Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir, v. 8. Note, Whatever opposition may be made, God's word will be accomplished, and even those that have opposed it, will see themselves, some time or other, under a necessity of yielding to it, and acquiescing in it. Esau had struggled for Canaan, but now he tamely retires to mount Seir; for God's counsels shall certainly stand, concerning the times before appointed, and the bounds of our habitation.
9. And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir. 10. These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek; these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife. 13. And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 14. And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 15. These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the first born son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16. Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. 17. And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. 18. And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah Esau's wife. 19. These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
Observe here, 1. That only the names of Esau's sons and grandsons are recorded; only their names, not their history; for it is the church that Moses preserves the records of, not the record of those that were without. The elders only that lived by faith, obtained a good report. It is Zion that produces the men of renown, not Seir, Ps. 87. 5. Nor does the genealogy go any farther than the third and fourth generation, the very names of all after are buried in oblivion; it is only the pedigree of the Israelites, who were to be the heirs of Canaan, and of whom were to come the promised Seed, and the holy Seed, that is drawn out to any length, as far as there was occasion for it; even of all the tribes, till Canaan was divided among them, and of the royal line, till Christ came. 2. That these sons and grandsons of Esau are called dukes, v. 15..19. Probably, they were military commanders, dukes, or captains, that had soldiers under them; for Esau and his family lived by the sword, ch. 27. 40. Note, Titles of honour have been more ancient, out of the church, than in it. Esau's sons were dukes, when Jacob's sons were but plain shepherds, ch. 47. 3. This is not a reason why such titles should not be used among christians; but it is a reason why men should not overvalue themselves, or others, for the sake of them. There is an honour that comes from God, and a name in his house that is infinitely more valuable. Edomites may be dukes with men, but Israelites indeed are made to our God kings and priests. 3. We may suppose those dukes had numerous families of children and servants, that were their dukedoms. God promised to multiply Jacob, and to enrich him; yet Esau increases, and is enriched first. Note, It is no new thing for the men of this world to be full of children, and to have their bellies too filled with hid treasure, Ps. 17. 14. God's promise to Jacob began to work late, but the effect of it remained longer, and it had its complete accomplishment in the spiritual Israel.
20. These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, 21. And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22. And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman; and Lotan's sister was Timna. 23. And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24. And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah ; this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25. And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26. And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27. The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan; and Achan. 28. The children of Dishan, are these; Uz, and Haran. 29. These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, 30. Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
In the midst of this genealogy of the Edomites, here is inserted the genealogy of the Horites, those Canaanites, or Hittites, (compare ch. 26. 34.) that were the natives of mount Seir. Mention is made of them, (ch. 14. 6) and of their interest in mount Seir, before the Edomites took possession of it, Deut. 2. 12, 22. This comes in here, not only to give light to the story, but to be a standing reflection upon the Edomites for intermarrying with them, by which, it is probable, they learned their way, and corrupted themselves. Esau having sold his birth-right, and lost his blessing, and entered into alliance with the Hittites, his posterity and the sons of Seir are here reckoned together. Note, Those that treacherously desert God's church, are justly numbered with those that were never in it; apostate Edomites stand on the same ground with accursed Horites. Particular notice is taken of one Anah who fed the asses of Zibeon his father, (v. 24.) and yet is called duke Anah, v. 29. Note, Those that expect to rise high, should begin low. An honourable descent should not keep men from
