Genesis 36:1-14

Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth. Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel. Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan. Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob. For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock. Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir: these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Remember that earlier in our reading of Genesis that God promised Esau that he would be the father of kings, well this is where God says: “I told you so.” God knows everything about the past, present and future all the time. That makes sense because he made time itself.

Notice that both Jacob and Esau became so rich that they couldn’t physically live in the same area. Wealth was contained in livestock and livestock must feed. There are problems associated with affluence. Although being rich is a thing that God gives to some, it has some definite draw-backs. I have seen sad rich individuals and very happy and close poor families. Love and a good relationship with God is what we really need.

Geographically, Esau and his people settled in what is today southern Jordan and part of southern Israel. My study leads me to believe that these are at least part of the ones we call the Palestinians today.