Chapter 36 of Genesis covers the genealogy of Esau (Edom), grandson of Abraham, as well as that of Seir the Horite, who also held power and influence in the hill country where Esau eventually settled. It ends with an account of Esau’s descendants, who had become kings in the land by the time Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt* (see Numbers 20:14–21).
The names may mean little to us today, but God sees every person who walks the face of this planet. He knows every name and every soul. He cares about every victory and defeat we encounter in life. Although Esau and many of his descendants lived apart from God and all his goodness, we can choose differently. Know that God sees you, he cares, and he wants you to choose him! You were made to walk with him through this life and on into eternity.
Verses 1–3: Esau, consistent with earlier choices he made in life, acted contrary to God in taking multiple wives, most from the idol-worshiping Canaanite people. Although God promised blessing to those who followed his ways, Esau didn’t seem to place much value on this. He continued to demonstrate his foolishness in choosing to bind himself to Canaanite women in marriage, the most influential and intimate relationship in life.
Esau’s choice of Basemath as a wife (Ishmael’s daughter) represented this divergence from God and his promises. Like Ishmael, Esau was blessed materially, but forfeited God’s rich, eternal, spiritual heritage of sonship, blessing, and eternal life.
Verses 4–8: Esau had five sons by three wives in Canaan. His great wealth (including livestock) and large household forced him to separate from Jacob, who had recently returned to his homeland. There simply wasn’t enough land and resources to support them both. Esau moved into the hill country of Seir (located today in parts of Israel and Jordan*), and out of God’s land of promise for his people.
9–12: Esau’s wife Adah gave birth to Eliphaz, who also had five sons. Like his father, he took multiple wives. Interestingly, one of these (Timna) gave birth to Amalek, whose descendants centuries later would threaten the very existence of the Jews (see the book of Esther).
13–19: Esau’s wife Basemath gave birth to Reuel, who had four sons. Esau and Oholibamah had three sons, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. They, along with Esau’s nine grandsons, became chiefs of the Edomite people.
20–30: While Esau and his family gained much power and influence in the hill country, they weren’t alone in their rule. The land of Seir was named after Seir, a Horite chief in the region. His seven sons came to rule as chiefs over various divisions of the land. Both Esau and his sons intermarried with these Canaanite people. Esau’s wife Oholibamah was Seir’s daughter, while his son Eliphaz’s concubine Timna was a sister of Seir’s son, Lotan. Reflective of his life, Esau left the land of God’s promise along with all the promises found in knowing and walking with God.
31–40: Eventually, various descendants of Esau reigned as kings in Seir, renamed Edom. They gained power, wealth, and status even beyond that of the original chiefs, but apparently failed to find what truly matters in life: a full and vibrant life in relationship with the one true God.
