Genesis 35:23 – 36:43 Endless Genealogies CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

This passage deals with several genealogies that contain historical facts and reveal some important information concerning contemporary characters of this time and geography.

First, we find the genealogy of Jacob’s direct descendants.  Since we are so familiar with his sons, there’s no reason to show them here.

Second, we find the location of Isaac’s sojourning and burial.  He was living in the plain of Mamre, where his father had sojourned (Gen. 13:18).  He was in the city of Hebron, which was formerly called “Arbah” or “Kirjatharba,” named for Arba, a great man among the Anakims (Jos. 14:15).  He was buried there with his father, mother and wife and eventually with one of his daughters-in-law and one of his sons (49:30-31; 50:13).

Third, we find the genealogy of Esau, the father of the Edomites in the land of Edom, formerly called the land of Seir (36:30,43).  It became the land of Edom after Esau’s descendants successfully conquered the inhabitants of the land.  In verse 43, the land is called “their possession,” referring the dukes of Edom.

Teman and Amalek are notable characters in Esau’s line.  Teman became the name of an area referred to 6 times in prophecies concerning the tribulation and the second coming (Jer. 49:7, 20; Eze. 25:13; Amos 1:12; Oba. 9; Hab. 3:3).  Amalek is the father of the Amalekites, who were bitter enemies of the Jews (i.e., Ex. 17; 1 Sam. 15:2-3).

Fourth, the sons of Seir the Horite inhabited and ruled in the land before Esau arrived.  After Esau arrived, he married Aholibamah, Seir’s great granddaughter.  Eventually, the dukes of Esau (36:40-43) replaced the dukes of Seir (36:29-30).  Seir’s genealogy is as follows:

Uz is a notable character in Seir’s line because Uz is the name of the land that Job was from (Job 1:1; Ps. 49:11).  When you look at the list of kings in Seir (below), you find one named “Jobab,” in Bozrah.   Perhaps this is Job.  Remember, one of his friends was Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 2:11, and see the descendants of Adah).  And Teman is connected with Bozrah in Amos 1:12.  Furthermore, the date for Job fits this time period.

Fifth, here are the kings that ruled the land of Seir before kings ever ruled in Israel (36:31).