Genesis 36:10-19 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

The Descendants and Chieftains of Esau (Genesis 36:10-19).

Genesis 36:10

‘These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.'

For these sons of Esau compare Genesis 36:4.

Genesis 36:11-12

‘And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gattam and Kenaz. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.'

This is a list of Esau's grandsons through Eliphaz.

Genesis 36:13

‘And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the male descendants (sons) of Basemath, Esau's wife.'

This is a list of Esau's grandsons through Reuel. We note that they can be called ‘sons' of Basemath for they are her grandsons, a regular usage of the word ‘sons'.

Genesis 36:14

‘'And these were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Ana, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife. And she bore to Esau, Jeush and Jalam and Korah.'

For these sons of Esau compare Genesis 36:5.

Genesis 36:15

‘These are the chieftains of the sons of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau. Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, Chief Amalek. These are the chieftainss that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the male descendants of Adah.'

For this list of chieftains compare Genesis 36:11-12. We note that Chief Korah is not mentioned there. He is thus related in some way to Adah but not one of her grandsons (although he may have slipped in somehow due to careless copying, from Genesis 36:5 or Genesis 36:18). In 1 Chronicles 1:36 a Timna is mentioned as a son of Adah additionally to the six, but he may have died in childbirth. So Esau's sons and grandsons achieve chieftainship in Edom.

Genesis 36:17

‘And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, Chief Mizzah. These are the chieftains that came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the male decendants of Basemath, Esau's wife.'

Compare Genesis 36:13 for these as grandsons of Esau.

Genesis 36:18

‘And these are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jalam, Chief Korah. These are the chieftains that came of Oholibamah, the daughter Anah, Esau's wife.'

For these sons of Esau compare verses 5 and 14. The constant mention of Oholibamah's mother Anah suggests that she was very important. She was related to the Hivites/Horites and possibly Esau's marriage connection with her was very important in amalgamating the tribes to finally form Edom. No sons of these chieftains are recorded. It may be that they were childless when slain on a raid or in battle.

Genesis 36:19

‘These are the male descendants of Esau and these are their chieftains. The same is Edom.'

Thus ends the list of male descendants and chieftains of Esau, and once more we are reminded that they compose Edom.

Genesis 36:10-19

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.

11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho,c and Gatam, and Kenaz.

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.

13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.