Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 36:7
For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
7. For their substance was too great ] The departure of Esau into Seir is here explained as necessitated by the growing wealth of Esau and Jacob in Canaan: cf. the separation of Abraham and Lot in ch. 13. Obviously the explanation given here does not agree with the representation in Gen 32:3 and Gen 33:14-16. “Substance,” cf. Gen 12:5, Gen 15:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gen 36:7
For their riches were more
Riches cannot secure happiness
I wish I were rich, I would buy everything, cried Charlie.
The sun, moon, and stars? inquired William. No; everything that can be had for money. Thats not happiness, said William. Get your hat, Charlie, and come with me to Mr. Morrisons, said his father. Oh, please not, papa, he is such a disagreeable, miserable old man, with his cross looks and gouty foot, hobbling about and groaning. I think you would like to live with him, said his father. I, papa? I would rather live down a coal-pit! With him you would have all that can be bought with money. I see it wont do, said Charlie. Health cannot be bought with money. Nor good temper, nor friendship, nor life, said William. Above all, added their papa, the favour of God cannot be bought with money. Be content with as much of it as God gives, and seek to use it aright.
The fear of God and sweet content Yield riches that will neer be spent..
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For their riches were more than that they might dwell together,…. And therefore it was proper to part, as Abraham and Lot had done before, Ge 13:6;
and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them, because of their cattle; their cattle were so numerous that they could not get pasturage for them, there not being enough left them by the inhabitants of it for them to occupy; nor could they hire land of them sufficient for them both; they being not possessors but sojourners in it, and therefore could have no more of it than the inhabitants thought fit to let unto them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) The land wherein they were strangers.The large growth of their wealth made the separation of Esau and Jacob as inevitable as had been that of Abraham and Lot. It is a usual incident in the life of nomads, and a tribe can multiply only to the extent of the capabilities of their district to support them. When this is reached, one portion of the tribe must seek a new home. This necessity was in the present case aggravated by Esau and Jacob being only sojourners in Canaan, surrounded by tribes who claimed to be owners of the soil: and this may have helped in determining Esaus choice; for in right of Aholibamah, he was in her country a duke. Maimonides also observes, that though Esau had gone on hunting expeditions to Seir, and even possibly for plunder, yet that he was not sufficiently powerful to take possession of the country until by Isaacs death the number of his retainers was largely multiplied.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 36:7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
Ver. 7. For their riches were more, &c. ] And besides, mount Seir was more fit for a hunter. A good ease it was to Jacob, who had little joy in his neighbourhood. “God will not take the ungodly by the hand”; Job 8:20 , marg. no more will his people. When they are forced to be in ill company, they cry, “Oh that I had the wings of a dove! that I might flee away”: Psa 55:6 or if that “Oh” will not set them at liberty, they take up that “Woe,” to express their misery; “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech!” &c. Psa 120:5 It was once the prayer of a good gentlewoman, when she came to die, being in much trouble of conscience: O Lord, let me not go to hell, where the wicked are; for, Lord, thou knowest I never loved their company here. a
a Moses’s Choice, by M. Bur., p. 330.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
their riches: Gen 13:6, Gen 13:11
the land: Gen 17:8, Gen 28:4
Reciprocal: Gen 21:10 – Cast out Gen 21:14 – took Gen 25:33 – and he sold Gen 30:43 – General Gen 36:43 – their Gen 37:1 – wherein his father was a stranger Jer 35:6 – Ye shall