The Chieftains Descended From Esau (Genesis 36:40-43).
‘And these are the names of the chieftains who came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names. Chief Timna, Chief Alva, Chief Jetheh, Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram. These are the chieftains of Edom according to their habitations in the land of their possession.'
The introduction may suggest that once there were place names present in the lists as with some of the kings previously. But it may simply be pointing out that they ruled in different places, descended from one or other of the sons, not one after the other. The placing of the names may suggest that these chieftains followed and replaced the kings. Both Timna (Genesis 36:12) and Oholibamah (Genesis 36:25) have previously been females. This may well confirm the idea that women were influential in this society. Apart from these only Kenaz is elsewhere mentioned (Genesis 36:11; Genesis 36:15) and he may not have been the same one. We may therefore assume that these are later descendants of Esau, possibly great-grandsons.
‘This is Edom the father of the Edomites.'
This may well be a concluding colophon showing that the tablet belongs to Esau, possibly with Genesis 36:1 as the opening heading. ‘The father of the Edomites' simply indicates that he became their patriarch (but see Genesis 37:1). Alternately note the unusual phrases that occur in the chapter which appear abruptly, ‘the same is Edom' (Genesis 36:1 a), ‘Esau is Edom' (Genesis 36:8), ‘the same is Edom' (Genesis 36:19), ‘this is Edom the father of the Edomites' (Genesis 36:43 b). These may well be remnants of headings and colophons.