Genesis 36:1-8

ESAU’S WIVES AND CHILDREN, AND THEIR REMOVAL TO MOUNT SEIR, Genesis 36:1-8. A comparison of the names of Esau’s wives, as given here and in Genesis 26:34; Genesis 28:9, will show noticeable differences . Here we have:

1. Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

2. Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite.

3. Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. There we have:

1. Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite.

2. Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

3. Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebajoth.

Here we notice that the names of the wives in the two lists are all different, but it seems altogether probable that Adah of the first list= Bashemath of the second; and Aholibamah of the first= Judith of the second; for there can be no doubt that Bashemath = Mahalath, stated in each list to be Ishmael’s daughter and Nebajoth’s sister. It is very possible that, in such ancient tables of names, changes, transpositions and corruptions have entered. Hittite and Hivite ( הוי חתי ) might easily become confused in transcribing, and Bashemath substituted for Mahalath. But all attempts at this date to emend or explain these differences are conjectural . The names may have been changed for reasons, and in accordance with customs, of which we are now ignorant. Names were often repeated in tribes and families, (comp. Genesis 36:20; Genesis 36:24-25,) and in some lists grandfathers or great grandfathers are mentioned instead of fathers. Thus it would be equally proper to call Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel, or of Nahor, or of Milcah, (see Genesis 24:24,) or even of Haran or Terah . Genesis 11:27. Then we must remember what incidents often changed a name, or gave a new name, as Esau and Edom, (Genesis 25:30,) and the eastern customs of giving new names to women at their marriage, or at the birth of certain children . It seems better to account for these differences on such general principles, than to attempt a doubtful hypothesis to account for each specific change .

6. All his substance Esau had vast possessions as well as Jacob, possessions acquired in the land of Canaan. He had not been idle while Jacob was in Mesopotamia .

Went into the country Hebrews, went to the land, that is, the land of Edom .

From the face of his brother Jacob When this occurred we have no means of knowing, but probably about the time of Jacob’s movement southwards from Shechem. Esau knew the land of Canaan was promised to Jacob, and he would not seek to hinder his occupation and free enjoyment of his own inheritance.

THE SONS AND GRANDSONS OF ESAU AS HEADS OF TRIBES, 9-14. Compare the parallel list in 1 Chronicles 1:35-37. The names here given are evidently those of the tribe-fathers of the nation of the Edomites in Mount Seir. They embrace five sons and ten grandsons, including Amalek the son of Eliphaz by his concubine. It is impossible and unnecessary now to trace the subsequent history and settlement of these several tribes. In the name of Eliphaz, the Temanite, mentioned in the Book of Job, (Job 2:11,) we may trace the name of the son and grandson of Esau perpetuated in the name of a city founded by this Teman, whose family made frequent use of the ancestral names . Teman was famed for wisdom . Jeremiah 49:7. This Amalek is believed to be the tribe-father of the Amalekites, who are so frequently mentioned in the subsequent history of Israel . They attacked the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt to Sinai, (Exodus 17:8,) and became a powerful and famous tribe . From his being the son of a concubine, Amalek may have found little sympathy from his brethren, and early became separated from them, founding by himself an independent tribe . The mention of the “ country of the Amalekites” in Genesis 14:7, does not necessarily imply that there was a nation of Amalekites at that time, but is to be explained as the natural designation of a territory thus known at the time of the writer .