Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 36:9
And these [are] the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
9. the Edomites ] Heb. Edom, as in Gen 36:43: cf. 1Sa 14:47.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
9 14. The “sons” of Esau by Adah, Basemath, and Oholibamah must be regarded as the names of clans, and, like the sons of Ishmael and Israel, are 12 in number (Amalek, the son of Esau’s concubine, Timna, is excluded from this list of twelve).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And these are the generations of Esau,…. Or the posterity of Esau, his children and grandchildren, as before and hereafter related:
the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir; from whom they of that mountain and in the adjacent country had the name of Edomites or Idumeans.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(cf. 1Ch 1:36-37). Esau’s Sons and Grandsons as Fathers of Tribes. – Through them he became the father of Edom, i.e., the founder of the Edomitish nation on the mountains of Seir. Mouth Seir is the mountainous region between the Dead Sea and the Elanitic Gulf, the northern half of which is called Jebl ( ) by the Arabs, the southern half, Sherah (Rob. Pal. ii. 552). – In the case of two of the wives of Esau, who bore only one son each, the tribes were founded not by the sons, but by the grandsons; but in that of Aholibamah the three sons were the founders. Among the sons of Eliphaz we find Amalek, whose mother was Timna, the concubine of Eliphaz. He was the ancestor of the Amalekites, who attacked the Israelites at Horeb as they came out of Egypt under Moses (Exo 17:8.), and not merely of a mixed tribe of Amalekites and Edomites, belonging to the supposed aboriginal Amalekite nation. For the Arabic legend of Amlik as an aboriginal tribe of Arabia is far too recent, confused, and contradictory to counterbalance the clear testimony of the record before us. The allusion to the fields of the Amalekites in Gen 14:7 does not imply that the tribe was in existence in Abraham’s time, nor does the expression “first of the nations,” in the saying of Balaam (Num 24:20), represent Amalek as the aboriginal or oldest tribe, but simply as the first heathen tribe by which Israel was attacked. The Old Testament says nothing of any fusion of Edomites or Horites with Amalekites, nor does it mention a double Amalek (cf. Hengstenberg, Dissertations 2, 247ff., and Kurtz, History i. 122, 3, ii. 240ff.).
(Note: The occurrence of “Timna and Amalek” in 1Ch 1:36, as coordinate with the sons of Eliphaz, is simply a more concise form of saying “and from Timna, Amalek.”)
If there had been an Amalek previous to Edom, with the important part which they took in opposition to Israel even in the time of Moses, the book of Genesis would not have omitted to give their pedigree in the list of the nations. At a very early period the Amalekites separated from the other tribes of Edom and formed an independent people, having their headquarters in the southern part of the mountains of Judah, as far as Kadesh (Gen 14:7; Num 13:29; Num 14:43, Num 14:45), but, like the Bedouins, spreading themselves as a nomad tribe over the whole of the northern portion of Arabia Petraea, from Havilah to Shur on the border of Egypt (1Sa 15:3, 1Sa 15:7; 1Sa 27:8); whilst one branch penetrated into the heart of Canaan, so that a range of hills, in what was afterwards the inheritance of Ephraim, bore the name of mountains of the Amalekites (Jdg 12:15, cf. Gen 5:14). Those who settled in Arabia seem also to have separated in the course of time into several branches, so that Amalekite hordes invaded the land of Israel in connection sometimes with the Midianites and the sons of the East (the Arabs, Jdg 6:3; Jdg 7:12), and at other times with the Ammonites (Jdg 3:13). After they had been defeated by Saul (1Sa 14:48; 1Sa 15:2.), and frequently chastised by David (1Sa 27:8; 1Sa 30:1.; 2Sa 8:12), the remnant of them was exterminated under Hezekiah by the Simeonites on the mountains of Seir (1Ch 4:42-43).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| The Dukes of Edom. | B. C. 1729. |
9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife. 14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife. 18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
Observe here, 1. That only the names of Esau’s sons and grandsons are recorded, only their names, not their history; for it is the church that Moses preserves the records of, not the record of those that are without. Those elders that lived by faith alone obtained a good report. It is Sion that produces the men of renown, not Seir, Ps. lxxxvii. 5. Nor does the genealogy go any further than the third and fourth generation; the very names of all after are buried in oblivion. It is only the pedigree of the Israelites, who were to be the heirs of Canaan, and of whom were to come the promised seed, and the holy seed, that is drawn out to any length, as far as there was occasion for it, even of all the tribes till Canaan was divided among them, and of the royal line till Christ came. 2. That these sons and grandsons of Esau are called dukes, v. 15-19. Probably they were military commanders, dukes, or captains, that had soldiers under them; for Esau and his family lived by the sword, ch. xxvii. 40. Note, Titles of honour have been more ancient out of the church than in it. Esau’s sons were dukes when Jacob’s sons were but plain shepherds, ch. xlvii. 3. This is not a reason why such titles should not be used among Christians; but it is a reason why men should not overvalue themselves, or others, for the sake of them. There is an honour that comes from God, and a name in his house that is infinitely more valuable. Edomites may be dukes with men, but Israelites indeed are made to our God kings and priests. 3. We may suppose those dukes had numerous families of children and servants that were their dukedoms. God promised to multiply Jacob, and to enrich him; yet Esau increases, and is enriched first. Note, It is no new thing for the men of this world to be full of children, and to have their bellies too filled with hidden treasures, Ps. xvii. 14. God’s promise to Jacob began to work late, but the effect of it remained longer, and it had its complete accomplishment in the spiritual Israel.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 9-14:
These verses list various “generations of Esau.” He was the founder of the Edomite nation. Various districts in the territory occupied by Esau were later known by the names of his sons and grandsons; for example, Teman.
The name Amalek occurs in the Old Testament, as an adversary of Israel. He was the son of Esau’s son Eliphaz, by a concubine. The violation of God’s marriage provision (Ge 2:24; Mt 19:4-6) resulted in conflict in future generations.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9. And these are the generations of Esau, the father of the Edomites (130) Though Esau had two names, yet in this place the second name refers to his posterity, who are called Idumeans. For, to make it appear what God had bestowed upon him for the sake of his father Isaac, Moses expressly calls him the father of a celebrated and famous people. And certainly, it served this purpose not a little, to trace the effect and fulfillment of the prophecy in the progeny of Esau. For if the promise of God so mightily flourished towards a stranger, how much more powerfully would it put itself forth towards the children, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and consequently the inheritance of grace? Esau was an obscure man, and a sojourner in that country: whence therefore is it, that suddenly rulers should spring from him, and a great body of people should flourish, unless because the benediction which proceeded from the mouth of Isaac, was confirmed by the result? For Esau did not reign in this desert without opposition; since a people of no ignoble name previously inhabited Mount Seir. On this account Moses relates that the men who had before inhabited that land were mighty: so that it would not have been easy for a stranger to acquire such power as Esau possessed, if he had not been divinely assisted.
(130) Patris Edom.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) The father of the Edomites.Heb., the father of Edom. He was himself the man Edom, but the word here means the country of which he was the colonizer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Esau’s Sons and Grandsons
v. 9. And these are the generations of Esau, the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir: v. 10. These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; Reuel, the son of Bashemath, the wife of Esau.
v. 11. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho v. 12. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son, v. 13. And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these were the sons of Bashemath, Esau’s wife.
v. 14. And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife; and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
How short the account! how trifling the record of this man’s race! Here is no further mention of them than by name: and their very posterity enumerated only to three or four generations. Reader! look at that scripture, Psa 37:35-36 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 36:9-14
9These then are the records of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Esau’s wife Adah, Reuel the son of Esau’s wife Basemath. 11The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz. 12Timna was a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These are the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. 13These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. 14These were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon: she bore to Esau, Jeush and Jalam and Korah.
Gen 36:10 “These are the names of Esau’s sons” It is obvious from the repeated listing of Esau’s sons that this chapter is divided into several distinct types of genealogical documents (see note at Gen 36:4-5).
Gen 36:11 “the sons of Eliphaz” There has been much discussion as to whether this is the same Eliphaz as in the book of Job. There seems to be some credibility to this because the land of Uz (i.e., a son named Uz) is mentioned in Gen 36:28. Edom was famous for her wise men, particularly from the city of Teman. These two evidences point toward Edom as the homeland of Job. Whether Eliphaz is the same as his “friend” is uncertain.
Gen 36:12 “Timna was a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz . .she bore Amalek to Eliphaz” She is singled out as a concubine obviously because she is the mother of the fierce enemy of the Israelites known as the “Amalekites” (cf. Exodus 17; Deu 25:17; Deu 25:19; 1 Samuel 15). It was meant to be a derogatory statement because this is the only child of a concubine mentioned in this genealogical list.
Gen 36:14 “the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah” There has been much discussion as to why the sons of this one wife are mentioned along with the grandchildren. Some say that this is to relegate the children to the level of the grandchildren, i.e. a rather disparaging comment on this woman’s sons. It possibly relates to inheritance rights.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the Edomites: Heb. Edom, Gen 19:37
Reciprocal: Gen 2:4 – the generations Gen 25:30 – Edom 1Ch 1:35 – sons of Esau 1Ch 4:42 – mount Seir 2Ch 20:23 – mount Seir Ecc 1:4 – One generation Eze 35:2 – mount