Gen 36 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 36:1-43: 36:1-43 The book turns to the accounts of Isaac’s sons, concluding the unchosen line of Esau (ch 36 ) before proceeding with the chosen line of Jacob (ch 37 ). Summary for Gen 36:1-8: 36:1-8 The account of Esau stresses two points. First, Esau’s sons were born ... in the land of Canaan (36:5 ) before he moved to Seir (36:8 ). Jacob’s children, by contrast, were almost all born outside the land but then moved into it. God was giving the land to Jacob and his descendants and so made room for them by providing for Esau in a different place. Second, Esau’s other name was Edom . Israel often struggled with the Edomites (see 1 Sam 21:7 ; 22:9-22 ; Obad 1 ).

Summary for Gen 36:1-43: 36:1-43 ^a The book turns to the accounts of Isaac’s sons, concluding the unchosen line of Esau (ch 36 ^b) before proceeding with the chosen line of Jacob (ch 37 ^c).
Summary for Gen 36:1-8: 36:1-8 ^d The account of Esau stresses two points. First, Esau’s sons were born ... in the land of Canaan (36:5 ^e) before he moved to Seir (36:8 ^f). Jacob’s children, by contrast, were almost all born outside the land but then moved into it. God was giving the land to Jacob and his descendants and so made room for them by providing for Esau in a different place. Second, Esau’s other name was Edom. Israel often struggled with the Edomites (see 1 Sam 21:7 ^g; 22:9-22 ^h; Obad 1 ⁱ).
Summary for Gen 36:2-3: 36:2-3 ^j Esau’s three wives—Adah, Oholibamah, and Basemath—are listed. Two of these wives’ names are different from those listed earlier (26:34 ^k; 28:9 ^l). Perhaps the others died, or Esau favored these three among a total of six, or these were just different names for the same three. There is not enough information to decide. 36:2 ^m Oholibamah was a great-granddaughter of Seir the Horite, whose descendants lived in Edom when Esau went to live there (36:20 ⁿ, 25 ^o).
Summary for Gen 36:7-8: 36:7-8 ^p Esau, like Lot, left for the eastern land (cp. 13:5-6 ^q).
Summary for Gen 36:9-43: 36:9-43 ^r This passage begins a second account of Esau’s descendants (36:1 ^s); it traces the family to subsequent generations and alliances.
Summary for Gen 36:9-14: 36:9-14 ^t The descendants of Esau’s five sons are named.
Summary for Gen 36:15-19: 36:15-19 ^u Thirteen of Esau’s descendants had positions as leaders of various clans. A picture begins to emerge of Esau as a grand overlord of tribes (cp. 36:40-43 ^v).
Summary for Gen 36:20-30: 36:20-30 ^w Seir the Horite was an early inhabitant of the land; his descendants populated the region until Esau moved in and displaced them (Deut 2:12 ^x).
Summary for Gen 36:31-39: 36:31-39 ^y It is not clear how these kings of Edom were related to Esau. The clans in Edom followed the same pattern of organization as the later tribes of Israel. They eventually chose a king from one of their tribes and carried on a line of succession from him. 36:31 ^z before any king ruled over the Israelites: This editorial note was probably inserted into the text during Israel’s monarchy (see study note on 35:20).
Summary for Gen 36:40-43: 36:40-43 ^aa These chiefs descended from Esau, who was a great and powerful overlord. As father of the Edomites, he ruled over clans and regions, with eleven chiefs descended from him. By separating from Jacob, Esau was beginning to shake Jacob’s yoke from his neck (27:39-40 ^ab).