361 Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom ). 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan : Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite , and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite ; 3 also Basemath , Ishmael's daughter , the sister of Nebaioth . 4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau , and Basemath bore Reuel , 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush and Jalam and Korah . These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan . 6 Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all his household , and his livestock and all his cattle and all his goods which he had acquired in the land of Canaan , and went to another land away from his brother Jacob . 7 For their property had become too great for them to live together , and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because e of their livestock . 8 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir ; Esau is Edom .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 36:1-8
Chapter Contents
Esau and his descendants.
The registers in this chapter show the faithfulness of God to his promise to Abraham. Esau is here called Edom, that name which kept up the remembrance of his selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Esau continued the same profane despiser of heavenly things. In outward prosperity and honour, the children of the covenant are often behind, and those that are out of the covenant get the start. We may suppose it a trial to the faith of God's Israel, to hear of the pomp and power of the kings of Edom, while they were bond-slaves in Egypt; but those that look for great things from God, must be content to wait for them; God's time is the best time. Mount Seir is called the land of their possession. Canaan was at this time only the land of promise. Seir was in the possession of the Edomites. The children of this world have their all in hand, and nothing in hope, Luke 16:25; while the children of God have their all in hope, and next to nothing in hand. But, all things considered, it is beyond compare better to have Canaan in promise, than mount Seir in possession.