Bible Commentaries

The Generations of Esau

'The amount of detail here arises from the fact that Edom was always counted Israel's brother, and of great importance in the history of Israel. The Horites (“cave-dwellers ") were originally in the mountainous country of Seir (Genesis 36:20); the Hebrews under Esau entered and amalgamated with them. Esau married the Horite Aholibamah, and his son Eliphaz, the Horite Timna. They then became rulers of Seir to Akaba; God gave it them as Canaan to Israel '(D.). See Deuteronomy 2:5.

1. Esau, who is Edom] i.e. Esau, who was called Edom, and gave to his land his name: see on Genesis 25:30.

2. The names of the wives of Esau given here vary from those mentioned in Genesis 26:34; Genesis 28:9; The difficulties have never been explained, and are generally attributed to two irreconcilable traditions. Zibeon the Hivite] a clerical error: read 4. 'Horite.' Zibeon was doubtless a Horite or dweller in Mt. Hor: see Genesis 28:20. It was by the marriage mentioned here that Esau acquired his influence among the Horites, the aboriginal inhabitants of Seir: see on Genesis 14:6.

8, 9. The fact is dwelt on that the Edomite nation was descended from Esau. Mount Seir] a chain of mountains extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba. Mt. Hor is towards the centre of the range. Aaron was buried there: see on Numbers 20:22.

12. Amalek] This does not mean that the great tribe of the Amalekites was descended from Edom, but that a branch became attached to the Edomites.

15. Dukes] RM 'chiefs.'

24. The mules] 'the hot springs.' Such springs exist near the Dead Sea, and are much prized by the desert wanderers for their medicinal qualities.

31. This v. shows the early development of the monarchy in Edom, and also that there were kings in Israel in the author's lifetime.

37. River] either the Euphrates or the Wady el Arish: see on Genesis 15:18.