Chapter 36
Verses 1-43: The Generations of Esau
- Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
- Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,
- And Basemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
- And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bore Reuel;
- And Aholibamah bore Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.
- 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 country from the face of his brother Jacob.
- For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
- Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
- And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
- These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.
- The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
- And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
- And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Basemath Esau’s wife.
- And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bore to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
- These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
- 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.
- And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Basemath Esau’s wife.
- And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
- These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
- These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
- And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
- And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.
- And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
- 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.
- And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
- And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
- The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
- The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.
- These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
- Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
- And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
- And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
- And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
- And when Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
- And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
- And when Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
- And when Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
- And when Shaul died, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
- And when Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
- 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,
- duke Oholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
- duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
- duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.
Interpretation: This chapter details the descendants of Esau, also known as Edom, highlighting the complex genealogy and the establishment of the Edomites. It underscores the multitude of Esau’s descendants, their settlements, and the governance of the land of Edom before the reign of kings over Israel. This passage not only charts the lineage and leadership but also reflects on the broader theme of legacy and the significance of territory in ancient times.
One Response
Genesis 36:1-5 – The Descendants of Esau
Verses 1-5 outline Esau’s wives and sons in Canaan. Kabbalistically, Esau’s lineage represents the Sitra Achra (the “Other Side”), contrasting the spiritual lineage of Jacob with the more materialistic and worldly path of Esau. This differentiation underscores the dynamic interplay between Gevurah (judgment, strength) and Chesed (kindness), with Esau embodying the former. Quantum mechanically, the detailing of Esau’s family introduces a branching of narrative probabilities, where Esau’s descendants create their own paths distinct from Jacob’s, affecting the collective quantum field of humanity’s story.
Genesis 36:6-8 – Esau’s Move to Seir
Verses 6-8 describe Esau moving to Seir, away from Jacob, due to the insufficiency of the land to support both their possessions. Kabbalistically, this move can be seen as an act of Ratzon (will) to avoid conflict, aligning with the principle of Tiferet (beauty, harmony), seeking balance even in separation. Quantum mechanically, Esau’s relocation is akin to the separation of entangled states, where each brother’s choice leads to distinct futures, reducing potential conflicts in their narratives and allowing for independent evolutions of their lineages.
Genesis 36:9-14 – The Chiefs of Esau
Verses 9-14 list the chiefs among Esau’s descendants, emphasizing the establishment of leadership and tribal organization. Kabbalistically, the emergence of chiefs among Esau’s descendants can be interpreted through Malchut (kingdom), which relates to leadership and the manifestation of governance. Quantum mechanically, the specification of chiefs signifies a crystallization of social structures within Esau’s lineage, similar to a quantum system reaching a lower energy state through organization and stability.
Genesis 36:15-19 – The Clans of Esau
Verses 15-19 detail the clans descending from Esau’s sons, marking the further expansion and diversification of his lineage. Kabbalistically, the clans represent the proliferation of Netzach (eternity) and Hod (splendor), as Esau’s lineage fulfills a different aspect of the divine plan through expansion and influence in the material world. Quantum mechanically, the delineation of clans introduces complexity into the narrative, akin to a system developing into more states or expressions, each clan contributing to the mosaic of human development.
Genesis 36:21-30 – The Sons of Seir the Horite
The descendants of Seir, the original inhabitants of the land later known as Edom, are listed, detailing the Horite lineage. Kabbalistically, the inclusion of the Horites in the narrative emphasizes the interconnectedness of all creation (Achdut) and the divine spark within every nation and people. Quantum mechanically, the mention of the Horites introduces additional variables into the historical quantum system of the region, showcasing how multiple lineages contribute to the complexity and diversity of the human narrative, akin to particles interacting within a field.
Genesis 36:31-39 – Kings of Edom
This passage outlines the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites. Kabbalistically, the concept of kingship (Malchut) is significant, symbolizing the manifestation of divine governance and order in the physical world. The early establishment of kings in Edom reflects a different path of development compared to Israel, illustrating alternative expressions of divine will and the materialization of power and authority. Quantum mechanically, the succession of Edomite kings can be viewed through the principle of causality and evolution in a quantum system, where each king’s reign represents a distinct state or phase, contributing to the overall history and identity of Edom as it interacts with surrounding nations.
Genesis 36:40-43 – The Chiefs of Esau
The chapter concludes with a list of chiefs descended from Esau, representing the tribal leadership structure within Edom. Kabbalistically, the enumeration of chiefs can be associated with the sefirot of Netzach (eternity) and Hod (majesty), highlighting the enduring nature of Esau’s legacy and the splendor of his contributions to the world. Quantum mechanically, the list of chiefs adds layers of complexity to the social structure of Edom, akin to a quantum system with multiple potential energy levels or states. Each chief’s domain adds to the multifaceted societal fabric of Edom, influencing its interactions with neighboring entities and its role in the larger narrative of the region.