Genesis Chapter 36 Bible Study – The Generations of Esau and the Origins of Edom

The Descendants of Esau in Canaan (Genesis 36:1-5)

Genesis 36 begins by listing the generations of Esau, who is also called Edom (Genesis 36:1). Esau’s wives are named:

Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite
Aholibamah, daughter of Anah, granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite
Bashemath, daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebajoth

Esau’s sons born in Canaan are:

Eliphaz by Adah
Reuel by Bashemath
Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah by Aholibamah (Genesis 36:4-5)

Esau Moves to Seir (Genesis 36:6-8)

Esau takes his wives, sons, daughters, servants, livestock, and goods, and moves from the land of Canaan to the country of Seir (Genesis 36:6). The reason is that he and Jacob have too many possessions to dwell together, and the land cannot sustain both of them (Genesis 36:7), much like Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13:6. Esau settles in Mount Seir; Esau is Edom (Genesis 36:8).

The Sons of Esau Listed by Their Mothers (Genesis 36:9-14)

The chapter repeats that these are the generations of Esau, father of the Edomites in Mount Seir (Genesis 36:9). His sons are detailed by their mothers:

Eliphaz, son of Adah: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz; and by his concubine Timna, Amalek (Genesis 36:10-12)
Reuel, son of Bashemath: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah (Genesis 36:13)
Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah, sons of Aholibamah (Genesis 36:14)

The Chiefs of Esau’s Descendants (Genesis 36:15-19)

Esau’s descendants become tribal leaders or “dukes” (chiefs). From Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam, Amalek (Genesis 36:15-16). From Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, Mizzah (Genesis 36:17). From Aholibamah: Jeush, Jaalam, Korah (Genesis 36:18). These are the chiefs of Edom according to their families and dwellings (Genesis 36:19).

The Inhabitants of Seir Before Esau (Genesis 36:20-30)

The chapter lists the Horites, the original inhabitants of Seir, who were integrated into Edom’s history:

Sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, Dishan (Genesis 36:20)
Lotan’s children: Hori, Hemam (Genesis 36:22)
Shobal’s children: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, Onam (Genesis 36:23)
Zibeon’s children: Ajah and Anah (Genesis 36:24), the latter known for finding hot springs in the wilderness.
Anah’s children: Dishon and Aholibamah (Genesis 36:25)
Dishon’s children: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, Cheran (Genesis 36:26)
Ezer’s children: Bilhan, Zaavan, Akan (Genesis 36:27)
Dishan’s children: Uz, Aran (Genesis 36:28)

The Horite chiefs are then listed, showing a structured tribal leadership before Esau’s dominance (Genesis 36:29-30).

Kings of Edom Before Israel Had Kings (Genesis 36:31-39)

The text notes that these kings ruled in Edom before any king reigned in Israel (Genesis 36:31), showing Edom’s political organization predated Israel’s monarchy. The kings are:

Bela son of Beor (Genesis 36:32)
Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah (Genesis 36:33)
Husham of the land of the Temanites (Genesis 36:34)
Hadad son of Bedad, who smote Midian in Moab (Genesis 36:35)
Samlah of Masrekah (Genesis 36:36)
Saul of Rehoboth by the river (Genesis 36:37)
Baal-hanan son of Achbor (Genesis 36:38)
Hadar, whose wife was Mehetabel (Genesis 36:39)

Chiefs of Esau by Families and Locations (Genesis 36:40-43)

The final section lists the chiefs of Esau according to their families and dwelling places: Timnah, Alvah, Jetheth, Aholibamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram (Genesis 36:40-43). These names represent the permanent tribal structure of Edom. The chapter closes with: “he is Esau the father of the Edomites.”