21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan: these are the chiefs of the Horites, offspring of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; Lotan's sister was Timna. 23 And these are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; that same Anah who made the discovery of the water-springs in the waste land, when he was looking after the asses of his father Zibeon. 25 And these are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah his daughter. 26 These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran. 27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These were the Horite chiefs: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. Such were the Horite chiefs in their order in the land of Seir.
31 And these are the kings who were ruling in the land of Edom before there was any king over the children of Israel. 32 Bela, son of Beor, was king in Edom, and the name of his chief town was Dinhabah. 33 At his death, Jobab, son of Zerah of Bozrah, became king in his place. 34 And at the death of Jobab, Husham, from the country of the Temanites, became king in his place. 35 And at the death of Husham, Hadad, son of Bedad, who overcame the Midianites in the field of Moab, became king; his chief town was named Avith. 36 And at the death of Hadad, Samlah of Masrekah became king. 37 And at the death of Samlah, Shaul of Rehoboth by the River became king in his place. 38 And at the death of Shaul, Baal-hanan, son of Achbor, became king. 39 And at the death of Baal-hanan, Hadar became king in his place; his chief town was named Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel; she was the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab. 40 These are the names of the chiefs of Esau in the order of their families and their places: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 36:21-42
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.