Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI.
1, The generations of Esau by his three wives. 6, His removing to mount Seir. 10, The names of his sonnes. 15, The Dukes which descended of his sons. 20, The sons and Dukes of Seir. 24, Anah findeth mules. 31, The Kings of Edom. 40, The Dukes that descended of Esau.
ANd these, are the generations of Esau, he is Edom. Esau took his wives, of the daughters of Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon the Chethite; and Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeō the Evite. And Basemath the daughter of Ismael, the sister of Nebaioth. And Adah bare to Esau, Eliphaz: and Basemath, bare Reuel. And Aholibamah bare, Ieush and Iaalam, and Korah: these were the sonnes of Esau, which were borne unto him, in the land of Canaan. And Esau tooke his wives, and his sons and his daughters, and all the soules of his house; and his cattell and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan: and went unto a land; from the face, of Iakob his brother. For their substance was more, then that they might dwell together: & the land of their sojournings, was not able to beare them, because of their cattel. And Esau dwelt, in the mount of Seir; Esau, he is Edom. And these, are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom: in the mount of Seir. These are the names of the sons of Esau: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau. And the sonnes of Eliphaz, were: Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esaus son; and she bare to Eliphaz, Amalek: these were the sons of Adah, the wife of Esau. And these were the sons of Reuel, Nachath, and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah: these were the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau. And these were, the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the wife of Esau: and she bare to Esau, Ieush and Iaalam, & Korah. These, were Dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz, the first-borne of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz. Duke Korah, duke Gatam, duke Amalek: these were the dukes of Eliphaz, in the land of Edom; these were, the sons of Adah. And these, were the sons of Reuel, the son of Esau; duke Nachath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these were the duks of Reuel, in the land of Edom; these were the sonnes of Basemath, the wife of Esau. And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the wife of Esau; duke Ieush, duke Iaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the wife of Esau. These were the sons of Esau; and these the dukes of them, he is Edom.
These were the sons of Seir, the Chorite; the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah. And Dishon & Ezer, and Dishan: these were the dukes of the Chorites; the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom. And the sons of Loton were Chori and Hemam: & the sister of Lotan, was Timna. And these were, the sons of Shobal; Alvan and Manachath, and Ebal: Shepho, and Onam. And these were the sons of Zibeon, both Ajah and Anah: this Anah, was he that found the mules in the wildernesse; when he fed the asses, of Zibeon his father. And these were the sons of Anah, Dishon, and Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah. And these were the sons of Dishan: Chemdan and Eshban, and Iethran and Ceran. These were, the sons of Ezer: Bilhan & Zaavan, and Akan. These were, the sons of Dishan; Vz & Aran. These were, the dukes of the Chorites: duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah. Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these were, the dukes of the Chorites, according to their dukes, in the land of Seir.
And these were the Kings, which reigned in the land of Edom: before there reigned any King, of the sons of Israel. And there reigned in Edom, Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his citie was, Dinhabah. And Bela dyed: and there reigned in his sted, Iobab the son of Zerach, of Bozrah. And Iobab dyed: and there reigned in his stead, Chusham, of the land of Temani. And Chusham dyed: and there reigned in his stead, Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian, in the field of Moab; and the name of his citie was, Avith. And Hadap dyed: and there reigned in his stead, Samlah of Masrekah. And Samlah dyed: and there reigned in his stead, Saul, of Rechoboth by the river. And Saul dyed: and there reigned in his stead, Baal-chanan, the son of Achbor. And Baal-chanan the son of Achbor, dyed: and there reigned in his stead, Hadar; and the name of his citie was Paü: and the name of his wife, Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab. And these were the names of the dukes of Esau, according to their families; according to their places, by their names: duke Timna, duke Alvah, duke Ietheth. Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon. Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar. Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: These were the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations, in the land of their possession; he is Esau, the father of Edom.
Annotations.
GEnerations] a rehearsall of Esaus of-spring, whereby the promise to Abraham for multiplication, Gen. 22. 17. the Oracle given to Rebekah, concerning two nations that were in her won be, Gen. 25. 23. and the blessing of Isaak bestowed upon Esau, Gen. 27. 39. 40. may be seen in great measure accomplished: with the different estate of the children of this world, from the children of God. This same genealogie is again repeated in 1 Chro. 1. 35. &c. Edom] the name and note of his profanenesse, see Gen. 25. 30.
V. 2 of Canaan] that is, as the Gr. translateth, of the Canaanites; contrary to the will of God, of Abrahā, and of Isaak his father; for the Canaanites were a cursed race, Gen. 9. 25. and 24. 3. and 28. 1.
Adah, &c.] in Gen. 26. 34. Esaus wives had other names, which in those times was usuall; as Esau himself, is called Edom: Iakob, is called Israel. Maacah daughter of Abishalom, 1 King. 15. 2. is called Micaiah daughter of Uriel, 2 Chro. 13. 2. and many the like. Zibeon] called in Gr. Sebegon: he was grandfather to Aholibamah, father to Anah: so ther was a difference between these, & Anah & Zibeon which were brethren, v. 20. Evite] or Chivvite in Ge. 26. 34. called a Chethite: which though they were distinct peoples, (Gen. 10. 15. 16.) yet might they dwell one in anothers territories. Therefore in Gen. 26. 34. for Elon a Chethite, the Greek there translateth Evite.
V. 3. Basemath] called also Machalath, Gen. 28. 9. Reuel] or Reguel, in Greek Ragonel.
Vers. 5. land of Canaan] though they were there borne, and of Canaanitish mothers, yet they went out of the land; and Iakobs sonnes borne in Mesopotamia, came in to possesse it, as their inheritance given of God, Gen. 35. 26. and 37. 1.
Vers. 6. tooke] or, had taken, to weet, before Iakobs comming; as appeareth by Gen. 32. 3. and 33. 14 Gods providence thus making way, for to fulfill the promises unto Iakob: Gen. 28. 4. 13. soules] that is, persons: in Greeke, bodies: see Gen. 12. 5. and 46. 26. unto a land] that is, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, to another land: or hee went from the land; and so the Greeke translateth it, from the land of Canaan. For though the Hebrew (el) usually signifieth unto; yet such words often vary their sense, as the text it selfe sometime sheweth. For that which in 1 King. 8. 30. is el, unto (or in) thy dwelling place, unto heaven, in 2 Chron. 6. 21. is written, from thy dwelling place, from heaven. So, the Redeemer shall come unto Sion, Esay 59. 20. is by the Apostle translated, out of Sion, Rom. 11. 26. Also in 2 Chron. 1. 13. to the high place, is in Greeke according to the sense there, from the high place; so in Iudg. 17. 2. taken from thee: and sundry the like. from the face] or, from before, which may mean before his comming: as Gen. 30. 30.
Vers. 7. more then, &c.] or, much, for to dwell together. A like occasion parted Lot and Abram, Gen. 13. 6. of their sojournings] that is, wherein they were sojourners.
Vers. 8. of Seir] a man, mentioned vers. 20. who dwelling there, the mountaine country was called by his name: and to Esau God gave this mount for a possession, Ios. 24. 4. Deut. 2. 5.
V. 9. of Edom] that is, as the Chaldee expounds it, of the Edomites: see Gen. 19. 37. in the annotaions.
Vers. 11. Zepho] called Zephi, 1 Chron. 1. 36. The Greeke here nameth them, Thaiman, Omar, Sophar, Gothom, and Kenez.
Vers. 12. Timna] shee was sister to Lotan, of the race of the Chorites, vers. 22. Amalek] hee was a Duke, vers. 16. his posterity were called Amalekites, and proved great enemies to Israel, Exod. 17. 8. 14. God therefore commanded the memory of them to be blotted out from under heaven, Deut. 25. 17. 19.
Vers. 13. Reuel, &c.] in Greeke these are named Ragouel, Nachoth, Zare, Some, and Moze; (or Samme and Maze, as 1 Chron. 1. 37.)
Vers. 14. Iaalam] in Greeke, Ieglom, and Kore.
Vers. 15. dukes] that is, Governors, Chiefe-leaders; but inferiour to Kings. A Duke is named in Hebrew Alluph, that is, a Chiefe-leader, or Guide, or Captaine of a thousand; in Chaldee Rabba, a Master: in Greeke Hegemon, a Ruler or Governour. Here fourteene Duke are reckoned to Esau; seven that came of his wife Adah; foure of Basemath, and three of Aholibamah.
Vers. 16. Korah] in v. 18. there is another Duke of this name, that came of another mother. Albeit there is no mention of this Korah before among Eliphaz his children, v. 11. 12. neither in 1 Chr. 1. 36. unless he there beare the name of Timna.
Vers. 19. he Edom] the Greeke translateth, these are the sonnes of Edom.
Vers. 20. the Chorite] or Chorean, whereof see Gen. 14. 6. these seeme to bee of the Evites fore-mentioned, v. 2. for Zibeon there called an Evite, commeth of this race here, and in v. 24. inhabitants] in Greeke, singularly, the inhabitant. Zibeon] in Greeke Sebegon.
Vers. 21. Dishon] called after, Dishan, ver. 26. the Greeke in both places calleth-him Deson. Ezer] in Greeke Asar. Dishan] in Greeke Rison: see the notes on Gen. 4. 18. So after in vers. 28 30.
Vers. 22. Hemam] called Homam, in 1 Chron. 1. 39. Here in Greeke Haiman: in 1 Chron. 1. 39. Heman. Timnah] in Greeke Thamna, concubine to Eliphaz sonne of Esau: vers. 12. So he and his father Esau (vers. 2.) marying into the stocke of the Chorites; therefore is this genealogy set down. That the occasion may be seene, how Esau and his seed, came to inherit the Chorites land in mount Seir: Deut. 2. 12. and so got his living by his sword Gen. 27. 40.
Vers. 23. Alvan] called Aljan. 1 Chron. 1. 40. in Greek Golom. Shepho] called Shephi, 1 Chr. 1. 40. in Greeke Sophar: but in 1 Chron. 1. 40. the Greeke is, Sapphi.
Vers. 24. both Ajah] Hebr. and Ajah: the Greek omitteth the word and, as superfluous, saying, the sonnes of Shebegon, Aie, and Onan. The Hebrew text doth the like, in 1 Chron. 1. 40. and in other places, as 2 King. 11. 1. and 2 Chron. 13 1. compared with 2 Chron. 22. 10. and 1 King. 15. 1. So in Gen. 40. 9. Anah] father in law to Esau, ver. 2. mules] The Hebr. Iemin, is no where found but in this place: mules elsewhere are called Peradim, 1 King. 10. 25. 2 King. 5. 17. It is therefore doubted what Iemim here meaneth. And the Greek leaveth it untranslated, Iamein, as not knowing what it should be. The Chaldee turneth it Gibbaraja, that is, Mighties, or Giants, as the word is used, Gen. 6. 4. Others, because Iemim hath affinity with Iam the Sea, and majim, waters, translate it hot-waters, or bathes, which Anah should find in the desert. But because it is knowne that mules are ingendred of the mixture of horses and asses, or of heasses and mares, as Pliny sheweth in Histor. b. 8. ch. 44. (translated commonly therefore in Greeke hemionous, that is, half-asses, 1 King. 10. 25. &c.) and mules of themselues are barren, and doe not encrease, as the Philosopher noteth, Arist. de Animal. l. 15. it is likely they were not created at the first of God; because he gaue all such creatures this blessing, to be fruitfull and to multiply, Gen. 1. 22. 28. and 8. 17. And that therefore they were found out by the wit of this man; who feeding his fathers asses, caused them to ingender with another kind, as horses, which was both against nature, as first God set every thing according to his kind, Gen. 1. 24. and 6. 19. 20. and against the plaine law, which he after gave unto Israel, Levit. 19. 19. thou shalt not let thy cattell engender with a diverse kind. And the name Iemim first given them by Anah, might be changed into Peradim, which hath the signification of Parted, or Separated; as differing from all other beasts.
Vers. 26. Dishan] called Dishon: vers. 21. and 1 Chron 1. 41. in Greek Deson. Chemdan] called also Chamram, 1 Chron. 1. 41. d changed into r, as is often: see Gen. 10. 3. In Greeke Amada; and Amadam, 1. Chron. 1. 41. Cerán] pronounced Keran, or Cran: in Greeke Charran.
Vers. 27. Akan] called Iakan, 1 Chron. 1. 42. in Greeke here Oukam: and in 1 Chron. 1. 42. Ilakan.
Vers. 28. Aran.] Thus have wee here of Seir seven sons and a daughter, and againe of those seven, nineteene sons and a daughter. All which for Esaus sake, are registred in the book of God.
Vers. 29. Chorites] Hebr. Chorite: singular for plurall, as vers. 21. see Gen. 10. 16. The Greek keepeth the singular, Chorri.
Vers. 30. their Dukes] that is, their kingdomes, as the Greek translateth it. For these 7 sons of Seir, had their Dukedomes at one time, in severall places: and did not one succeed another; as the Kings that follow. So King in Esay 23. 15. is used for the Kingdome of Babylon: and foure Kings, in Dan. 7. 17. are foure kingdomes, as the Holy Ghost there expoundeth it, in vers. 23. the fourth beast shall bee the fourth kingdome: and the throne of the Kings, 2 King. 11. 19. is by another Prophet called, the throne of the kingdome; 2 Chron. 23. 20.
Vers. 31. of the sonnes] or, to (that is, over or among) the sonnes of Israel; the Greek saith, in Israel: that is, before Moses time, for he was King in Ieshurun: Deut. 33. 5. Thus Esau after his Dukes, had of his posterity 8 Kings, which successively ruled their people; whiles Israel was in affliction in Aegypt, Exod. 1. &c.
Vers. 32. Bela] in Greek Balak: and in 1 Chron. 1. 43. in stead of Beor, the Greeke hath Sepphor, according to the name of the King of Moab, in Numb. 22. 2.
Vers. 33. Bozrah] a chiefe Citie in the land of Edom, Esay 34. 6. and 63. 1. in Greek called Bosora.
Vers. 34. of Temani] that is, of the Temanites: which had the name of Duke Teman, Esaus Nephew, verse 15. Of this land was Eliphaz, Iobs friend, Iob 2. 11. By interpretation Teman signifieth the South: and so the Chaldee here taketh it. The Gr. translateth, Asom of the land of Thaimanon.
Vers. 35. Bedad] in Greeke here Barad: but in 1 Chron. 1. 46. Badad. smote] that is, killed, as the Chaldee and Greeke explaine: see Gen. 14. 17. field] that is, country; see Gen. 14. 7. Avith] called Ajith, 1 Chron. 1. 46. in Greeke here Gethaim: but in 1 Chron. 1. 46. Ebith.
Vers. 36. Samlah] in Greeke Samada of Massekka: in 1 Chr: 1. 47. Samaa of Meserika.
Vers. 37. Rechoboth] a City built by Nimrod, Gen. 10. 11. in Greeke, Robooth. It was by the River Euphrates, as the Chaldee expoundeth it.
Vers. 38. Baal-chanan] the same name by transplacing the parts of it, is Hannibal (Channibaal) of which name were sundry Captaines afterward, as in the story of the Carthaginean wars. The Greek saith here Ballaenon, in 1 Chron. 1. 49. Balenon son of Achobor.
Vers. 39. Hadar] called Hadad, 1 Chron. 1. 50. The Greeke is, Arad son of Barad. Pau] called also Pai, 1. Chron. 1. 50. in Greeke Phogor; but in 1. Chron. 1. 50. Phaoul. In that these Kings were of so sundry Cities, it appeareth their Kingdomes came not by inheritance, but either by election of the people; or gotten by conquest, according to the Oracle, by thy sword shalt thou live, Gen. 27. 40. daughter of Me-zahab] by daughter some understand neece: others take Mezahab for the name of a City. Medava, named of golden waters, which the word signifieth; a daughter (or inhabitant) whereof she was. The Greek here translateth Son of Maizook, in 1 Chron. 1. daughter: in Chaldee, daughter of the Gold-melter (or Gold smith.) In 1 Chron. 1. 51. there is added the death of this Hadar, here omitted; as, And Hadad dyed.
Vers. 40. the Dukes] after eight Kings, it seemeth the forme of government was againe changed among the Edomites, though it is uncertaine when it was. At Israels comming out of Aegypt, they mention the Dukes of Edom, Ex. 15. 15. and as they passed through the wildernesse, they sent to the King of Edom, Num. 20. 14. and here it was said, these 8 Kings reigned in Edom before any king reigned in Israel, v. 31. It is likely therfore, that upon the unkind dealing of that King of Edom, (wch seemeth to be Hadar) who denyed to let Israel pass through their Land: the Lord removed the dignity of Kings from that common-wealth, and let it bee ruled by Dukes againe; whereof eleven are here by name rehearsed. families] the Greeke saith, in their tribes. Timna] in Greek Thamna: and Thaiman, in 1 Chron. 1. 51. Alva] called Alja, 1 Chron. 1. 51. in Greeke Gola: and there, Aloua. Ietheth] in Greeke Iethar.
Vers. 41. Aholibamah] the Greek writeth these names here, Olibemas, Helas, Phinon: & in 1 Chr. 1. 52. Elibama, Hela, Phinon.
Vers. 42. Mibzar] in Greeke Mazar.
Vers. 43. Iram] in Greek here Zaphoei: but in 1 Chron. 1. 54. Areraman. habitations] which the Greeke translateth aedifices, that is, builded habitations. possession] or, firme-hold: whereas Iakob and his children dwelt in the land of their peregrination or sojournings, vers. 7. Gen. 37. 1. and 28. 4. God thus giving Esau his portion first in this world; and after, doing good unto Israel, Deut. 2. 5. &c. See also Gen. 25. 12.