2 Esau hath taken his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah daughter of Anah, daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 and Bashemath daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebajoth. 4 And Adah beareth to Esau, Eliphaz; and Bashemath hath born Reuel; 5 and Aholibamah hath born Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. These 'are' sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau taketh his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance which he hath acquired in the land of Canaan, and goeth into the country from the face of Jacob his brother; 7 for their substance was more abundant than to dwell together, and the land of their sojournings was not able to bear them because of their cattle; 8 and Esau dwelleth in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
9 And these 'are' births of Esau, father of Edom, in mount Seir. 10 These 'are' the names of the sons of Esau: Eliphaz son of Adah, wife of Esau; Reuel son of Bashemath, wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz are Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz; 12 and Timnath hath been concubine to Eliphaz son of Esau, and she beareth to Eliphaz, Amalek; these 'are' sons of Adah wife of Esau. 13 And these 'are' sons of Reuel: Nahath and Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah; these were sons of Bashemath wife of Esau. 14 And these have been the sons of Aholibamah daughter of Anah, daughter of Zibeon, wife of Esau; and she beareth to Esau, Jeush and Jaalam and Korah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 36:2-14
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.