Edom (Genesis 36)

Esau married Canaanite wives (Genesis 26:34-35). His descendants refused the Exodus Israelites safe passage (Numbers 20:21; 21:4). Yet, God commanded Israel to treat them kindly (Deuteronomy 23:7). Israel ruled them for a time (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:14). Prophets prophesied against them (Jeremiah 49:17-18; Ezekiel 25:12-14; Obadiah). Esau symbolizes anyone who treats our eternal inheritance lightly (Romans 9:13; Malachi 1:1-4; Hebrews 12:15-17). Do we want to be spiritual Israelites or Edomites? Let’s look at Genesis 36.

Who were members of Esau’s (Edom’s) family?

Esau, also known as Edom, had many descendants. He married three Canaanite women: The first was Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite; the second was Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; the third was Basemath, who was Ishmael's daughter and Nebaioth's sister. Esau and his three wives had five sons while in Canaan. Adah's son was Eliphaz; Basemath's son was Reuel; Oholibamah's three sons were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. (Genesis 36:1-5 CEV)

Why did Esau and Jacob separate? Was increased population a reason?

Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.) (Genesis 36:6-8 ESV)

Who were Esau’s sons? Were they names we have heard before?

These are the family records of Esau, father of the Edomites in the mountains of Seir. These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath. The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. These are Reuel’s sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon: She bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah to Edom. (Genesis 36:9-14 HCSB)

Who were the tribal leaders of Edom? Were they kings or just chieftains?

These were the tribal leaders of Esau’s descendants; that is, the children of Eliphaz, who was Esau’s firstborn: tribal leaders Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the tribal leaders who descended from Eliphaz in the territory of Edom. These were Adah’s sons. These were the descendants of Esau’s son Reuel: tribal leaders Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the tribal leaders who descended from Reuel in the territory of Edom. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Basemath. These were the descendants of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: tribal leaders Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These tribal leaders descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, Anah’s daughter. These were the descendants of Esau (also known as Edom) and their tribal leaders. (Genesis 36:15-18 ISV)

Who were the descendants of Seir the Horite whose tribe mixed with Edom? Did they refer to their leaders as dukes?

These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna. And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 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. And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran. These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir. (Genesis 36:20-30 KJV)

Did Edom adopt the title kings before Israel did? Who were the kings of Edom? Is this perhaps one of the nations that Israel wanted to copy when they became dissatisfied with the judges?

Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel. Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. Then Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place. Then Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place. Then Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place; and the name of his city was Avith. Then Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place. Then Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River became king in his place. Then Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place. Then Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar became king in his place; and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab. Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of the Edomites), according to their settlements in the land of their possession. (Genesis 36:31-43 NASB)