Genesis 36:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)

NIV: So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.

NASB: So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom.

CSB: So Esau (that is, Edom) lived in the mountains of Seir.

NLT: So Esau (also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.

KJV: Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

NKJV: So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

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).

Genesis 36:1–8 gives a summary of what happened to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. Esau is called Edom, literally meaning "red." This connection comes from his birth (Genesis 25:25) and an incident with his brother (Genesis 25:30). The land where he settles is also named for Esau's appearance; "Seir" literally means "shaggy." The nation of Edom grows after Esau moves away from Jacob's rapidly growing family. Jacob was given the name "Israel" by God. Over time, the "brother" nations of Israelites and Edomites will become bitter enemies. The short prophetic book of Obadiah predicts harsh judgment on Edom for their treatment of Israel (Obadiah 1:1–2).

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 5/4/2024 10:14:40 PM