1sn Chapter 36 records what became of Esau. It will list both his actual descendants as well as the people he subsumed under his tribal leadership, people who were aboriginal Edomites. The chapter is long and complicated (see further J. R. Bartlett, “The Edomite King-List of Genesis 36:31-39 and 1 Chronicles 1:43-50,” JTS 16 [1965]: 301-14; and W. J. Horowitz, “Were There Twelve Horite Tribes?” CBQ 35 [1973]: 69-71). In the format of the Book of Genesis, the line of Esau is “tidied up” before the account of Jacob is traced (37:2). As such the arrangement makes a strong contrast with Jacob. As F. Delitzsch says, “secular greatness in general grows up far more rapidly than spiritual greatness” (New Commentary on Genesis, 2:238). In other words, the progress of the world far out distances the progress of the righteous who are waiting for the promise.
2tnHeb “from the daughters of Canaan.”
3tnHeb “daughter,” but see Gen 36:24-25.
4tnHeb “from before.”
5tnHeb “land of their settlements.”
6tn Traditionally “Mount Seir,” but in this case the expression בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר (b˙har se’ir) refers to the hill country or highlands of Seir.
7sn The term father in genealogical records needs to be carefully defined. It can refer to a literal father, a grandfather, a political overlord, or a founder.
8tn Or “grandsons” (NIV); “descendants” (NEB).
9tn Or “grandsons” (NIV); “descendants” (NEB).
10tnHeb “daughter,” but see Gen 36:24-25.
11tn Or “clan leaders” (so also throughout this chapter).
12tn Or “sons.”
13tc The Samaritan Pentateuch omits the name “Korah” (see v. 11 and 1 Chr 1:36).
14tn Or “grandsons” (NIV); “descendants” (NEB).
15tn Or “grandsons” (NIV); “descendants” (NEB).
16sn The same pattern of sons, grandsons, and chiefs is now listed for Seir the Horite. “Seir” is both the name of the place and the name of the ancestor of these tribes. The name “Horite” is probably not to be identified with “Hurrian.” The clan of Esau settled in this area, intermarried with these Horites and eventually dispossessed them, so that they all became known as Edomites (Deut 2:12 telescopes the whole development).
17tn Or “sons.”
18tnHeb “Hemam”; this is probably a variant spelling of “Homam” (1 Chr 1:39); cf. NRSV, NLT “Heman.”
19tn This name is given as “Shephi” in 1 Chr 1:40.
20tn The meaning of this Hebrew term is uncertain; Syriac reads “water” and Vulgate reads “hot water.”
21tnHeb “sons,” but since a daughter is included in the list, the word must be translated “children.”
22tnHeb “Dishan,” but this must be either a scribal error or variant spelling, since “Dishan” is mentioned in v. 28 (see also v. 21).
23tn Or perhaps “before any Israelite king ruled over [them].”
24tn Typically the Hebrew expression “the River” refers to the Euphrates River, but it is not certain whether that is the case here. Among the modern English versions which take this as a reference to the Euphrates are NASB, NCV, NRSV, CEV, NLT. Cf. NAB, TEV “Rehoboth-on-the-River.”
25tc Most mss of the MT read “Hadar” here; “Hadad” is the reading found in some Hebrew mss, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac (cf. also 1 Chr 1:50).
26tn The name of the city is given as “Pai” in 1 Chr 1:50.
27tn Or perhaps “territories”; Heb “dwelling places.”