Genesis 36:40-43

DUKES OF ESAU AFTER THEIR PLACES, Genesis 36:40-43.

Some suppose that the eleven dukes here named were contemporary with Hadar, the last named king; but 1 Chronicles 1:51-54, which mentions the dearth of Hadar, (called Hadad there,) implies that they survived him . But the expressions, according to their families, after their places, by their names (Genesis 36:40) and according to their habitations in the land of their possession, (Genesis 36:43,) denote rather the ducal cities, or districts . We should accordingly translate, duke of Timnah, duke of Alvah, and etc . , and understand that Aholibamah, Kenaz, and Teman are here the names of cities, called after their founders; perhaps the persons bearing these names in the previous part of the genealogy .