Gen. 36 Esau’s wives and children born in Canaan, Gen. 36:1–5. They remove from Jacob to Seir; the reason, Gen. 36:6–8. His posterity, Gen. 36:9–19; as also that of Seir the Horite, Gen. 36:20; among whom is Anah, who first found out mules in the wilderness, Gen. 36:24. His children, Gen. 36:25–30.

They are here mentioned partly to show the effect of his father’s blessing, Gen. 27:39; partly that the Israelites might be admonished to treat the Edomites like brethren, and not to invade their land. See Deut. 23:7.

If this account be compared with that Gen. 26:34, we shall find some difficulties, which yet admit of an easy reconciliation, if these things be considered. 1. That it is very usual, and confessed by all, that the same persons are oft called by several names. 2.

Eliphaz, the progenitor of that Eliphaz, Job 2:11. Reuel, the father of Jethro. See Ex. 2:18, Num. 10:29.

He had also daughters, Gen. 36:6, though their names be not here mentioned.

1740 Quest. 1. Why went he thither? Answ. Partly by his own choice, that wild and mountainous country being very commodious for hunting, to which he wholly addicted himself; partly by his wives’ persuasions, who were both utterly averse from cohabitation with Isaac or Jacob, and strongly inclined…

Which words contain the reason why that land which was large and fruitful could not bear them, because they were not entire possessors of it, but only sojourners in it, and therefore must take the owners’ leavings, which were not sufficient for both of them and their numerous families.

This seems to be mentioned by the Holy Ghost by way of contempt or reproach; this is he who sold his birthright for a mess of red pottage, and therefore was called Edom or red.

1715 These were dukes, princes or heads of their several families and little principalities, according to the manner of those times, who ruled their dominions, either severally, each his own, or jointly, by common advice, or it may be under one chief prince, their superior either in title or in…

Korah is not mentioned among the sons of Eliphaz, and therefore is thought to be his grandson. There is another Korah, Gen. 36:14, Gen. 36:18.

1840 The sons of Seir are here mentioned, partly because of their alliance with Esau’s family, Gen. 35:2, Gen. 35:20, Gen. 35:22, Gen. 35:24–25, and partly because the government was translated from his to Esau’s family.

Mules; so most understand the word Jemim, which is no where else used, and give this sense of it, that he found out the way of the generation of mules by the copulation of a horse and a mare.

The children, Heb. sons, though but one son be mentioned. Either then he had other sons not here expressed; or the plural number is put for the singular, as Gen. 21:7.

Among other dukes which were in that country. Or, according to their dukedoms or principalities; the word duke being here put for dukedom as the word king is put for kingdom, Isa. 23:15, Dan. 7:17.

He speaks of the posterity of Esau, who after they had subdued the Horites, erected a kingdom there. Here profane wits triumph. How, say they, could Moses write this, when as yet there was no king in Israel? Answ. 1.

Where he was born or dwelt, and so in the rest. The diversity of their cities makes it probable, that these kings had not their power by succession, but either by election, or by usurpation, according to Isaac’s prophecy of them, Gen. 27:40; By thy sword thou shalt live.

Of which land, see Jer. 49:7, Jer. 49:20, so called either from the city Teman, or from Teman the son of Eliphaz, Gen. 36:11. Or, of the south country, as the ancient translations render it.

The river; either Euphrates, or a branch of it, called Chabras, by which there is even at this day a city called Rahabath-melic, i.e. King’s Rahabath, as the learned observe; or some other river of note in those times and parts.

Either Matred was the father, and Mezahab the mother; or Matred was the mother, and Mezahab the grandmother.

1496 The names of the dukes, of their persons, and generations, and families. The state of Edom between the times of Esau and Moses seems to have been this; there were first dukes, then kings, and after them dukes again.