Overview: (NET) Chapter 36 records what became of Esau. It will list both his actual descendants as well as the people he subsumed under his tribal leadership, people who were aboriginal Edomites. The chapter is long and complicated. In the format of the Book of Genesis, the line of Esau is “tidied up” before the account of Jacob is traced (37:2). As such the arrangement makes a strong contrast with Jacob. As F. Delitzsch says, “secular greatness in general grows up far more rapidly than spiritual greatness” (New Commentary on Genesis, 2:238). In other words, the progress of the world far out distances the progress of the righteous who are waiting for the promise.
Structure:
(1) 3 wives: Adah, Obolibamah, Basemath v.2-3.
(2) v.4-5 children of Esau when he still lived in the land of Canaan
v.7 they both had many possessions
v.10-14 children of Esau when he moved to Seir. Note: the sons' name were recorded according to the mother's name. These are the same method that Jacob's sons were grouped together we will see later in Genesis and even in Exodus. The link between the brothers under the same mother was very strong.
(3) v.15-19 Chiefs among Esau's descendants
(4) v.20-30 The same pattern of sons, grandsons, and chiefs is now listed for Seir the Horite. “Seir” is both the name of the place and the name of the ancestor of these tribes. The clan of Esau settled in this area, intermarried with these Horites and eventually dispossessed them, so that they all became known as Edomites (Deut 2:12 telescopes the whole development).
v.25 the wife of Esau is listed under the descendants of Seir. In other words, Esau had moved to where his in-laws lived.
(5) v.31-39 the kings who reigned in the land of Edom
Note in v.31
v.31 These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites
The descendants of Esau seemed to be stronger than the Israelites. They had many chiefs and kings. They had kings before Israelites. On one hand, the blessings of Isaac to Esau did came true 27:40, "When you grow restless you will throw his yoke from off your neck." On the other hands, the Israelites should not jealous about her neighborhood country or perhaps tried to be the same and asked for their own kings. Not that having a king was a bad idea, but God has His own timing.
Reflection: There were similarity between Esau and Jacob. They both had multiple wives and they both had many children and possessions. However, as their family grew Esau seemed to doing better than Jacob. They had more chiefs and they had kings before Jacob/Israel.
Do you have spiritual friends like that? You both received Christ for similar length of time, but your sister/brother grows much faster than you? Or your friend's church did much better than ours?
Israel should not asked for their own kings because of looking up to others. We should not do the same neither.
On the other hand, I think there are many things we can learn from others. When I read the newsletter from the missionary I was encouraged by their maturity in Christ. Their insistence in prayer and ministry even during the difficult time like Covid 19.
Audrey
Structure:
(1) 3 wives: Adah, Obolibamah, Basemath v.2-3.
(2) v.4-5 children of Esau when he still lived in the land of Canaan
v.7 they both had many possessions
v.10-14 children of Esau when he moved to Seir. Note: the sons' name were recorded according to the mother's name. These are the same method that Jacob's sons were grouped together we will see later in Genesis and even in Exodus. The link between the brothers under the same mother was very strong.
(3) v.15-19 Chiefs among Esau's descendants
(4) v.20-30 The same pattern of sons, grandsons, and chiefs is now listed for Seir the Horite. “Seir” is both the name of the place and the name of the ancestor of these tribes. The clan of Esau settled in this area, intermarried with these Horites and eventually dispossessed them, so that they all became known as Edomites (Deut 2:12 telescopes the whole development).
v.25 the wife of Esau is listed under the descendants of Seir. In other words, Esau had moved to where his in-laws lived.
(5) v.31-39 the kings who reigned in the land of Edom
Note in v.31
v.31 These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites
The descendants of Esau seemed to be stronger than the Israelites. They had many chiefs and kings. They had kings before Israelites. On one hand, the blessings of Isaac to Esau did came true 27:40, "When you grow restless you will throw his yoke from off your neck." On the other hands, the Israelites should not jealous about her neighborhood country or perhaps tried to be the same and asked for their own kings. Not that having a king was a bad idea, but God has His own timing.
Reflection: There were similarity between Esau and Jacob. They both had multiple wives and they both had many children and possessions. However, as their family grew Esau seemed to doing better than Jacob. They had more chiefs and they had kings before Jacob/Israel.
Do you have spiritual friends like that? You both received Christ for similar length of time, but your sister/brother grows much faster than you? Or your friend's church did much better than ours?
Israel should not asked for their own kings because of looking up to others. We should not do the same neither.
On the other hand, I think there are many things we can learn from others. When I read the newsletter from the missionary I was encouraged by their maturity in Christ. Their insistence in prayer and ministry even during the difficult time like Covid 19.
Audrey
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