Context No. 664 of 4322 · Genesis
Context · Reflection
Genesis 36:31-43: in context
31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel. 32Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah. 33Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place. 34Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith. 36Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 37Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place. 38Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 40These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, 41chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.
Genesis is still on Esau, and this closes his record. After the chiefs come the kings, a list of eight who reigned in Edom, each named with his city, each succeeding at the death of the last. The heading over them carries the point: these are the kings who reigned in Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel. Then the chapter finishes with one more roll of chiefs and signs off, this is Esau, the father of the Edomites.
Two things sit quietly in the list. The kings do not pass the throne from father to son; each comes from a different place and takes over when the one before him dies, more an office that changes hands than a dynasty. And Edom had all of this while Israel had none of it. The brother who sold the birthright was ruled by kings generations before Israel would ask for its first, and when Israel later tried to pass through Edom's land, it was Edom, already a settled kingdom, that refused (Numbers 20). The younger nation was still wandering while the older one held court.
The passed-over brother had kings and cities while Israel had a tent and a promise. What am I still waiting on, that someone I resent already holds?
Sources
- Genesis 36:31: Edom's kings, reigning before any king reigned over the children of Israel
- 1 Samuel 8:5-7: Israel's late demand for a king, to be like the other nations
- Numbers 20:14-21: Edom, already a kingdom, refusing Israel passage through its land