Genesis 36 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Genesis 36
WHEN:
Chapter 36 is a genealogical record of Esau’s family.
Esau was born in approximately 1836 B.C.
Details about the lifespan of his children and grandchildren are not recorded.
CHARACTERS:
Esau (Edom) – The twin brother of Jacob and father of the Edomite nation.
Esau’s Immediate Family – This chapter records the names of Esau’s 3 wives, 5 sons, and some of his grandchildren.
Kings of Seir – A list of the rulers of Seir are recorded towards the end of chapter 36.
WHERE:
Esau’s descendants lived in the hill country of Seir.
OUTLINE:
THE WIVES AND SONS OF ESAU (36:1-5):
Esau (also known as Edom) had 4 wives who bore him sons: Adah the Hittite, Oholibamah the Hivite, and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael.
Esau also married a woman named Judith (26:34) but she is not named in this chapter.
Esau’s had 5 sons: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
In addition to his sons, Esau also had several daughters (36:6)
ESAU MOVES TO SEIR (36:6-8):
Jacob and Esau owned so much livestock the land could not support them both.
Esau took his family and herds and moved to the hill country of Seir.
THE EDOMITES (36:9-19):
Esau’s descendants grew into the Edomite nation.
The Edomites are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible.
Esau’s son Eliphaz had 6 sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, and Amalek.
Esau’s son Reuel had 4 sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
THE DESCENDANTS OF SEIR THE HORITE (36:20-30):
The Horites lived in the land of Seir before Esau’s descendants (Deuteronomy 2:12).
Seir had 7 sons who were chiefs among the Horites: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
Verses 22-28 list the sons of each of these chiefs.
THE KINGS OF EDOM (36:31-39):
“These are the kings who reigned in Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites” (36:31).
The names of the kings in order of succession: Bela, Jobab, Husham, Hadad, Samlah, Shaul, Baal-hanan, and Hadar.
THE CHIEFS OF ESAU (36:40-43):
“These are the names of the chiefs of Esau according to their clans and their dwelling places by their names: the chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibama, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom” (36:40-43a).
APPLICATION:
It only takes a generation to steer an entire family away from God.
Jacob retained a relationship with the true God, the God of his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham.
But Esau married Canaanite women and directed his family in another direction.
Many of Esau’s descendants would become enemies of God and enemies of Jacob’s family, the Israelites.
Esau is not spoken highly of by the other Bible writers (Hebrews 12:16).
You have a decision to make, will you serve the true God and teach your family to do the same? Or will you turn away from Him and potentially influence generations to pursue the same unwise path?
