Genesis 36:1–43 (ESV)
These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)
These are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. (Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Adah. These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: the chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the chiefs born of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. He is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father. These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. These are the chiefs of the Horites: the chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, chief by chief in the land of Seir.
These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites. Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Dinhabah. Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place, the name of his city being Avith. Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place, the name of his city being Pau; his wife's name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.
These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their clans and their dwelling places, by their names: the chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of Edom), according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession.
At first glance, this chapter might feel like one of those long detours. A whole list of names, strange places, chiefs, kings. But the Bible doesn’t waste ink. Genealogies for the Israelites remind them of who they are and who God is and what God has done. This particular genealogy shows us the real history of the family line of Esau, Jacobs brother.
Notice the detail: wives, sons, daughters, possessions, kings. Esau becomes a nation, Edom, with chiefs and rulers who eventually stand in history as a real force. Esau’s descendants become an ancient power that you can still find in historical artifacts to this day. This is no footnote people group in God’s story. And yet, for all the prosperity and power, the line of Esau is not the line of promise. Esau receives blessings of land and wealth, but the covenant flows through Jacob, through Israel.
It’s striking, isn’t it, how quickly Esau’s family seems to flourish. Chiefs and kings rise from him before Israel even has a king. His line become a real political power in the seeming blink of an eye. And I think part of the reason this is so striking to us is that it can feel that way in life too. We look at those people who aren’t walking with God and we see them prospering faster, stronger, more secure. They have better jobs, better children, better success in life, better houses, and more influence in their social circles. But these appearances can deceive us. What matters in this passage isn’t how quickly Edom as a nation rises to power, but whether God’s promises rest upon it.
So while this chapter teaches us real history of the Ancient Near East, this passage also has a spiritual lesson for us to learn. For us, this chapter is a reminder that God is faithful not only to Jacob, but also to Esau. He promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, and here’s one of those nations taking shape. God does what he says. But we also see the limits of worldly greatness. The chiefs of Edom come and go, their names fade into history. But from Jacob’s line will come the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, whose reign will never end.
So this passage teaches us the patience that comes from remembering that God has a plan and he is working out his plan. We don’t have to envy Esau’s line or his power, we don’t have to be fooled by earthly prosperity. Why? Because our hope isn’t in being a chief for a moment, but in belonging to Christ forever. Nations rise and fall, but we who are in Christ will be raised in glory with him, and his glory will never fade.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that every name and every nation is under your hand. Teach us not to envy quick prosperity, but to trust your promises. Keep us patient when the road feels slow, and fix our eyes on Jesus, the true King whose kingdom never ends. In His name we pray. Amen.