Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 36

1 NOW these are the generations of Esau , who is Edom.

They are here mentioned partly to shew the effect of his fathers blessing, chap. 27. 39. partly that the Israelites might be admonished to treat the Edomites like Brethren, and not to invade their Land. See Deut. 23. 7.

2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite .

If this account be compared with that Gen. 26. 34. We shall find some difficulties, which yet admit of an easie reconciliation, if these things be considered. 1. That it is very usual and confessed by all, that the same persons are oft called by several names. 2. That the names of some persons are in Scripture given to others because of a great resemblance between them. Upon which account the Parents of the Israelites are called Amorites and Hittites, Ezek. 16. 3. and the Governours of Ierusalem are called the Rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah, Isa. 1. 10. and Iohn the Baptist is called Elias, Matth. 17. 12. 3. That the same men are oft-times denominated from several Countries, as Christ is noted to have a threefold Country in Scripture, Bethlehem, by his Birth; Nazareth, by his Education; and Capernaum, by his much Residence and Preaching there. 4. That the same names are sometimes common to Men and Women. That persons are called the Children not onely of their immediate Parents, but of their Grand-parents, and of those who adopted them. These things premised, the seeming contradictions objected by Infidels do vanish. She who was properly called Iudith, chap. 26. is here called Aholibamah, a name which seems to be given her either by Isaac, or by Moses, from her settledness in her idolatr[illegible: 1+ letters] c[illegible: 1+ letters]urses. And Adah was also called Bashemath; and Mah[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1+ letters]aels daughter, was called Bashemath, chap. 26. either beca[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] her principles and manners she resembled Esaus other Wife so called, or to shew that Ishmaels Marriage to a third Wife was no less opprobrious to him, and displeasing to his Parents then the former; [illegible: 1 word], a man and the Son of Zibeon, as appears from ver. 24. called here an Hivite, is called Beeri the Hittite, chap. 26. either because those two people were mixed together in habitation and by Marriage or because the one people were larger then the other and comprehended under their name, or because he was an Hivite by birth, an Hittite by habitation or incorporation with them. Hence also we may learn how Aholibamah here comes to be the Daughter both of [illegible: 1 word], and of Zibeon, the one being either the natural or proper Father, and the other either the Grandfather, or Father by Adoption.

Marginal references: ver. 25.

4 And Adah bare to Esau, Eliphaz : and Bashemath bare Reuel .

The progenitor of that Eliphaz, Ioh 2. 11.

The Father of Iethro. See Exod. 2. 18. Numb. 10. 29.

Marginal references: 1 Chro. 1. 35.

5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau , which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

He had also Daughters, ver. 6. though their names be not here mentioned.

6 And Esau took 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 had got in the land of Canaan: and went into the countrey from the face of his brother Jacob.

Quest. 1. Why went he thither? Answ. Partly by his own choice, that Wild and Mountainous Countrey being very commodious for hunting to which he wholly addicted himself; partly by his Wives perswasions who were both utterly averse from cohabitation with Isaac or Iacob, and strongly inclined to their own Country; but principally from the secret conduct of Divine Providence thus accomplishing his promises. See Ios. 24. 4. Ma[illegible: 1+ letters]. 1. 3. Quest. 2. When went he thither? Answ. He went thither before this time in discontent at his Parents and dwelt in Seir, before Iacobs return to Canaan, as appears from Gen. 32. 3. and 33. 14, 16. Yet so as he came sometimes to Canaan and to his Fathers house, and did not quit his interest in his fathers estate. But when his Father was dead and Iacob and he agreed about the partition of the estate, he did totally and finally forsake Canaan, partly for the reason here following; partly for the other reasons now alledged; and partly to avoid all occasion both of Communication and Contention with his Brother.

(i. e.) Further up into the Country: Or, into another Country, as the Chaldee renders it, namely into Seir: The word another being supplyed. If that seem too bold a supplement, the place may be rendred thus, he went into a Land distant or remote from the face of his brother, which supplement lies hid and is implied in the word Mipne, from the face: Or thus, he went out of the Land: For so the Hebrew preposition El is sometimes used for Min, which signifies off or out of, as appears by comparing 1 King. 8. 30. with 2 Chron. 6. 21. and Isaiah 59. 20. Rom. 11. 26. and Iudg. 17. 2. 2 Chron. 1. 13. and many other places.

Marginal references: Heb. souls.

7 For their riches were more then that they might dwell together: and the land wherein they were strangers , could not bear them, because of their cattle.

Which words contain the reason why that Land, which was large and fruitful could not bear them, because they were not entire possessours of it, but onely sojourners in it, and therefore must take the owners leavings, which were not sufficient for both of them and their numerous Families.

Marginal references: chap. 13. 6, 11.; chap. 17. 8. and 28. 4.

8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom .

This seems to be mentioned by the Holy Ghost by way of contempt or reproach, this is he who sold his Birth-right for a mess of red pottage and therefore was called Edom or Red.

Marginal references: Josh. 24. 4.

15 These were Dukes of the sons of Esau; the sons of Eliphaz, the first-born son of Esau, Duke Teman, Duke Omar, Duke Zepho, Duke Kenaz,

Princes or Heads of their several Families and little Principalities, according to the manner of those times, who ruled their Dominions, either severally, each his own, or jointly by common advice, or, it may be, under one chief Prince, their superiour either in Title or in power. And in this division Eliphaz, as he was Esaus first-born so he had more than a double portion, his six sons being made Dukes, as Esaus immediate Sons were. Compare 1 Chron. 5. 1.

16 Duke Korah , Duke Gatam, and Duke Amalek. These are the Dukes that came of Eliphaz, in the land of Edom: These were the sons of Adah.

He is not mentioned among Eliphaz his sons, and therefore is thought to be his Grand-son. There is another Korah, ver. 14. and 18.

20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land , Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah.

Who are here mentioned partly because of their alliance with Esaus Family, ver. 2, 20, 22, 24, 25. and partly because the Government was translated from his to Esaus Family.

And ruled there, till Esau and his posterity drove them out, Deut. 2. 12, 22.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ 38.

24 And these are the children of Zibeon, both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.

So most understand the word Iemim, which is no where else used, and give this sense of it, that he found out the way of the generation of mules by the copulation of an Horse and a Mare. Others render it waters, that he found out some springs of water, which in those hot Countries were rare and pretious; or hot waters, some hot and medicinal springs. But the Chaldee renders it Giants, and the Samarit[illegible: 1+ letters] version Emims, a sort of Giants mentioned, Deut. 2. 10, 11. who also were Neighbours to the Horites here spoken of, as appears from Gen. 14. 5, 6. and therefore might, according to the manner of those times, make inroads one upon another. So Iemim is put for Emim, either by an Apocope of the first letter, or by the change of the Hebrew letter I[illegible: 1+ letters]d into Aleph, both which are frequent among the Hebrews. And the sense is, that Anah the Horite found out the Emims, that is he met with them or came upon them suddenly and smot[illegible: 1+ letters] them▪ In this sense the word finding is oft used, as Iudg. 1. 5. 1 Sam. 31. 3. Psal. 21. 8. I[illegible: 1+ letters]a. 10. 10.

Marginal references: Lev. 19. 19.

25 And the children of Anah were these: Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.

Heb. Sons, though but one Son be mentioned. Either then he had other Sons not here expressed: Or the plural number is put for the singular, as Gen. 21. 7.

30 Duke Dishon, Duke Ezer, Duke Dishan: these are the Dukes that came of Hori, among their Dukes in the land of Seir.

Among other Dukes which were in that Countrey. Or, according to their Dukedomes or Principalities: The word Duke being here put for Dukedom, as the word King is put for Kingdom, Isa. 23. 15. Dan. 7. 17.

31 And these are the Kings that reigned in the land of Edom , before there reigned any King over the children of Israel .

He speaks of the posterity of Esau who after they had subdued the Horites erected a Kingdom there.

Here prophane wi[illegible: 1+ letters]s triumph. How, say they, could Moses write this, when as yet there was no King in Israel? Answ. 1. The word may be taken for any chief Governour, in which sense the Title of King is given to Moses, Deut. 33. 5. and to the Judges, Iudg. 17. 6. and to others who were not Kings properly so called, Psal. 119. 46. Luke 22. 25. Acts 9. 15. &c. Answ. 2. Moses might well say thus, because he did by the spirit of Prophesieforesee and therefore could foretell that the Israelites would have a King, as appears from Deut. 17. 14, 15. Answ. 3. This, with other clauses of the same nature might be inserted afterwards by some holy and inspired man of God, as it is confessed that part of the last chapter of Deuteronomy was.

Marginal references: 1 Chro. 1. 43.

32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his City was Dinhabah.

Where he was born or dwelt, and so in the rest. The diversity of their Cities makes it probable, that these Kings had not their power by succession, but either by election, or by usurpation, according to Isaacs prophesie of them, Gen. 27. 40. By thy Sword thou shalt live.

34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.

Of which land see Ier. 49. 7, 20. so called either from the City Teman, or from Teman the son of Eliphaz, ver. 11. Or, of the South Countrey, as the antient Translations render it.

37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth, by the river , reigned in his stead.

Either Euphrates; or a branch of it called Chabras, by which there is even at this day, a City called Rahabath-Melic, i. e. Kings Rahabath, as the learned observe: Or some other River of note in those times and parts.

39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his City was Pau, and his wives name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab .

Either Matred was the Father and Mezahab the Mother: Or Matred was the Mother and Mezahab the Grand-mother.

Marginal references: Or, Hadad.; Or, Pai. 1 Chro. 1. 50.

40 And these are the names of the Dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: Duke Timnah, Duke Alvah, Duke Jetheth.

Of their Persons and Generations and Families. The state of Edom between the times of Esa[illegible: 1+ letters] and Moses seems to have been this; There were first Dukes, then Kings, and after them Dukes again. But if it be objected, that the time was too short for a succession of so many persons, it may be replied, that what is confessed, concerning the Dukes preceding the Kings, might be true also of these succeeding Duk[illegible: 1+ letters], and that the Edomites either having taken some distaste at [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] Government, or differing about the choice of a new [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]vided themselves again into several petty Principalities o[illegible: 1+ letters] Dukedoms: and so several of those were Dukes at the same time in divers parts.

Marginal references: 1 Chro. 1. 51.; Or, Aliah.