Genesis 36:24 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Found the mules, &c.— It is difficult to come at the true meaning of this piece of ancient history. The rabbins, whom our version follows, render the word in the original ימים iemim, mules: the Vulgate renders it, aquas calidas, hot waters: but the interpretation of Bochart seems far the best, namely, that imim is the name of a people, probably the same as the gigantic Emim, mentioned Deuteronomy 2:11. Accordingly the Targum renders it here by a word signifying giants, and Aquila and Symmachus retain the Hebrew name τους Ιαμειμ, the Emim; so that the passage should be rendered, who found, lighted upon, the Emims in the desert, who possibly attacked him there, when feeding, with his servants, his father's asses; these Emims, it is not unlikely, being a kind of free-booters, and used to make such excursions. The word מצא, matsa, rendered found, when applied to enemies, is used, for lighting upon, or even attacking them suddenly. See Parkhurst's Lexicon, or Bochart, vol. 2: p. 238. Houbigant renders the passage, qui dimicavit in deserto contra Emaeos,—who fought against the Emims in the wilderness, in agreement with the above interpretation.