Genesis 36
Introduction
Genesis 36 is a genealogical chapter devoted entirely to the descendants of Esau — that is, the nation of Edom. At first glance it reads as a dry catalog of unfamiliar names, but its placement and purpose are deeply significant. By recording Esau's line in full before the narrative turns to Jacob's family in Genesis 37, the text fulfills God's promise that Esau too would become a great nation (Genesis 25:23, Genesis 27:39-40). Esau's line produces chiefs, kings, and entire peoples — not as part of the covenant line, but as evidence that God's broader providential care extends beyond the chosen family. The chapter also serves as a formal farewell to Esau in the Genesis narrative; after this, the story belongs to the sons of Jacob.
The chapter has four major sections: Esau's wives and sons (vv. 1-8), the chiefs descended from Esau (vv. 9-19), the original Horite inhabitants of Seir (vv. 20-30), and the kings who ruled in Edom before any king reigned in Israel (vv. 31-43). The Edomites will play a recurring role in Israel's history — sometimes as enemies (Numbers 20:14-21, Obadiah 1:1-21), sometimes as neighbors under uneasy truce (Deuteronomy 23:7). The prophets frequently address Edom, and the tension between Jacob and Esau echoes forward through the centuries.
Esau's Wives and Sons in Canaan (vv. 1-5)
1 This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. 4 And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel, 5 and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
1 These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael, the sister of Nebaioth. 4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau; Basemath bore Reuel; 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
Notes
אֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת עֵשָׂו ("These are the generations of Esau") — The תֹּלְדוֹת ("generations/account") formula is one of the structural markers of Genesis, dividing the book into major sections (cf. Genesis 2:4, Genesis 5:1, Genesis 11:27, Genesis 25:19). Esau receives two תֹּלְדוֹת headings (vv. 1 and 9), emphasizing the significance the text attaches to his line.
The names of Esau's wives here differ from those given in Genesis 26:34 and Genesis 28:9. In the earlier passages, Esau married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Mahalath daughter of Ishmael. Here the names are Adah, Oholibamah, and Basemath. The discrepancies have generated extensive discussion — some suggest the women had multiple names (common in the ancient Near East), others that the traditions reflect different sources. The text itself makes no attempt to harmonize the accounts.
אֱלִיפָז ("Eliphaz") — Esau's firstborn through Adah. The name means "my God is gold/refined." This may be the same lineage from which Eliphaz the Temanite comes — one of Job's three friends (Job 2:11) — since Teman (v. 11) is Eliphaz's firstborn and "the Temanite" becomes a regional designation for Edomites.
רְעוּאֵל ("Reuel") — The name means "friend of God." This is also the name of Moses' father-in-law (Exodus 2:18), a Midianite priest, suggesting kinship connections between Edomite and Midianite clans.
Esau Moves to Seir (vv. 6-8)
6 Later, Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the people of his household, along with his livestock, all his other animals, and all the property he had acquired in Canaan, and he moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.
6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all the property he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and he went to a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land of their sojourning could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)
Notes
The separation of Esau and Jacob because their possessions are too great mirrors the separation of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13:5-12. In both cases, the land cannot sustain both parties, and the non-chosen line moves away — Lot to Sodom, Esau to Seir. The pattern underscores a recurring theme in Genesis: God's elect remain in the promised land while their relatives establish themselves elsewhere.
הַר שֵׂעִיר ("Mount Seir") — Seir is the mountainous region south and east of the Dead Sea, later known as Edom. The name שֵׂעִיר means "hairy" or "rough/shaggy," which connects to Esau's own description at birth as שֵׂעָר ("hairy," Genesis 25:25). The wordplay ties Esau's identity to his territory: the hairy man settles in the hairy mountain.
The Chiefs of Esau's Line (vv. 9-19)
9 This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the area of Mount Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau's wife Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau's son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau's wife Adah. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath. 14 These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah (daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon) whom she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 15 These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah. 17 These are the sons of Esau's son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath. 18 These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. They are the chiefs descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 19 All these are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and they were their chiefs.
9 These are the generations of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah, Esau's wife; Reuel the son of Basemath, Esau's wife. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 (Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These are the grandsons of Adah, Esau's wife. 13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the grandsons of Basemath, Esau's wife. 14 These are the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the granddaughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 15 These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the grandsons of Adah. 17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the grandsons of Basemath, Esau's wife. 18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the chiefs descended from Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
Notes
אַלּוּף ("chief") — The KJV translates this as "duke," but the Hebrew אַלּוּף refers to a clan leader or tribal chief — a head of an extended family unit. The word derives from אֶלֶף ("thousand, clan"), suggesting someone who leads a thousand or a large kinship group. The title reflects the political organization of Edom as a confederation of clans rather than a centralized monarchy — though kings will come later (vv. 31-39).
תֵּימָן — Eliphaz's firstborn, whose name becomes a regional designation for part of Edom. "The Temanites" are known for wisdom in the prophetic literature (Jeremiah 49:7, Obadiah 1:9). Eliphaz the Temanite, Job's first comforter (Job 2:11), likely comes from this lineage.
עֲמָלֵק ("Amalek") — Born to Eliphaz through his concubine Timna, Amalek becomes the ancestor of Israel's most implacable enemy. The Amalekites attacked Israel at Rephidim immediately after the Exodus (Exodus 17:8-16), and God declared perpetual war against them. Saul was commanded to destroy them utterly (1 Samuel 15:1-3), and Haman the Agagite — the villain of Esther — is traditionally identified as an Amalekite descendant (Esther 3:1). That Amalek comes from Esau's line through a concubine adds another dimension to the Jacob-Esau conflict: the hostility between the twin brothers reverberates through their descendants for centuries.
The Horite Clans of Seir (vv. 20-30)
20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Timna was Lotan's sister. 23 These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. (This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness as he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.) 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah. 26 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs of the Horites: Chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, according to their divisions in the land of Seir.
20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. And Lotan's sister was Timna. 23 These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. (This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness while he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon.) 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs of the Horites: chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, according to their divisions in the land of Seir.
Notes
חֹרִי ("Horite") — The Horites were the pre-Edomite inhabitants of Seir. The name may derive from חוֹר ("cave"), suggesting cave-dwellers, or it may be connected to the Hurrians, a non-Semitic people known from cuneiform records. Deuteronomy 2:12 states explicitly that the descendants of Esau "dispossessed" the Horites and "settled in their place" — a pattern that parallels Israel's later displacement of the Canaanites. The inclusion of the Horite genealogy shows that Esau's Edom was a fusion of Esau's descendants with the indigenous population through intermarriage (e.g., Esau's wife Oholibamah was the granddaughter of the Horite Zibeon).
הַיֵּמִם (v. 24) — This is one of the most debated words in the chapter. The KJV translates it as "mules," but the Hebrew word יֵמִם is a hapax legomenon (occurring only here) and its meaning is uncertain. Modern translations (BSB, ESV, NIV) favor "hot springs," following the Vulgate (aquas calidas) and the context of wilderness discovery. The word does not match the standard Hebrew for "mules" (פֶּרֶד). Whatever Anah found, the text highlights it as noteworthy — a memorable discovery in the wilderness that distinguished him among the Horite clans.
עוּץ ("Uz") — Dishan's son Uz is one of several biblical figures bearing this name. The land of Uz is where Job dwelt (Job 1:1), and its association with Edomite territory strengthens the traditional connection between Job and the wisdom traditions of Edom/Seir.
The Kings of Edom (vv. 31-39)
31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: 32 Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place. 34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith. 36 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place. 37 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. 38 When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39 When Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, Hadad reigned in his place. His city was named Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.
31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the people of Israel. 32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35 Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place; the name of his city was Avith. 36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the River reigned in his place. 38 Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39 Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place; the name of his city was Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.
Notes
לִפְנֵי מְלָךְ מֶלֶךְ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל ("before any king reigned over the people of Israel") — This phrase is one of the most discussed in Genesis from a dating perspective. It presupposes the existence of Israelite kings, which began with Saul around 1050 BC. Critics view it as evidence of late composition; traditional interpreters see it as prophetic anticipation (God had promised kings to Abraham and Jacob: Genesis 17:6, Genesis 35:11) or as an editorial note added by a later inspired editor. Either way, the verse establishes that Edom had organized monarchy long before Israel did — Esau's political development outpaced Jacob's.
The king list records eight kings, none of whom is the son of his predecessor — suggesting that Edom's early monarchy was elective or tribal rather than dynastic. Each king comes from a different city, reinforcing the picture of a loose confederation. This contrasts with Israel's later dynastic monarchy.
בָּצְרָה ("Bozrah") — Jobab's city, Bozrah, became one of Edom's most important cities. The prophets use it as a symbol for Edom in judgment oracles: "Who is this coming from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah?" (Isaiah 63:1).
הִכָּה אֶת מִדְיָן בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב ("who defeated Midian in the country of Moab") — Hadad's military victory over Midian in Moabite territory is the only historical event recorded in this king list. It attests to the regional conflicts between Edom, Midian, and Moab — all peoples descended from Abraham's broader family (Midian through Keturah, Genesis 25:2; Moab through Lot, Genesis 19:37).
הֲדַר vs. הֲדַד — The final king's name is spelled "Hadar" in most Masoretic manuscripts but "Hadad" in the Samaritan Pentateuch and in the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 1:50-51. The difference is a single Hebrew letter (ר vs. ד), which are visually similar. That his wife's genealogy is given (unique in this list) may indicate he was the reigning king when this record was composed.
The Chiefs of Edom by Territory (vv. 40-43)
40 These are the names of Esau's chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
40 These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their clans, according to their territories, by their names: chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom according to their settlements in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.
Notes
This final list of eleven chiefs differs from the earlier chief lists (vv. 15-19) and appears to represent a later period in Edom's history — possibly the territorial organization that replaced or coexisted with the monarchy. The names here are more geographic than personal, suggesting clan territories rather than individual leaders.
הוּא עֵשָׂו אֲבִי אֱדוֹם ("This is Esau, the father of the Edomites") — The chapter closes by returning to where it began: the identification of Esau with Edom. This bookending device emphasizes the chapter's purpose — to trace the complete development of Esau's line from a single man to a fully established nation with clans, chiefs, kings, and territory. With Esau's story now complete, the narrative can turn in Genesis 37 to the תֹּלְדוֹת of Jacob — which is, in fact, the story of Joseph.