Genesis 36:1-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 36:1-8

Observe here, 1. Concerning Esau himself, Gen. 36:1. He is called Edom (and again, Gen. 36:8), that name by which was perpetuated the remembrance of the foolish bargain he made, when he sold his birthright for that red, that red pottage. The very mention of that name is enough to intimate the reason why his family is turned off with such a short account. Note, If men do a wrong thing they must thank themselves, when it is, long afterwards, remembered against them to their reproach. 2.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:1

Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. Who was surnamed Edom, from the red pottage he sold his birthright for to his brother Jacob, Genesis 25:30 ; an account is given of him, and his posterity, not only because he was a son of Isaac, lately made mention of as concerned in his burial; but because his posterity would be often taken notice of in the sacred Scriptures, and so their genealogy would serve to illustrate such passages; and Maimonides F13 Moreh Nevochim, par.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:2

And Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan ,.... Of the Canaanites, the posterity of cursed Canaan, most of them were of them, though not all, the two following were, and so those, if different from them in Genesis 26:34 , one of his wives was of the family of Ishmael, as after related: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite ; according to Jarchi and Aben Ezra, this is the same with Bashemath, Genesis 26:34 ; and that she had two names: and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:3

And Bashemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth ,.... The eldest son of Ishmael, see Genesis 28:9 ; called there Mahalath. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:4

And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz ,.... This son of Esau, according to Jerom F14 Trad. Heb. in Gen. fol. 71. L. tom. 3. , is the same with him mentioned in the book of Job, as one of his friends that came to visit him, Job 2:11 ; and so says the Targum of Jonathan on Genesis 36:10 ; but he rather was the grandson of this man, since he is called the Temanite: and Bashemath bare Reuel ; the name is the same with Reuel or Raguel, the name of Jethro; but cannot be the same person as is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:5

And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah ,.... In this genealogy mention is made of another Korah among the sons of Eliphaz, Genesis 36:16 ; which Jarchi thinks is the same with this, and takes him to be a bastard, and begotten in incest by Eliphaz, on his father's wife Aholibamah; but Aben Ezra observes, that some are of opinion that there were two Korahs, one the son of Aholibamah, and the other the son of Adah; but he thinks there were but one, which was the son of Aholibamah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:6

And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters ,.... The names of his wives and sons are before given; but what were the names of his daughters, or their number, is not said: and all the persons of his house : his menservants and maidservants that were born in his house, or bought with his money; the word for "persons" signifies "souls" F15 נפשות "animus", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; , and is sometimes used for slaves that are bought and sold, see Ezekiel 27:13 , ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:7

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, Genesis 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 36:8

Thus dwelt Esau in Mount Seir ,.... Before he is said to be in the land of Seir, Genesis 32:3 ; now to dwell in a mount of that name; from which driving the Horites, he seized upon and dwelt in it; it had not its name from his own rough, shaggy hair, as Josephus says F18 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 3. , much less from the satyrs, and hairy demons that frequented it, as R. Abraham Seba F19 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 47. 1. , but rather from Seir the Horite who inhabited the land, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 36:1

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 Genesis 36:1-8 ; those of his grandchildren born in Seir, Genesis 36:9-19 ; those of Seir the Horite, Genesis 36:20-30 . The generations of Esau are particularly marked, to show how exactly God fulfilled the promises he made to him, Genesis 25 and 27; and those of Seir the Horite are... read more

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