Genesis 36:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: These are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.

NIV: This is the account of the family line of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.

NASB: These then are the records of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.

CSB: These are the family records of Esau, father of the Edomites in the mountains of Seir.

NLT: This is the account of Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, who lived in the hill country of Seir.

KJV: And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

NKJV: And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.

This verse serves as a title for the remainder of the chapter. The sons, grandsons, and generations of Esau's people, the Edomites, will be listed along with some landmarks in their history. The name "Edom" means "red," and comes from Esau's birth (Genesis 25:25) and an incident with his brother, Jacob (Genesis 25:30). Esau's body was notably hairy (Genesis 27:11), so it's ironic that the country where he settles is referred to as "Seir," meaning "shaggy or hairy."

The Edomites, children of Esau, will grow to become rivals of the Israelites, children of Jacob. Despite being "brother" nations, they will develop deep conflict (Numbers 20:14–21; 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Kings 8:20; Obadiah 1:8–11). A subgroup, the Amalekites, will become especially venomous enemies (Exodus 17:8, 16; Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1 Samuel 15:2–3).

Genesis 36:9–19 describes the family lines descending from Esau, who was also known as Edom (Genesis 36:1). These are the important families who expanded after he moved his family from Canaan to Seir (Genesis 14:6; Deuteronomy 2:12).

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 5/6/2024 8:39:38 PM