21 and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan; these 'are' chiefs of the Horites, sons of Seir, in the land of Edom. 22 And the sons of Lotan are Hori and Heman; and a sister of Lotan 'is' Timna. 23 And these 'are' sons of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho and Onam. 24 And these 'are' sons of Zibeon, both Ajah and Anah: it 'is' Anah that hath found the Imim in the wilderness, in his feeding the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And these 'are' sons of Anah: Dishon, and Aholibamah daughter of Anah. 26 And these 'are' sons of Dishon: Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These 'are' sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These 'are' sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These 'are' chiefs of the Horite: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan: these 'are' chiefs of the Horite in reference to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
31 And these 'are' the kings who have reigned in the land of Edom before the reigning of a king over the sons of Israel. 32 And Bela son of Beor reigneth in Edom, and the name of his city 'is' Dinhabah; 33 and Bela dieth, and reign in his stead doth Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah; 34 and Jobab dieth, and reign in his stead doth Husham from the land of the Temanite. 35 And Husham dieth, and reign in his stead doth Hadad son of Bedad (who smiteth Midian in the field of Moab), and the name of his city 'is' Avith; 36 and Hadad dieth, and reign in his stead doth Samlah of Masrekah; 37 and Samlah dieth, and reign in his stead doth Saul from Rehoboth of the River; 38 and Saul dieth, and reign in his stead doth Baal-hanan son of Achbor; 39 and Baal-hanan son of Achbor dieth, and reign in his stead doth Hadar, and the name of his city 'is' Pau; and his wife's name 'is' Mehetabel daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab. 40 And these 'are' the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, according to their places, by their names: chief Timnah, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, 41 chief Aholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief 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.