Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI.
Verse 1. NOw these are the generations of Esau] 1. Chron. 1. 35. All this shewes the accomplishment of that Oracle given to Rebekah, ch. 25. 23. As also of that temporal blessing wherewith his father blessed him, ch. 27. 39, 40. And likewise of the Promise to Abraham, ch. 22. 17.
V. 2. Esau took his wives] Ch. 26. 34. 28. 9. Many here have two names.
Adah] Called Bashemath, ch 26. 34.
Aholibamah] Called Judith, ch. 26. 34.
the daughter of Anah] Called Beeri, ch. 26. 34.
the daughter of Zibeon] His Grand-childe. And this doth distinguish this Anah from another of the name, v. 20. who was the brother of Zibeon, and so the Uncle of this Anah.
the Hivite] A Hittite, ch. 26. 34. The Hivites comprehended the Hittites under them.
V. 3. And Bashemath] Called Mahalath, ch. 28. 9.
V. 6. And Esau took] Had taken before Jacobs coming, ch. 32. 3. 33. 14.
and went into the countrey] Another countrey, Mount Seir, v. 8.
from the face] Before Jacobs coming, ch. 32. 3.
V. 7. For their riches] His and his fathers, or else all this removing, though begun as before, yet might receive a full and final accomplishment after Jacobs coming, and perhaps after Isaacs death. When the riches of the two brethren were more, then that they might dwell together in a land wherein they were but only sojourners; and haply too that Esau by this time had already hope to get the possession of the land of Seir.
V. 8. Seir] So named from a man of that name, v. 20. God gave it to Esau, Deut. 2. 5, 12. Josh. 24. 4.
V. 11. Eliphaz were Teman] Eliphaz the Temanite, Job 2. 11.
V. 12. And Timna] Sister to Lotan, the son of Seir, v. 20, 22. was married to Eliphaz Esaus sonne. Thus by marriages and the sword Esau got into the rule and possession of Mount Seir, ch. 27. 40. 1 Chron. 1. 36.
Amalek] 1 Chron. 1. 36. A Duke, v. 10. Whence came the Amalekites, which were so great enemies to Israel, Exod. 17. 8, 14.
V. 13. Revel] 1 Chron. 1. 37.
V. 15. Dukes] Leaders or chief Governours, fourteen in number. After they had Kings, v. 31. and after that Dukes again, v 40, 41, 42, 43.
V 16. Duke Korah] Omitted among the sons of Eliphaz, v. 11. and 1 Chron. 1. 36. nor yet that Duke Korah, v. 18. he being of another mother.
V. 20. Seir the Horite] Ch. 14. 6. Horites seem to be of the Hivites. v. 2. for Zibeon the Hivite, v. 2. cometh of this race. Their race is mentioned because of the affinities the Edomites made with them, and the Edomites being their successors in the land and Government.
V. 24. This was that Anah] Mule.] The vulgar Latine translates it Buhes. Mules ingender not, but are ingendred by an He-Asse upon a mare; against the Law, Lev. 19. 19. This Anah was father-in law to Esau, v. 2. 25.
V. 26. Children of Dishon] Many following are of two names, 1 Chron. 1. 41, &c.
Hemdam] Or Amram, 1 Chron. 1. 41.
V. 27. Akan] Or Jakan, 1 Chron. 1. 42.
V. 28. Dishan] And Dishon, distinct persons, v. 21, 28. 1 Chron 1. 38, 42.
V. 30. Among their Dukes] That is, Dukedomes. For these seven sons of Seir had their Dukedomes at one time in several places, being all brethren, the sons of Seir, ver. 20, 21.
V. 31. And these are the Kings] The accomplishment of the Promise to Abraham, ch. 17. 16. For Kings to proceed from Sarah. Thus Esau after his Dukes, v. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. had of his posterity eight Kings, which b…re successively a golden scepter, whiles Jacobs posterity was in servitude, under a rod of iron in Egypt.
Before] Before Moses time; for he was King in Jeshurun, Deut. 33.
V. 32.] These Kings being borne in several places, of several kindreds, and reigning most in several Cities, must therefore reign, not by succession, but by election or tyranny.
V. 37. Of Rehoboth] A City builded by Nimrod, Gen. 10. 11.
by the river] Euphrates.
V. 40. And these are the names of the Dukes] From Kings they come down to Dukes again, eleven here named; which haply might be Dukes in several places, all at one time. The Dukes of Edom are mentioned, Exod. 15. 15. at the Israelites coming out of Egypt And the King of Edom, mentioned a little before the end of their fourty yeares being in the wildernesse. Numb. 20. 14. and that may be haply the last King Hadar, v. 39. of this chapter. If these eleven Dukes were to be counted in succession one after another, then must Moses here by the spirit of Prophecie foretell their names and dignities, which did succeed when he was dead.
V. 41. Aholibamah] And Timnah likewise, v. 40. before the names of women, v. 12, 14. are here the names of men.
the father of the Edomites] Of Edom, from the red pottage, and his red haire too, ch. 25, 25, 30.