Genesis 36:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.

NIV: These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:

NASB: Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel.

CSB: These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:

NLT: These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites :

KJV: And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.

NKJV: Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:

This opens a passage listing those who ruled over Edom during a specific era: the years before Israel had any kings. It's unclear whether this era extended right up to the time of Israel's first king (1 Samuel 8:4–5) or if it happened much earlier.

Esau (Genesis 36:1) and his family conquered the land of Seir (Genesis 14:6; Deuteronomy 2:12). His twin brother, Jacob, was renamed Israel (Genesis 35:10), but his descendants will not arrive in the Promised Land for several centuries (Exodus 1:1–5; 12:40), after which time they will be ruled by "judges," not kings (Judges 21:25).

Genesis 36:31–43 lists eight kings of Edom, the nation which descended from Esau (Genesis 36:1), all apparently ruling from a different city. This passage pointedly notes that Edom's kings all reigned before Israel had kings of her own. While Edom is conquering Seir (Genesis 36:9), Israel must endure centuries of slavery (Exodus 12:40). This was followed by a long period under a series of "judges" (Judges 21:25) before their first appointed king (1 Samuel 8:4–5). Finally, in this section, the clan leaders are listed, each likely representing a specific region in the land of Edom.

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 4/29/2024 11:11:28 AM