Genesis 36 - Introduction

The Descendants and Allies of Esau (Genesis 36:2)

This chapter now deals with the history of Esau prior to putting him to one side. This fits in with the compiler's methods all through Genesis where he deals with secondary lines first before concentrating on the main line (e.g. the Cainite line and then the line of Seth - Genesis 4 & Genesis 5).

It is an interesting chapter and raises complex questions for the reader. We can understand why a record should be kept of the family of Esau, for he was closely connected with the family tribe at the time of the death of Isaac and was clearly on good terms with Jacob, but why should a record be kept of the genealogy of Seir the Horite (36:20-30) and of the kings of Edom (36:31-43)? For these records must finally have been in the hands of the family tribe in order to be compiled with the other records and be recorded here. The only time when these would have been of such interest was when Esau was in close contact with them and in the process of amalgamating with them (and was connected with them by marriage), or possibly if some Edomites were included among the slaves in Egypt and in the mixed multitude of Exodus 12:38.

There would appear to be a number of records utilised, all genealogical. These comprise Genesis 36:2, the sons of Esau; Genesis 36:10 the descendants and chiefs (or dukes) of Esau; Genesis 36:20 the sons and chiefs of Seir the Horite; Genesis 36:31, the kings who reigned in the land of Edom; Genesis 36:40, chiefs that came from Esau.