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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 36:1 - 36:8
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Esau Settles in Seir
v. 1. Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
v. 2. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon, the Hittite, and Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite, Gen_26:34;
v. 3. and Bashemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth, Gen_28:9. It was just as common for a woman to have several names as for a man, it being customary to change the names at some important event in life. Although there are apparent discrepancies in the entire Chapter, they involve no contradiction.
v. 4. And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz, 1Ch_1:35;and Bashemath bare Reuel, 1Ch_1:35;
v. 5. and Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah; these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan, before his removal to the country in the neighborhood of Mount Hor.
v. 6. And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, all the servants of his household, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went in to the country (of Seir)from the face of his brother Jacob. Esau had, even before this, made an expedition into the country of the Horites for the purpose of conquest, Gen_32:3, and he now definitely removed to Seir with his entire establishment. He knew that the domain of Canaan belonged to Jacob, and it was clear, moreover, that the flocks of the brothers had grown so large as to prohibit their dwelling together.
v. 7. For their riches, especially in herds and flocks,were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle. The story of Abraham and Lot might thus have been repeated, and this was not Esau's intention, since he was at peace with his brother.
v. 8. Thus dwelt Esau in Mount Seir; Esau is Edom. Idumea, with the mountain range known as Seir, whose highest peak was Mount Hor, was between the Dead Sea and the Aelanitic Gulf.