Lesson 77: Genesis 36:1- 29 All in the Family

Esau’s Clan 36:1-8

English Standard Version (Chapter 36)

36 These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. 4 And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)

While it is a quick read for most people, they miss a few details because of the difficult names listed here. The tendency is to skip these details. The fact is, when you see Edom in the text, it means it is from Esau’s side of the family. Esau married into families that did not please Isaac. They are families in the “Who’s Who” of the tribes that afflicted Israel and led the charge into idolatry and wickedness. Check this out about these wives:

They all were Canaanites

Adah was a Hittite

Oholibamah was a Hivite

Basemath was a descendant of Ishmael, Abraham’s unwanted son. While this wife is called Mahalath in Genesis 28, it means that the name could have been different because Mahalath is no longer living, or Basemath is an additional wife. It has also been suggested the name was changed by the writers for it to sound more in line with Ishmael’s clan.

Later in the Bible, you will read of a rebellion led by Korah. This would be a different Korah. Nonetheless, we see the name that signals coming trouble for Israel. The land of Canaan and it’s daughters produced these five descendants for Esau.

Esau Checks out 35:6-8

Things get really crowded in the land even though Jacob and Esau are not living real close to each other. Esau picks up everything he owns and moves away from his brother Jacob (vs.7). They both owned too much stuff. The land did not support this much livestock.Esau heads to the hill country of Seir. He remains south of the Dead Sea.

Next, we are getting a bigger picture of Esau for the purpose of record. Concubines are added in the list and the children and grandchildren that they bore to Esau and his sons:

35:9-14

English Standard Version (Chapter 36)

9 These are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.

12 (Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 14 These are the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Again the grandchildren’s names are another list of troublemakers for Israel. In particular, here are the main ones: Reuel, Teman, Kenaz, Amalek, and Korah. For instance, Korah’s rebellion in the wilderness wanderings of Israel brought death and sudden destruction to Korah, his entire family, and all who followed him. Nasty! These individuals are considered main because of the character of their part in the story lines of the Old Testament. The more the children of Israel are afflicted in the wilderness wanderings, marching through the law and the prophets, the historical section, and anyplace we might have left out, you will find them having difficulty with these families. And of course, we cannot fail to mention, they were their own worst enemy all the while. Unfortunately, we still follow that line of thinking today. If we don’t have our spiritual man dressed correctly, we can be our own worst enemy also.

The commentator from the Reformation era, Matthew Henry, had this to say about the line of Esau that bears repeating and read by us:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Genesis 36:9–19)

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, Psalm. 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,

While they have some historical merit for the understanding of trouble befalling God’s people, we will not dwell here so as not to elevate them. They must be mentioned, after all, they are in the Bible record!

Here’s the family picture 36:15 - 19

English Standard Version (Chapter 36)

15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs Teman(1), Omar(2), Zepho(3), Kenaz(4), 16 Korah(5), Gatam(6), and Amalek(7); these are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah.

17 These are the sons of Reuel(8), Esau’s son: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: the chiefs Jeush(9), Jalam(10), and Korah(11); these are the chiefs born of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.

It appears there are two Korahs, one born to Oholibamah, and the other born to Adah. The King James Version calls these chiefs, “Dukes.” This is more than political, this is family hierarchy. Ruling was probably kept inside the family until the children ran out or fighting corrected any problems.

We are going to end our chapter with a reading of names, familiar and not familiar. Hang on and note the name Seir at the beginning and ending. This is a note file for tucking away. You may or may not need this personally in the future.

English Standard Version (Chapter 36)

20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.

23 These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; he is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah.

26 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs of the Horites: the chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, chief by chief in the land of Seir.

Noteworthy, is Anah(same name as one of the wives) who found hot springs in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys. The KJV says he found mules instead of hot springs. Hot springs is a further translation. Nonetheless, he is resourceful while at work and it is truly duly noted! Never totally reject long names because we don’t want to read them as they provide insight in to daily life of the Word, the citizens of the Bible(bad and good), and help to explain things/people/places in the pages to come! Read on!