Genesis Chapter 36 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Genesis 36:1–5
This is the genealogy of 'Esav (that is, Edom). 'Esav chose Kena'ani women as his wives: 'Adah the daughter of Eilon the Hitti; Oholivamah the daughter of 'Anah the daughter of Tziv'on the Hivi; and Basmat Yishma'el's daughter, sister of N'vayot. 'Adah bore to 'Esav Elifaz, Basmat bore Re'u'el, and Oholivamah bore Ye'ush, Ya'lam and Korach. These were the sons of 'Esav born to him in the land of Kena'an.
The study contrasts Esau's marriages among Canaanite and Ishmaelite families with Isaac's instruction to Jacob to seek a wife among his mother's relatives.
It reads Esau's choices as the beginning of a family and people distinct from the covenant line that Genesis follows through Jacob. The verses introduce Esau's wives and sons before tracing the clans that come from them.
Genesis 36:6–8
'Esav took his wives, his sons and daughters, the others in his household, his cattle and other animals and everything else he owned, which he had acquired in the land of Kena'an, and went off to a country distant from his brother Ya'akov. For their possessions had become too great for them to live together, and the countryside through which they were traveling couldn't support so much livestock. So 'Esav lived in the hill-country of Se'ir. ('Esav is Edom.)
Esau's household prospers, and the land cannot support both his livestock and Jacob's. He moves away and settles in the hill-country of Seir.
The study notes this separation from the land where Jacob lives and connects Seir with later prophetic passages about Edom. In this verse, the stated reason for the move is the size of their households and possessions.
Genesis 36:9–19
This is the genealogy of 'Esav the father of Edom in the hill-country of Se'ir. The names of 'Esav's sons were Elifaz, son of 'Adah the wife of 'Esav, and Re'u'el the son of Basmat the wife of 'Esav. The sons of Elifaz were Teman, Omar, Tzefo, Ga'tam and K'naz. Timnah was the concubine of Elifaz 'Esav's son, and she bore to Elifaz 'Amalek. These were the descendants of 'Adah 'Esav's wife. The sons of Re'u'el were Nachat, Zerach, Shammah and Mizah. These were the sons of Basmat 'Esav's wife. The sons of Oholivamah, the daughter of 'Anah the daughter of Tziv'on, 'Esav's wife: she bore to 'Esav Ye'ush, Ya'lam and Korach. The chieftains of the sons of 'Esav were the sons of Elifaz the firstborn of 'Esav and the chieftains of Teman, Omar, Tzefo, K'naz, Korach, Ga'tam and 'Amalek. These were the chieftains descended from Elifaz in Edom and from 'Adah. The sons of Re'u'el 'Esav's son were the chieftains of Nachat, Zerach, Shammah and Mizah. These were the chieftains descended from Re'u'el in the land of Edom and from Basmat 'Esav's wife. The sons of Oholivamah 'Esav's wife were the chieftains of Ye'ush, Ya'lam and Korach. These were the chieftains descended from Oholivamah the daughter of 'Anah, 'Esav's wife. These were the descendants of 'Esav (that is, Edom), and these were their chieftains.
In Seir, Esau's family grows into clans led by chieftains. The genealogy keeps each line connected to Esau's wives and identifies him again as the father of Edom.
Amalek appears among Elifaz's descendants. The study connects that name to the Amalekites, who later attack Israel after the exodus, making this detail important to the story that follows beyond Genesis.
Genesis 36:20–30
These were the descendants of Se'ir the Hori, the local inhabitants: Lotan, Shoval, Tziv'on, 'Anah, Dishon, Etzer and Dishan. They were the chieftains descended from the Hori, the people of Se'ir in the land of Edom. The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; Lotan's sister was Timnah. The sons of Shoval were 'Alvan, Manachat, 'Eival, Sh'fo and Onam. The sons of Tziv'on were Ayah and 'Anah. This is the 'Anah who found the hot springs in the desert while pasturing his father Tziv'on's donkeys. The children of 'Anah were Dishon and Oholivamah the daughter of 'Anah. The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Yitran and K'ran. The sons of Etzer were Bilhan, Za'avan and 'Akan. The sons of Dishan were 'Utz and Aran. These were the chieftains descended from the Hori: the chieftains of Lotan, Shoval, Tziv'on, 'Anah, Dishon, Etzer and Dishan. They were the chieftains descended from the Hori by their clans in Se'ir.
This passage names the Horite inhabitants of Seir and their chieftains. It sets their family lines alongside the descendants of Esau, who came to settle in the same region.
The supplied study reads the reference to what 'Anah found while tending donkeys as an ancient term for mules rather than hot springs. That reading is interpretive; the quoted translation says “hot springs.”
Genesis 36:31–39
Following are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king had reigned over the people of Isra'el. Bela the son of B'or reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhavah. When Bela died, Yovav the son of Zerach from Botzrah reigned in his place. When Husham died, Hadad the son of B'dad, who killed Midyan in the field of Mo'av, reigned in his place; the name of his city was 'Avit. When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. When Samlah died, Sha'ul of Rechovot-by-the-River reigned in his place. When Sha'ul died, Ba'al-Chanan the son of 'Akhbor reigned in his place. When Ba'al-Chanan died, Hadar reigned in his place; the name of his city was Pa'u; and his wife's name was M'heitav'el the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mei-Zahav.
The genealogy turns from clans to kings, stating that Edom had rulers before Israel had a king. It names each ruler and, in several cases, a city associated with him.
Botzrah appears in this list. The study connects that Edomite place with later prophetic images of judgment in Isaiah 63:1–6; the later passage should be read on its own terms rather than treated as a statement made by this genealogy.
Genesis 36:40–43
These are the names of the chieftains descended from 'Esav, according to their clans, places and names: the chieftains of Timna, 'Alvah, Y'tet, Oholivamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mivtzar, Magdi'el and 'Iram. These were the chieftains of Edom according to their settlements in the land they owned. This is 'Esav the father of Edom.
The chapter closes by identifying Edom's chieftains with their clans and settlements and repeating that Esau is the father of Edom.
The supplied study contrasts Edom's established earthly leadership with the covenant line followed through Jacob. This list itself records the growth and organization of Esau's descendants.