What does Genesis 36:39 mean?
In this part of Genesis (Genesis 36:31), kings of Edom (Genesis 36:1) are listed, from a time before Israel (Genesis 35:10) had their first king. Following the death of Baal-hanah (Genesis 36:38), the final king in this list took the throne of Edom, ruling from the city of Pau, also spelled as "Pai" (1 Chronicles 1:50).King Hadar was married to Mehetabel, whose name means "favored of God." She was the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mazahab. It's unknown precisely why this detail is included. It is noteworthy that the prior king's name is an explicit reference to Baal, the false god of the Canaanites, while this king's wife bears a name more aligned with belief in the God of Israel.