Gen 36:1-8 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XXXVI The genealogy of Esau, i.e., his sons, by his Canaanitish wives Adah, Aholibamah, and Bashemath, 1-3. The children of Adah and Bashemath, 4. Of Aholibamah, 5. Esau departs from Canaan and goes to Mount Seir, 6-8. The generations of Esau, i.e., his grandchildren, while in Seir , 7-19. Anah finds mules (Yemim) in the wilderness , 24. The generations of Seir, the Horite , 29-30. The kings which reigned in Edom , 31-39. The dukes that succeeded them , 40-43. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXVI Verse 1. These are the generations of Esau ] We have here the genealogy of Esau in his sons and grandsons, and also the genealogy of Seir the Horite. The genealogy of the sons of Esau, born in Canaan, is related ; those of his grandchildren born in Seir, ; those of Seir the Horite, . The generations of Esau are particularly marked, to show how exactly God fulfilled the promises he made to him, ; ; and those of Seir the Horite are added, because his family became in some measure blended with that of Esau.

‏ Genesis 36:1-8

CHAPTER XXXVI

The genealogy of Esau, i.e., his sons, by his Canaanitish wives Adah, Aholibamah, and Bashemath, 1-3.

The children of Adah and Bashemath, 4.

Of Aholibamah, 5.

Esau departs from Canaan and goes to Mount Seir, 6-8.

The generations of Esau, i.e., his grandchildren, while in Seir,

7-19.

Anah finds mules (Yemim) in the wilderness, 24.

The generations of Seir, the Horite, 29-30.

The kings which reigned in Edom, 31-39.

The dukes that succeeded them, 40-43.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXVI

Verse 1. These are the generations of Esau] We have here the genealogy of Esau in his sons and grandsons, and also the genealogy of Seir the Horite. The genealogy of the sons of Esau, born in Canaan, is related Ge 36:1-8; those of his grandchildren born in Seir,Ge 36:9-19; those of Seir the Horite,Ge 36:20-30. The generations of Esau are particularly marked, to show how exactly God fulfilled the promises he made to him, Ge 25:29-34; Ge 27:30-40; and those of Seir the Horite are added, because his family became in some measure blended with that of Esau.

Verse 2. His wives] It appears that Esau's wives went by very different names. Aholibamah is named Judith, Ge 26:34; Adah is called Bashemath in the same place; and she who is here called Bashemath is called Mahalath, Ge 28:9. These are variations which cannot be easily accounted for; and they are not of sufficient importance to engross much time. It is well known that the same persons in Scripture are often called by different names. See the Table of variations, chap. xxv., where there are some slight examples. See Clarke on Ge 25:18.

Anah the daughter of Zibeon] But this same Anah is said to be the son of Zibeon, Ge 36:24, though in this and Ge 36:14 he is said to be the daughter of Zibeon. But the Samaritan, the Septuagint, (and the Syriac, in Ge 36:2,) read son instead of daughter, which Houbigant and Kennicott contend to be the true reading. Others say that daughter should be referred to Aholibamah, who was the daughter of Anah, and granddaughter of Zibeon. I should rather prefer the reading of the Samaritan, Septuagint, and Syriac, and read, both here and in Ge 36:14, "Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the SON of Zibeon," and then the whole will agree with Ge 36:24.

Verse 6. Esau took his wives, &c.] So it appears that Esau and Jacob dwelt together in Canaan, whither the former removed from Seir, probably soon after the return of Jacob. That they were on the most friendly footing this sufficiently proves; and Esau shows the same dignified conduct as on other occasions, in leaving Canaan to Jacob, and returning again to Mount Seir; certainly a much less fruitful region than that which he now in behalf of his brother voluntarily abandoned.