Genesis 36 – The Generations of Esau & The Birth of Edom
Genesis 36 records the genealogy of Esau, tracing the rise of the Edomite nation. This chapter highlights God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Esau, the distinct separation between Jacob and Esau’s descendants, and the geopolitical significance of Edom in biblical history.
Genesis 36 – Deep Study & Prophetic Revelation
Genesis 36 is often overlooked, yet it provides valuable insights into Esau’s lineage and the establishment of Edom, a nation that plays a significant role in Israel’s history. While Jacob was chosen to carry the covenant, Esau still received earthly blessings, fulfilling God’s word to him.
✔ Esau’s descendants multiply into tribal chiefs and kings.
✔ Edom is established as a powerful nation in Mount Seir.
✔ The separation between Jacob and Esau’s line is solidified.
✔ Edom later becomes a historical adversary of Israel.
📖 Key Verse: “Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.” – Genesis 36:8
🔎 This chapter teaches us that God’s promises are always fulfilled, even to those outside the covenant line.
Genesis Chapter 36 Overview
Genesis 36:1-8 – Esau’s Wives & His Move to Mount Seir
📖 Genesis 36:1-2 – “Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan…”
🔎 Esau’s choice of wives reflects his disregard for God’s covenant. Unlike Jacob, who followed God’s direction, Esau intermarried with the Canaanites, a spiritually compromised lineage.
📖 Genesis 36:6-8 – “And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters… and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.”
🔎 Esau voluntarily separates from Jacob. His growing household could not dwell in Canaan, fulfilling the prophecy that the two brothers would form separate nations (Genesis 25:23).
Genesis 36:9-19 – The Chiefs of Esau’s Descendants
📖 Genesis 36:9 – “And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir.”
🔎 Esau’s descendants become a distinct nation. Though not part of the covenant, they grow into a powerful people.
📖 Genesis 36:15-16 – “These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn… Duke Teman, Duke Omar, Duke Zepho, Duke Kenaz…”
🔎 The title “Duke” (chief) suggests a structured tribal system, unlike the early Israelite families. Edom had organized leadership early on.
Genesis 36:20-30 – The Horites & Edom’s Expansion
📖 Genesis 36:20 – “These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah.”
🔎 The Horites were the original inhabitants of Mount Seir. Esau’s descendants intermarried with them and eventually took over the region.
📖 Deuteronomy 2:12 – “The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them.”
🔎 God allowed Esau’s line to conquer Mount Seir, just as He later gave Israel the Promised Land.
Genesis 36:31-43 – The Kings of Edom Before Israel’s Monarchy
📖 Genesis 36:31 – “And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.”
🔎 Edom had kings long before Israel. This reflects their rapid political development, while Israel remained in a tribal state until Saul’s reign (1 Samuel 8:5-9).
📖 Genesis 36:43 – “Duke Magdiel, Duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations.”
🔎 The Edomite hierarchy was well-established, making them a formidable nation in the region.
Genesis Chapter 36 - Deeper Study
Overview: Esau’s Lineage & The Rise of Edom
🔹 Timeframe: After Jacob’s return to Canaan and Isaac’s passing (Genesis 35).
🔹 Setting: Mount Seir (Edom), where Esau and his descendants settle.
🔹 Theme: God’s providence, national destinies, and the separation between Jacob and Esau.
🔹 Connection to Future Events: Edom later becomes one of Israel’s greatest rivals, opposing them during their journey from Egypt (Numbers 20:14-21).
Key Takeaways
🔑 God fulfills His promises, even outside the covenant line.
🔑 Esau’s separation from Jacob became permanent, shaping history.
🔑 Edom’s rise shows that earthly success is not the same as divine favor.
🔑 Despite power, Edom’s hostility toward Israel led to their downfall.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Esau’s Blessing Fulfilled in Edom’s Success – Though Esau lost the birthright, God still blessed him with wealth, land, and kings.
🔮 Edom’s Later Rebellion Against Israel – The tension between Jacob and Esau’s descendants led to centuries of conflict (Numbers 20:14-21, Psalm 137:7).
🔮 Edom’s Judgment in the Last Days – The book of Obadiah prophesies Edom’s destruction for their hatred toward Israel.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Edom as a Powerful Kingdom – While Israel was forming through tribes, Edom had established kings long before Israel had a monarchy.
📜 Mount Seir & Its Significance – This rugged, mountainous region became Edom’s homeland and a symbol of its defiance against Israel (Obadiah 1:3-4).
📜 Edom’s Relationship with Israel – Though related to Israel, Edom frequently opposed them, leading to divine judgment (Malachi 1:2-4).
💡 Final Reflection: The Difference Between Earthly & Eternal Inheritance
Genesis 36 reminds us that worldly success without God’s covenant means nothing in the end.
📌 Are we seeking temporary success, or an eternal inheritance in Christ?
📌 Do we recognize that even those outside the faith still receive blessings, but not salvation?
📌 Are we learning from Edom’s mistakes, ensuring we do not oppose God’s chosen plan?
🚀 Genesis 36 teaches that worldly kingdoms may rise, but only God’s kingdom lasts forever!
Esau’s Descendants
Gen 36:1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
Gen 36:2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
Gen 36:3 And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
Gen 36:4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
Gen 36:5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.
Gen 36:6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
Gen 36:7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
Gen 36:8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
Gen 36:9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
Gen 36:10 These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
Gen 36:11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
Gen 36:12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
Gen 36:13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
Gen 36:14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
Gen 36:15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
Gen 36:16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.
Gen 36:17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
Gen 36:18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
Gen 36:19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
Gen 36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
Gen 36:21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
Gen 36:22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.
Gen 36:23 And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
Gen 36:24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
Gen 36:25 And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
Gen 36:26 And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
Gen 36:27 The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
Gen 36:28 The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.
Gen 36:29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
Gen 36:30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
Gen 36:31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
Gen 36:32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
Gen 36:33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
Gen 36:34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.
Gen 36:35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
Gen 36:36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
Gen 36:37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
Gen 36:38 And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
Gen 36:39 And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
Gen 36:40 And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
Gen 36:41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
Gen 36:42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
Gen 36:43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.
Date Written
1446-1406 BC
Written By
Moses (written under divine inspiration)
Language
Hebrew
Verses
43