Genesis 36:1-37:1 The Genealogy of Esau

This passage is another one we are often quick to scan or even skip. It contains an endless amount of names that an English speaker finds quite foreign. Most of the people mentioned do not appear again on the pages of Scripture. Esau is probably not one of our favorite people in the Bible. Therefore, we quickly look at the list and move to Joseph’s dream in chapter 37.

But hold on. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. This chapter appears in the book of Genesis for a reason, and we can learn from it.

The account begins, “Now these are the records of the generations of Esau” (36:1). That section continues through Genesis 37:1. The chapter break can cause us to think of this section as going only through verse 36:43, but it extends for an additional verse. 37:2 reads, “These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Therefore, the first section (36:1-37:1) speaks of the generations of Easu, and the next section (37:2) discusses the generations of Jacob.

Notice that Esau takes his wives from the land of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite (Ge 36:2).

Remember what Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me” (27:46).

In Genesis 28 Jacob goes to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from the daughters of Laban, his uncle. As Esau watched this situation he saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac. Esau then and married Mahalath, Ishmael’s daughter.

What happened as a result of these marriages? The genealogy in chapter 36 gives us a clue. Esau’s wife Ada gave birth to a son Eliphaz who had a concubine named Timna. She gave birth to Amalek, one of the chief’s of the sons of Esau (Gen 36:12, 16).

There is good reason to believe that this Amalek is the same person whose people became fierce enemies of Israel.

The next time we read of Amalek in the Bible, Amelak fights with Israel in Rephidim (Ex 17:8-16). Moses says, “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation” (Ex 17:16). This statement was fulfilled in Israel’s history as the Amalekites continued to harass Israel.

The New Testament tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. If this passage applies to us, and it does, there is no clearer application than in the marriage relationship. How many godly young boys and girls have made horrible choices in this area. As a result they have disobeyed the Lord, brought discouragement and heartache to their parents and severely hindered their own spiritual growth.

Adults have also made equally harmful choices in this area. Extra-marital affairs and divorce run abound in our land. These activities bring life-long heartache to spouses and innocent children. God hates it.

Esau’s choices brought about bad results not only for himself but for those who would follow him. In fact, some would say that the problems we face in the Middle East today are largely related to the choices of Esau and his descendants.

Next, notice the last verse of this section, “Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned in the land of Canaan. Although Esau had become very powerful, Jacob had not. He had several years working for Laban and had acquired some livestock, but Jacob did not have nearly the amount of prominence and power that his brother had.

Esau had prospered even though he appeared to have been more secular minded than his brother. Jacob had wrestled with God, had received God’s blessing of a new name and had been given the promises initially given to Abraham. Jacob was waiting for the fulfillment. In the meantime, he did not prosper materially nearly as much as Esau.

Delitzsch comments, “Secular greatness in general grows up far more rapidly than spiritual greatness.

The genealogy of Genesis 36 does contain names we may find unusual. Yet, we should not skip it. Each of those names represents a life, and as we search the Scripture we can find nuggets of truth God wants to teach us about some of those lives.

Two of those truths speak clearly to major issues of our day: marriage and materialism. We need to be people who seek godly spouses. Then when we marry we must continue to be faithful.

In addition, we must not forget that we may not have the material blessings that unbelievers have. Our citizenship is in heaven. While we are on earth some of us may prosper greatly and some not as much. In spite of what some Bible teachers and evangelists try to tell us, we are not guaranteed physical riches in this life. In fact, for most believers who have ever lived, the opposite is true. Just read 1 Corinthians 11:16-33 and Hebrews 11:32-40.
Are finding it difficult to make ends meet these days? Do you get discouraged on occasion when you see your pagan neighbors coming home with big screen televisions, large boats and new SUV’s? Remember, that you and I are given the blessings of God. His promises are true for you and me. We may not prosper as our secular friends, but He has not forgotten us.

“For by these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” - 2 Peter 1:4