What does Genesis 37:1 mean?
This summarizes the story arc which began in Genesis 28, following Jacob's travels and adventures. He had fled home to escape the murderous rage of his twin brother (Genesis 27:42–43). That rage was driven by the bitter favoritism of Jacob's parents (Genesis 25:27–28) and Jacob's own deception (Genesis 27:30–35). After amassing wealth and a large family, Jacob was reunited with his brother (Genesis 33:1–4), but Esau's family moved away because the land couldn't support both massive tribes (Genesis 36:6–8).Chapter 36 described the descendants of Esau and their conquest of the land of Seir. Jacob, renamed Israel by God (Genesis 35:10), remained in the territory Isaac had never left: the land of Canaan. This is the land God promised to make the possession of Jacob and his descendants (Genesis 12:4–7; 26:1–5; 35:9–12).