What does Genesis 36:8 mean?

Scripture makes a point of reminding the reader that the nation of Edom is descended from Esau. This comes from a name Esau earned earlier in life (Genesis 25:30). Esau is the twin brother of Jacob, the man later named Israel (Genesis 35:10). Israelites and Edomites will come to hate each other over the following centuries (Numbers 20:14–21; 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Kings 8:20; Obadiah 1:8–11).

For now, however, the two men are separating for economic reasons. Esau has moved all that he owns away from Jacob and outside of the land of promise. Jacob and Esau own more livestock than the land can support. Esau settles his clan in the hill country of Seir to the east. This territory is roughly southeast of the Dead Sea. The soon-to-be nation of Edomites takes this territory from the Horites (Genesis 14:6; Deuteronomy 2:12).