Genesis 36

Genesis 36:1

THe generations] This genealogie declareth that Esau was blessed temporally, and that his fathers blessing, Chap. 27. 39. tooke place in temporall things. The ambiguities and seeming repugnancies in this genealogie may be briefly reconciled by these rules. First, some persons have many names, as Esau is called also Edom, in the first verse; Jacob also is called Israel, Genesis 32:28. & 35. 21, 22. So one of Esaus wives the daughter of Ishmael is called Mabalath, Genesis 29:9. and Bashemath, Genesis 36:3. and Sarah is called Ica, Chap. 11. 29. And this not onely in proper names, as in the instances forementioned, but in names Nationall, as the same person is called sometimes an Hittite, Chap. 26. 34. sometimes an Hivite, vers. 20. of this Chapter; because the Hivites were the greater Nation, and comprehended also the Hittites; and sometimes an Horite, vers. 24. of this Chapter: and the rather because the one might in habitation be mingled with the other. Secondly, sometime the same name is given to severall persons, as there were two called Anah, two called Corah, three called Dishn, or Dishan, in this Chapter.

Thirdly, the grand-father is called also a father, and the grand-child (whether Nphew or Neece) a sonne or a daughter unto him, 2 Kings 8:18. 26. Fourthly, some are called sonnes of others who were not their naturall issue, but adopted children; as Amalek, whose mother was Timnah, yet is he called the sonne of Adah, vers. 12. to the one he was a naturall sonne, to the other a sonne adopted. Fifthly, some men had the names of women given unto them, as Timnah, and Aholibamah, mentioned vers. 40. 41. were called by the names of the first mothers of their nation.

Genesis 36:5

And Ahlibamah] The wives of Esau are not ranked in the order of their marriage (for the daughter of Ishmael was married to Esau after Aholibamah) it being ittest to name her first of whom he had least to say, and her last who gave occasion by her fruitfulnesse to say the more.

Genesis 36:6

went into the countrey] That is, to another Countrey then that of Canaan, where he had dwelt; and herein appeareth Gods providence which causeth the wicked to give place to the godly, Esau removes thence to Mount Seir that Jacob might enjoy Canaan according to Gods promise.

from the face] This removall of Esau from Canaan is taken to be after he had dwelt in Seir, and had come thence to solemnize his fathers funerall, Chap. 35. vers. 29. after which time Jacob and he being upon good termes are thought to have dwelled together, untill their riches (increasing as Abrahams and Lots, Chap. 13. 6.) gave occasion of their parting; Or, it may be thus understood, that after Jacob was gone to Padan-Aram, or Mesopotamia, Esau after a time being increased in estate, and finding his father, but especially his mother, so affectionate to his brother Jacob, that he had no hope of any joy of living there, when he returned removed himselfe, with his wives, children, and estate (which he had gotten in Canaan) to dwell in mount Seir, vers. 8. a place which haply pleased him better for commodiousnesse of hunting, to which he was very much addicted, and where he might make himselfe more roome then as a sojourner with his father in Canaan could be allowed him.

Genesis 36:7

For their riches] Esau being commodiously seated, and increased in riches resolved, not to remaine where he was, conceiving his brothers estate and his would be too much for such a portion of Canaan as in the way of sojourning would be allotted to them; such thoughts as these he might have before Jacob returned, and therein might be confirmed when he saw his increase, and was reconciled unto him; and therein the affections, and intentions of Esau, (though he minded onely his own commoditie) conduced to the accomplishment of the Divine providence, which had designed Canaan for the inheritance of the posteritie of Jacob, not of him.

could not beare them] Not but that the Land of Canaan was both spatious and fruitfull enough to support, and sustain them; but they not possest of it as in their owne right, but sojourning in it, could not be supplied with scope, and compasse enough for all their cattell.

Genesis 36:9

father of] To all that descend from another in a right line he is a father, though a grand-father never so remote; and to such a one the descendents in what degree soever are children; so our Saviour Christ is called the sonne of David, the sonne of Abraham, Matth. 1. vers. 1.

Genesis 36:15

Dukes] Are leaders, or chiefe Governours, or Heads of some eminent families or kindred; who joyning together made an Aristocraticall forme of Government, that is, a Government of divers choyce and chiefe men, a governing among themselves in an equall tenour of authoritie without any King ruling over them by any absolute power, though for order sake some one might have the preeminence, as the Duke of Venice hath; such a government the Edomites had at the first, after that Kings, from them they came back to Dukes againe, all being elective and not by succession. If God dignifie them so much who are not of his houshold, how much will he honour and exalt those that are?

Genesis 36:20

which inhabited the land] That is, before Esau did there inhabit; whose posteritie by their sword made themselves roome in the Countrey, by expelling the old inhabitants thence, Deuteronomy 2:12. So verifying Jacobs prediction, Genesis 27:40. to their gaine, and glory in the world; but withall it is to be noted, that Esau had married Aholibamah neece to Zibeon the third sonne of Scir, vers. 2. & 20. of this Chapter, yet for all this affiitie, Esaus posteritie expelled their kinsmen by marriage out of their possession: There is no trust then in the alliances of wicked men; though they make marriages with one another, they will violate all lawes of affinitie and friendship for their owne advantage. See Gen. 31. 5: 23, 24, 29.

Genesis 36:24

that found the mules] The word Jemim in the Heb. (as Schindler observeth, and the best Interpreters agree with him) is here, and no where else found in the whole Scripture, which makes the signification of it the more uncertaine; the Vulgar Latine turnes it Bathes, or, hot waters: the most and best Divines take it for Mules, and that his finding them out was by an experiment of his owne, causing a mixture of an asse and a mare, whence mules are ingendred, who can ingender nothing; this did Anah, who not contented with those kinds of beasts which God had created found out the monstrous generation of mules, betweene the asse and the mae, which as an enormitie against nature the Lord forbiddeth, not only in that, but in any other kind, Leviticus 19:19.

Genesis 36:31

before there reigned any king] The posteritie of Esau was advanced sooner to royall dignitie then the posteritie of Jacob, which in the Egyptian servitude were under a rod of Iron, while Esaus off-spring swaid a golden Scepter. The wicked rise up suddenly to honour, and perish as quickly; but the inheritance of the children of God continueth for ever, Psalms 102:28. But how could Moses write this since the Israelites had no Kings in his time; this he might write by the Spirit of Prophecie, for he prophecieth of the peoples desire of a King, and gives rules both concerning his choice and his carriage, Deut. 17. 14, 15.

Genesis 36:33

Jobab] Many of the Ancients hold this to be that Job of whose patience there is an history, but the words differ much in the Hebrew writing, for this Jobab beginneth with Jod, but Job of Whom the Book is written beginneth with Aleph, and is called Job, or Jiob, never Jobab in the Hebrew Text.

Bozra] A famous Citie of Idumea not farre distant from the Citie Teman. See Amos 1:12. which is brought in allegorically in the Prophecie of Christ by the Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 63. vers. 1.

Genesis 36:34

the land of Temani] Heb. of the Temanite. The whole South Countrey of Idumea, so called from the Citie Teman the Metropolis of Idumea, and the Princes Palace, situated on Mount Seir; which Citie might be so named from Teman the eldest sonne of Eliphaz, vers. 11. 15. and hence it is probable that Eliphaz one of Jobs visitants was called a Temanite, Job 2. vers. 11.

Genesis 36:37

Rehoboth] Which is a Citie situate by the River Euphrates, built by Nimrod, Genesis 10:11. Some say this is another Rehoboth from that noted in the place forecited, and that it is dishinguished from it by the mention of the River; but the matter is somewhat uncertaine, and of no great weight.

Genesis 36:40

the names of the Dukes] From Kings they come down to Dukes againe, God having a power to advance, and depose Principalities; to set up, and pull downe, and to change not onely the Governours, but the manner of government as he pleaseth; for whose succession two hundred years or thereabouts (the length of Edoms regiment limited with Moses death, as by some it is) will be found too little, but after the government of Dukes Moses reckons eight Kings, and after them eleven Dukes again: See 1 Chron. 1. 51. for the King of Edom (it may be) he was degraded to a Dukedome, because of his hard hearted usage of his brother Israel returning out of Egypt, Numbers 20:14. 20. To which the Answer may be, that though the Kings succeeded one another, the eleven Dukes might be contemporaries all at once; or if they be accounted in successiō, Moses by the Spirit of Prophecie, as well foretels their names, and dignities which did succeed when he was dead, as reports precedent matters for many hundred yeares before his birth. To this may be added a third answer (which is yet not to be preferred before the former) viz. that this might be inserted by some such authour as made up the story of the book of Deuteronomie from the fifth verse to the end of the Chapter.

Genesis 36:43

father of the Edomites] Or, of Edom, that is, of that race or off-spring which hath its Originall from Esaus loines: for all the descendents beare the name of their principall progenitor, though many degrees distant from him, because that virtually they were contained in him, else they could not have been derived from him; so the Jews many hundred years after Jacobs decease are called Israel, or the children of Israel; whereby we are directed from the condition of the one, to look both forward and backward to the condition of the other, and to observe how Gods promises, or threats given out with reference to their mutuall relations, are made good upon them in succeeding ages: and withall the name of Edom (being given Esau by occasion of his parting with his birthright for a messe of red pottage, for which he is condemned as a profane person, and thrice repeated in this Chapter as an addition to the name of Esau) is to be taken as a brand of perpetuall reproch upon him; as Jeroboam the sonne of Nebat with this addition, which made Israel to sinne, 1 Kings 16:26. & Chap 22. vers. 25. 2 Kings 3:3. and elsewhere.