughter of Me-Zahab.
📍 Pau
People
40
Here are the chiefs who were in the family line of Esau. They are listed by name as chiefs in charge of their tribes and territories. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,
Reference
📍 Esau
People
Parallel theme
Exodus 15:15
Summary of Genesis 36
Genesis chapter thirty-six is another chapter of genealogies, similar in nature to the Table of Nations in chapter ten but narrowed in focus to Esau's family in particular. It's easy to breeze past such a chapter, but it's worth noting the care that went into it.
The chapter is introduced by noting this is the account of Esau, also known as Edom, who took several wives, including several Canaanite daughters, and one Ishmaelite daughter as well. Their names are given, as are the names of Esau's sons, including his eldest, Eliphaz, and several younger sons. Compared to the information in chapter twenty-six, it's notable both for the difference in sons' names and the addition of the Ishmaelite wife, a detail which has given rise to much speculation, but the basic theme is the same. Just as Isaac and Ishmael both went their separate ways after Abraham's death, so too did Esau go his separate way.
Just as in the case of Abraham and Isaac living separately (or rather, apart from), the issue is given that Esau had too many possessions to be able to live comfortably with his brother, especially since the land couldn't sustain both of their cattle. Esau goes to dwell in the land of Seir, with a note that Esau is Edom, a point which also serves to introduce the next part of the chapter.
The main body of the chapter is taken up with a genealogy, starting with the sons of Esau, and then moving on to their sons and grandsons, and then the various chiefs which seem to be the local nobility descended from Esau's sons, as well as the inhabitants of the land prior to Esau's arrival. The sons of Seir the Horite, and their various chiefs, are listed alongside the sons, grandsons, and chiefs descended from Esau's sons. It's a long list intended to show the genealogy, the ancestry and familial relationships of both the people living in the land prior to Esau's arrival and the descendants of Esau himself, the Horites and the Edomites. In particular, the emphasis is placed on the various chiefs and clan leaders who ruled over the people in Esau's lands.
One of the more notable aspects of this chapter is the mention of various kings who ruled over Edom before a king ruled over Israel. This is worth mentioning because it highlights the fact that this section of the Bible, either the chapter or the book as a whole, couldn't possibly have been written during Israel's history until they'd had their own kings, and therefore couldn't have been written by Moses, who tradition holds wrote the Book of Genesis. Regardless of who might have written any given part, the fact is that the text names a number of kings of Edom, giving their names and in a few cases indicating when one ruled over Edom immediately before another. It indicates that Edom had developed a monarchy prior to Israel developing their own, a fact which is worth knowing and remembering when studying the history of Israel and her neighbors.
The chapter closes on a similar note to the beginning, mentioning the various chiefs who ruled over the land and its people.
Why is a chapter about Esau's family and the genealogy of Edom even worth including in the middle of the story about Jacob? A primary reason for its inclusion is probably because of promises God made to Isaac, particularly through Rebekah, who was promised that her children would form "two nations", with Esau being the father of one. The inclusion of this chapter shows that just as Isaac and Rebekah, God's promises have been kept through Esau as well. Though the covenant God made with Abraham was carried through Isaac and not Esau, Esau still is remembered and honored in Scripture, not only with a chapter detailing the history of his family, but also with mention of the kings and rulers who ruled over a part of God's promised land.
It's also notable for the fact that it serves to bookend the story of Esau and provide a brief interlude before jumping into the tales of Jacob's sons. With the description of Esau's family and the various genealogies and lists of rulers that accompany it, the Book of Genesis demonstrates that Esau and his descendants were a whole nation in their own right. The Book of Genesis does continue to focus on Jacob and his sons for the majority of the chapters which follow, with Joseph in particular receiving a great deal of attention. However, the Book of Genesis makes it clear that Esau and his descendants had their own history and their own rulers, even if they remained subordinate to the greater powers in the region.
The chapter is introduced by noting this is the account of Esau, also known as Edom, who took several wives, including several Canaanite daughters, and one Ishmaelite daughter as well. Their names are given, as are the names of Esau's sons, including his eldest, Eliphaz, and several younger sons. Compared to the information in chapter twenty-six, it's notable both for the difference in sons' names and the addition of the Ishmaelite wife, a detail which has given rise to much speculation, but the basic theme is the same. Just as Isaac and Ishmael both went their separate ways after Abraham's death, so too did Esau go his separate way.
Just as in the case of Abraham and Isaac living separately (or rather, apart from), the issue is given that Esau had too many possessions to be able to live comfortably with his brother, especially since the land couldn't sustain both of their cattle. Esau goes to dwell in the land of Seir, with a note that Esau is Edom, a point which also serves to introduce the next part of the chapter.
The main body of the chapter is taken up with a genealogy, starting with the sons of Esau, and then moving on to their sons and grandsons, and then the various chiefs which seem to be the local nobility descended from Esau's sons, as well as the inhabitants of the land prior to Esau's arrival. The sons of Seir the Horite, and their various chiefs, are listed alongside the sons, grandsons, and chiefs descended from Esau's sons. It's a long list intended to show the genealogy, the ancestry and familial relationships of both the people living in the land prior to Esau's arrival and the descendants of Esau himself, the Horites and the Edomites. In particular, the emphasis is placed on the various chiefs and clan leaders who ruled over the people in Esau's lands.
One of the more notable aspects of this chapter is the mention of various kings who ruled over Edom before a king ruled over Israel. This is worth mentioning because it highlights the fact that this section of the Bible, either the chapter or the book as a whole, couldn't possibly have been written during Israel's history until they'd had their own kings, and therefore couldn't have been written by Moses, who tradition holds wrote the Book of Genesis. Regardless of who might have written any given part, the fact is that the text names a number of kings of Edom, giving their names and in a few cases indicating when one ruled over Edom immediately before another. It indicates that Edom had developed a monarchy prior to Israel developing their own, a fact which is worth knowing and remembering when studying the history of Israel and her neighbors.
The chapter closes on a similar note to the beginning, mentioning the various chiefs who ruled over the land and its people.
Why is a chapter about Esau's family and the genealogy of Edom even worth including in the middle of the story about Jacob? A primary reason for its inclusion is probably because of promises God made to Isaac, particularly through Rebekah, who was promised that her children would form "two nations", with Esau being the father of one. The inclusion of this chapter shows that just as Isaac and Rebekah, God's promises have been kept through Esau as well. Though the covenant God made with Abraham was carried through Isaac and not Esau, Esau still is remembered and honored in Scripture, not only with a chapter detailing the history of his family, but also with mention of the kings and rulers who ruled over a part of God's promised land.
It's also notable for the fact that it serves to bookend the story of Esau and provide a brief interlude before jumping into the tales of Jacob's sons. With the description of Esau's family and the various genealogies and lists of rulers that accompany it, the Book of Genesis demonstrates that Esau and his descendants were a whole nation in their own right. The Book of Genesis does continue to focus on Jacob and his sons for the majority of the chapters which follow, with Joseph in particular receiving a great deal of attention. However, the Book of Genesis makes it clear that Esau and his descendants had their own history and their own rulers, even if they remained subordinate to the greater powers in the region.