Genesis 36:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.

NIV: The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan's sister.

NASB: And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.

CSB: The sons of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Timna was Lotan's sister.

NLT: The descendants of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was named Timna.

KJV: And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.

NKJV: And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.

The Horites were the original peoples of the land (Genesis 14:6) that was later conquered by Esau and his descendants (Genesis 36:6–8). The territory was initially called Seir, after the patriarch of that group (Genesis 36:20). This name is partly ironic. Though the territory would later be called "Edom," after a nickname given to Esau (Genesis 25:30), Esau was also famously hairy (Genesis 27:11). The word "seir" literally means "shaggy."

Seir's son Lotan fathered Hori and Hemam. Lotan was also brother to Timna. Timna was mentioned in verse 12 as a concubine of Esau's son Eliphaz and the mother of Amalek. The Amalekites would become one of Israel's most vicious enemies (Exodus 17:8, 16; Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1 Samuel 15:2–3).

Genesis 36:20–30 describes the people Esau and his offspring defeated to take control of their homeland (Deuteronomy 2:12). These are the Horites (Genesis 14:6), descended from a man named Seir. After Esau's conquest, the region became known as Edom (Genesis 36:1).

Genesis 36 describes the generations of Esau, mostly focusing on the genealogy and rulers of the land of Edom. Repeatedly, the chapter emphasizes that Esau is Edom, repeating an association made earlier in Genesis (Genesis 25:25, 30). The Edomite people are his descendants. The regions in the land of Edom are named for his offspring. The chapter diverts briefly to give the genealogy of the Horite people (Genesis 14:6) who occupied the land before it was conquered (Deuteronomy 2:12). Finally, the chapter lists eight kings of Edom, along with the chiefs whose names became associated with the regions their clans occupied.

Genesis 35 concludes with the death of Isaac. It marks the end of the story arc which focused on him (Genesis 25:19). Genesis 36 briefly describes the generations of Esau, Jacob's twin brother, listing his sons, grandsons, and the kings of Edom, the nation that came from Esau. This is parallel to how Genesis 25:12–18 relayed the fate of Ishamel, another son who did not carry the line of promise. Genesis 37 begins the generations of Jacob, focusing mostly on the story of Joseph.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 4/27/2024 9:13:35 PM