Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Genesis 36:10-19
The Descendants and Chieftains of Esau (Genesis 36:10).
‘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.'
For these sons of Esau compare Genesis 36:4.
‘And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gattam and Kenaz. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.'
This is a list of Esau's grandsons through Eliphaz.
‘And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the male descendants (sons) of Basemath, Esau's wife.'
This is a list of Esau's grandsons through Reuel. We note that they can be called ‘sons' of Basemath for they are her grandsons, a regular usage of the word ‘sons'.
‘'And these were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Ana, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife. And she bore to Esau, Jeush and Jalam and Korah.'
For these sons of Esau compare Genesis 36:5.
‘These are the chieftains of the sons of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau. Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, Chief Amalek. These are the chieftainss that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the male descendants of Adah.'
For this list of chieftains compare Genesis 36:11. We note that Chief Korah is not mentioned there. He is thus related in some way to Adah but not one of her grandsons (although he may have slipped in somehow due to careless copying, from Genesis 36:5 or Genesis 36:18). In 1 Chronicles 1:36 a Timna is mentioned as a son of Adah additionally to the six, but he may have died in childbirth. So Esau's sons and grandsons achieve chieftainship in Edom.
‘And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, Chief Mizzah. These are the chieftains that came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the male decendants of Basemath, Esau's wife.'
Compare Genesis 36:13 for these as grandsons of Esau.
‘And these are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jalam, Chief Korah. These are the chieftains that came of Oholibamah, the daughter Anah, Esau's wife.'
For these sons of Esau compare verses 5 and 14. The constant mention of Oholibamah's mother Anah suggests that she was very important. She was related to the Hivites/Horites and possibly Esau's marriage connection with her was very important in amalgamating the tribes to finally form Edom. No sons of these chieftains are recorded. It may be that they were childless when slain on a raid or in battle.
‘These are the male descendants of Esau and these are their chieftains. The same is Edom.'
Thus ends the list of male descendants and chieftains of Esau, and once more we are reminded that they compose Edom.