Genesis 36 provides detailed genealogical information about Esau (also called Edom) and his descendants.
Esau took wives from among the Canaanites — Adah, Aholibamah, and Bashemath — and had five sons with them: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. Esau moved his family, possessions, and livestock away from his brother Jacob to the hill country of Seir because the land could not support both of their large herds.
The chapter then lists the descendants of Esau through his sons, identifying them as the chiefs of various clans of Edom. Special attention is given to Eliphaz’s son Amalek, whose descendants would later become significant enemies of Israel. The text also records that Esau’s descendants became the Edomite nation.
Genesis 36 includes information about the original inhabitants of Seir — the Horites — and lists their tribal chiefs. It then provides a record of the kings who ruled in Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites. Eight kings are named in succession, beginning with Bela son of Beor and ending with Hadar, along with their cities and notable details about some of them.
The chapter concludes with another listing of the chiefs of Esau according to their clans and territories. This extensive genealogical information emphasizes Esau’s significant legacy as the father of the Edomites, who would have a complex relationship with Israel throughout their history.
