Genesis 42:25-38

b.      Genesis 42:25- Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

·        Acts 8:20 - But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

o       By returning their money, Joseph’s actions demonstrate that the gifts of God cannot be purchased with money.  Salvation is a gift, the corn represents salvation for Israel and it is a gift from Jesus, whom Joseph represents.

o       Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

§        What Joseph’s brothers did to him was worthy of death, but instead he chose to forgive them and thereby save all Israel

§        Similarly, what we did to Jesus with our sin was worthy of death, yet He chooses to forgive us.

o       Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

§        We cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we work, how much money we have or who we know, it is a gift of God

o       Psalm 3:8 - Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.

·        Acts 4:12 - … there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

·        Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

II.               The brother’s return to Jacob (Genesis 42:26-38)

a.      Genesis 42:26- And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

·        No indication of how many asses or how many bags of corn

·        Could have been a 1 ass per brother and 1 sack per ass or more.

b.      Genesis 42:27- And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it [was] in his sack's mouth.

·        Alludes to the fact that salvation cannot be purchased, it is a gift

c.      Genesis 42:28- And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, [it is] even in my sack: and their heart failed [them], and they were afraid, saying one to another, What [is] this [that] God hath done unto us?

·        Why were they afraid? A guilty conscience results in fear.

·        Fear is not of God, fear is of the adversary and uses our imagination against us to conjure fear within ourselves.

·        Something good happens and they tremble in fear, no faith, no trust in their God.

d.      Genesis 42:29- And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,

e.      Genesis 42:30- The man, [who is] the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

·        Joseph was lord of the land representative of Jesus being Lord of all.

·        Isaiah 66:1 - Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest?

f.       Genesis 42:31- And we said unto him, We [are] true [men]; we are no spies:

g.      Genesis 42:32- We [be] twelve brethren, sons of our father; one [is] not, and the youngest [is] this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

h.      Genesis 42:33- And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye [are] true [men]; leave one of your brethren [here] with me, and take [food for] the famine of your households, and be gone:

i.       Genesis 42:34- And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye [are] no spies, but [that] ye [are] true [men: so] will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

j.       Genesis 42:35- And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money [was] in his sack: and when [both] they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

·        Even Jacob was fearful of the blessing

k.      Genesis 42:36- And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved [of my children]: Joseph [is] not, and Simeon [is] not, and ye will take Benjamin [away]: all these things are against me.

·        Through our ignorance and mistake, and the weakness of our faith, we often apprehend that to be against us which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and relations; and we think all these things are against us, whereas these are really working for us the weight of glory.  Matthew Henry’s Commentary

l.       Genesis 42:37- And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.

·        What an offer, “Dad, if I don’t bring your son back, kill your 2 grandsons”  I’m sure that was not a very tempting offer for Jacob.

·        Its obvious Reuben has the best intentions in mind, but his offer indicates his zeal is greater than his intelligence

m.    Genesis 42:38- And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

·        Sometimes fear is paralyzing…does it make sense to not send Benjamin and guarantee that everyone dies, or send him with the possibility that the lord of the land is truthful?

·        Sometimes we irrationally hold onto people or things that we don’t wish to part with, rather than give them up to the Lord.  Examples could include:

o       Parents and children

o       Boyfriends and girlfriends

o       Spouses

o       Siblings

o       Friends

o       2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

o       1 Timothy 2:3-4 - For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

§        God’s desire is for all of his people to be saved, we sometimes need to let go and trust God.  Trust Him and He will amaze you.

Genesis 42:1-24

I.                 Fulfillment of Joseph’s Dreams (Genesis 42:1-6)

a.      Genesis 42:1- Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

·        How would Jacob have seen that there was corn in Egypt?

o       Likely saw that his neighbors with provision and inquired as to where they were able to obtain it

·        “Why are you standing there looking at each other?”  Seems like a common saying that parents tell their children today

o       What are you standing around for…get to it!

o       No time for moping and feeling sorry for yourself, that’s not what we are supposed to be doing

o       2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

§        No time to feel sorry for yourself, God has given you power and the mind to overcome it

b.      Genesis 42:2- And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

·        v. 1 he saw there was corn in Egypt, v. 2 he has heard there was corn in Egypt

o       Matthew 13:16 - But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

o       Jacob was tuned in to the will of God, he knew that God had made a promise to him and would make provision for his family.

o       God wants us to be watchful and be in tune with His Spirit

§        Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.

c.      Genesis 42:3- And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

·        All but Benjamin

·        Consider the volume of corn that they would require:

o       Enough for 70 people for some unknown period of time

o       Enough for all the flocks that Jacob owned

o       Enough for all of the servants

o       The amount of corn required would have been a massive amount and possibly the reason that attention was drawn to them in Egypt.

d.      Genesis 42:4- But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

·        Jacob shows the same favoritism toward Benjamin as he did toward Joseph

e.      Genesis 42:5- And the sons of Israel came to buy [corn] among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

·        Israel was not the only family to come to Egypt to buy corn

f.       Genesis 42:6- And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.

·        Genesis 37:7 - For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

·        Genesis 37:9 - And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

o       Here we see Joseph’s brothers bowing down before him thus fulfilling the dreams that he had over 20 years prior.

o       Joseph is now ~37 years old, he was younger than all of his brothers except Benjamin.  They are all in their late 30s and 40s.

o       When we think about the difference in our thinking processes in our teens and 20s compared to 40s there is a huge difference in terms of maturity.

·        The famine has begun, meaning 7 years have passed since Joseph was appointed 2^nd in command.  In those 7 years Joseph made no attempt to visit his family, why not?

·        Joseph traveled throughout all Egypt, yet did not find the time to visit Canaan.

o       Genesis 41:45b – And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

·        Joseph trusted the Lord, sometimes that is hard to do and Joseph seems to do everything perfectly, the way God would want him to do it.  Its hard to imagine making the right decision every time, but Joseph was blessed by God and led by His Spirit.

II.               Joseph tests his brothers (Genesis 42:7-20)

a.      Genesis 42:7- And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

·        Likely dressed in royal apparel and virtually unrecognizable to his brothers.

·        Luke 24:13-16 - And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem [about] threescore furlongs.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  And it came to pass, that, while they communed [together] and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.  And he said unto them, What manner of communications [are] these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

b.      Genesis 42:8- And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

·        John 1:10 - He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

·        1 John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

·        Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

c.      Genesis 42:9- And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

·        God allows Joseph to call to remembrance that all of these things were shown to him in his dreams and that they are all part of His plan.  This may serve to quell any of the resentful feelings that Joseph is harboring from the past.

·        Do we harbor resentment for offenses that may have been God’s plan all along? Letting go of resentment and forgiving others of their offenses is what God wants us to do

d.      Genesis 42:10- And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

e.      Genesis 42:11- We [are] all one man's sons; we [are] true [men], thy servants are no spies.

f.       Genesis 42:12- And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

g.      Genesis 42:13- And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.

·        They speak of Joseph as if they know he is dead by saying he “is not”, how ironic that they are standing right before him.

h.      Genesis 42:14- And Joseph said unto them, That [is it] that I spake unto you, saying, Ye [are] spies:

i.       Genesis 42:15- Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

j.       Genesis 42:16- Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye [are] spies.

·        Joseph initially was going to keep all of the brothers in prison and send one back to get Benjamin

k.      Genesis 42:17- And he put them all together into ward three days.

·        Joseph gives them a small sampling of the many years he spent in prison

·        He gave them 3 days to decide which brother was going to travel back to Canaan to get Benjamin, there is no indication that a decision was ever reached.

l.       Genesis 42:18- And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; [for] I fear God:

·        God - אלהים 'elohiym, Joseph uses the generic name for God rather than the covenant name יהוה Yĕhovah, for that would have surely alerted his brothers of his identity.  This does convey the message that Joseph is not a worship the Egyptian gods.

·        Nonetheless, these words should be very comforting to his brothers, for they know that he submits himself to the higher authority, and its not Ra.

m.    Genesis 42:19- If ye [be] true [men], let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

·        After 3 days Joseph changes his mind and decides to allow all of them to go, but kept one behind, why did he change his mind?

·        Could it be that he came to realize how much grain he had to send back to Canaan and one man could not do it by himself?

n.      Genesis 42:20- But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

·        What a strange request, how would this prove they were not spies?  This should have seemed like a very strange demand

·        Bringing Benjamin back would prove that they were telling the truth about having a brother, but how does that vindicate them against the charge of espionage?

·        Joseph is not even questioned, likely because they were afraid to speak to him.

·        We know the reason Joseph wanted to see the younger brother, but they did not know his reason and should have seemed like a strange request.

III.             Joseph’s brothers confess their guilt (Genesis 42:21-23)

a.      Genesis 42:21- And they said one to another, We [are] verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

·        Psalm 25:7 - Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

·        20 years later their guilt is finally confessed in response to their current dilemma, why would they connect their current situation to their sin 20 years removed.

·        How often does God allow some calamity to happen in our lives so that we recognize our need for repentance.

·        2 Corinthians 7:10a - For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of…

b.      Genesis 42:22- And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

·        Reuben makes this statement with the full knowledge that Joseph was sold, not killed yet his blood is on their hands.

·        Matthew 27:25 - Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.

o       Unknowingly the Jews shout the same thing to Pilate

c.      Genesis 42:23- And they knew not that Joseph understood [them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

·        If there was an interpreter available that spoke the same language as Israel, it seems that their language must have been a common language.

IV.            Joseph weeps and blesses his brothers (Genesis 42:24-25)

a.      Genesis 42:24- And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

·        Isaiah 45:15-17 - Verily thou [art] a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.  They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together [that are] makers of idols.  [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

·        2 Thessalonians 2:13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

o      Simeon - שמעון Shim`own, “hearing with acceptance”

o       Those who hear the gospel with acceptance are bound to Him

o       We also see the removal of Simeon from the other brothers which removed their “hearing with acceptance” they are sent out to their family to “testify without understanding”

§        Isaiah 6:9 - And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

§        Romans 10:17 - So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

§        The taking of Simeon could be representative of removing their “hearing” and lack of faith

§        This continues through the present with modern day Judah ho do not have a “hearing ear”

Genesis 35:21 - 36:43

V.                 Reuben’s transgression, the sons of Jacob

a.      Genesis 35:21 – And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

1.      Israel – speaking of the household

2.      Edar – מגדל–עדר Migdal-`Eder, "tower of the flock"

3.      What is the tower of Edar? a shepherd's watchtower near Bethlehem

b.      Genesis 35:22 – And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard [it]. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

1.      Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob from Leah. Bilhah was the handmaid to Rachel who was the mother of Dan and Naphtali.

§        Probably didn’t go over to well with Dan and Naphtali

§        Bilhah being Rachel’s handmaid.  Did Rachel’s death have anything to do with her decision to sleep with Reuben? Was her mental state compromised? Did she have too much time on her hands now?

2.      1 Chronicles 5:1-2 – Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the geneology is not to be reckoned after the birthright.  For Judah prevailed above his brethren and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)

3.      Why does the passage flip from Israel back to Jacob…Israel heard it…the sons of Jacob were twelve. 

§        Israel refers to household whereas Jacob refers to the man?

4.      Why would the birthright pass to Joseph rather than Simeon the next in line?  Joseph was a firstborn of Rachel the second yet preferred wife of Jacob, it seems natural that the birthright would pass to him rather than Simeon who was not a first born, or the firstborn of either of the handmaids.

§        Luke 2:23 – (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

§        Exodus 13:2 –  Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.

§        Numbers 18:15 – Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, [whether it be] of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

c.      Genesis 35:23 – The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

1.      We see the sons of Jacob given in order of wives, then handmaids.  Leah being the first wife because she was the first wife to give birth

2.      Likewise, Bilhah is the first handmaid, because she was the first handmaid to give birth

3.      We have no geneology of Bilhah or Zilpah

d.      Genesis 35:24 – The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

1.      We can see here that Rachel’s sons are listed 2^nd , but Joseph has now been given the birthright.

2.      We will see in Chapter 48 & 49 when Jacob blesses his sons that Joseph receives a double portion and is given the name Israel to carry on through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim.

e.      Genesis 35:25 – And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

f.       Genesis 35:26 – And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

g.      Genesis 35:27 – And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

1.      Mamre - ממרא Mamre', "strength" or "fatness"

2.      Arbah - קרית ארבע Qiryath `Arba`, Later became Hebron

3.      Hebron - חברון Chebrown, "association", a city in south Judah approx 20 south of Jerusalem and approx 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar

4.      Rebekah’s absence indicates that she has died

5.      We see how the main character is transferred from son to son.  As soon as Isaac is married, Abraham’s prominence diminishes.  The same happens to Isaac with Jacob’s marriage.  Later we see Jacob’s role minimized as Joseph becomes more prominent.

6.      Just because these patriarchs are not mentioned prominently does not mean that they were not in fellowship with each other.

§        Hebrews 11:9 - By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

§        Abraham died when Isaac was 75 and Jacob was 15 years old       

h.     Genesis 35:28 – And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

1.      180 years old, more evidence Genesis 6:2 did not refer to the maximum lifespan of a man

2.      The 180 years of Isaac places his death outside of the context of this chapter, why is it included here?

§        3^rd death in the chapter (Deborah, Rachel, Isaac)

§        Jacob’s 180 years places him dying when Joseph is in Egypt (after he interprets the butler’s dream, but before he interprets Pharaoh’s) Jacob would have been 120 years old and Joseph 29 when Isaac died.

i.       Genesis 35:29 – And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, [being] old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

1.      Esau and Jacob came together to bury their father

2.      “Gathered unto his people” speaking of the body, buried with Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah (and will include Leah).

§        These five names form the acrostic that spells out the name Israel in the Hebrew tongue.

§        Genesis 49:31 - There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

3.      Ecclesiastes 12:7 – Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Chapter 36

I.                 The generations of Esau, Edom (v. 1-8)

a.      Genesis 36:1 – Now these [are] the generations of Esau, who [is] Edom.

1.      אדם 'Edom, "red"

2.      A constant reminder that he traded his birthright for a bowl of red pottage

b.      Genesis 36:2 – Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

1.      Genesis 26:34 - And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

§        Why the different names here?

§        Apparantly, just as God changed some of the names of His patriarchs, aliases were used by other cultures.

-        Judith (“praised”) à Aholibamach (“tent of the high place”)

                                                                                                                i.     Beeri (“my well”) à Anah (“answer”)

-        Bashemath (“spice”) à Adah (“ornament”)

2.      Adah – עדה `Adah, "ornament"

§        Elon – אילון 'Eylown, "terebinth, mighty"

-        Hittite - חתי Chittiy, the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon

3.      Aholibamah – אהליבמה 'Oholiybamah, "tent of the high place"

§        Anah – ענה `Anah, "answer"

-        Anah is actually a son of Zibeon, text should read daughter of Anah and daughter of Zibeon, there is no term for grand daughter in the Hebrew language so it would be more correct to say daughter of Anah and grand daughter of Zibeon

§        Zibeon – צבעון Tsib`own, "coloured"

-        Hivite - חוי Chivviy, "villagers", 6th generation of descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham

-        Recall that the Hamor (Shechem’s father) was a Hivite

c.      Genesis 36:3 – And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

1.      Bashemath - בשמת Bosmath, "spice"

2.      Nebajoth - נביות Nĕbayowth, "heights"

d.      Genesis 36:4 – And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

1.      Eliphaz – אליפז 'Eliyphaz, "my God is (fine) gold"

2.      Reuel - רעואל R`uw'el, "friend of God"

e.      Genesis 36:5 – And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these [are] the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

1.      Jeush – יעיש Y`iysh, "assembler"

2.      Jaalam – יעלם Ya`lam, "concealed"

3.      Korah  - קרח Qorach, "bald"

f.       Genesis 36:6 – And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.

1.      Note: Esau’s sons were born in Canaan and left, Jacob’s sons were born out of Canaan and came into it.

g.      Genesis 36:7 – For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

h.      Genesis 36:8 – Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau [is] Edom.

1.     South east of the Dead Sea

II.               The generations of Esau in Mount Seir (v. 9-43)

a.      Genesis 36:9 – And these [are] the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

b.      Genesis 36:10 – 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.

c.      Genesis 36:11 – And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.

1.      Teman – תימן Teyman, "south"

§        Job 2:11 - Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

§        Eliphaz was an Edomite

2.      Omar – אומר 'Owmar, "speaker" or "eloquent"

3.      Zepho – צפו Tsĕphow, "watch-tower"

4.      Gatam – געתם Ga`tam, "a burnt valley"

5.      Kenaz - קנז Qĕnaz, "hunter"

d.      Genesis 36:12 – And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these [were] the sons of Adah Esau's wife.

1.      Timna – תמנע Timna`, "restrained", daughter of Seir the Horite and sister of Lotan (see verse 22)

2.      Amalek - עמלק `Amaleq, "dweller in a valley",

§        Proginator of the Amalekites who were one of the chief foes of Israel.

-        Exodus 17:14 - And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

-        Numbers 24:20 - And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever.

-        Deuteronomy 25:19 - Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance to possess it, [that] thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget [it].

-        1 Samuel 15:1-3 - Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

                                                                                                                i.     Amalekites were the source of Saul’s disobedience

e.      Genesis 36:13 – And these [are] the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

1.      Nahath – נחת Nachath, "rest"

2.      Zerah – זרח Zerach, "rising"

3.      Shammah – שמה Shammah, "astonishment"

4.      Mizzah – מזה Mizzah, "fear"

f.       Genesis 36:14 – 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

g.      Genesis 36:15 – These [were] dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn [son] of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,

h.      Genesis 36:16 – 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.

i.       Genesis 36:17 – 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.

j.       Genesis 36:18 – 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.

k.      Genesis 36:19 – These [are] the sons of Esau, who [is] Edom, and these [are] their dukes.

1.      Note there are 14 dukes, but Korah is named is listed twice, once asa son of Eliphaz and once as a son of Aholibamah so there are only 13 dukes. 

2.      Korah was not mentioned above as a son of Eliphaz.

3.      So were there are 13 dukes or chieftans? According to Bullinger’s Appendix 10 to the Companion Bible, the number 13 denotes rebellion, apostacy, defection, disintegration and revolution.

l.       Genesis 36:20 – These [are] the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

1.      Seir - שעיר Se`iyr, "hairy" or "shaggy"

§        Horites - חרי Choriy, "cave dweller"

§        Deuteronomy 2:10-12 - The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; Which also were accounted giants (רפאים rapha'), as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.  The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them.

§        According to Bullinger, the Horites were descended from the Nephilim hybrids.

2.      Lotan - לוטן Lowtan, "covering"

3.      Shobal - שובל Showbal, "flowing"

4.      Zibeon – Esau’s father-in-law’s father who is said above to be a Hivite

5.      Anah – Esau’s father-in-law’s uncle (by the same name)

m.    Genesis 36:21 – And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these [are] the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.

1.      Dishon - דישון Diyshown, "thresher"

2.      Ezer - אצר 'Etser, "treasure"

3.      Dishan  - דישן Diyshan, "thresher"

n.      Genesis 36:22 – And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister [was] Timna.

1.      Hori - חרי Choriy, "cave dweller"

2.      Hemam - הימם Heymam, "exterminating"

3.      Timna was the concubine to Esau’s son Eliphaz who bore him Amalek.

o.      Genesis 36:23 – And the children of Shobal [were] these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

1.      Alvan - עלון `Alvan, "tall"

2.      Manahath - מנחת Manachath, "rest"

3.      Ebal - עיבל `Eybal, "stone" or "bare mountain"

4.      Shepho - שפו Shĕphow, "bold"

5.      Onam - אונם 'Ownam, "vigorous"

p.      Genesis 36:24 – 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.

1.      Ajah - איה 'Ayah, "falcon"

2.      Anah - ענה `Anah, "answer"

§        Rather than “mules” it seems more likely to be “hot springs” which provides a better explanation of Anah’s second name Beeri which means “my well”

q.      Genesis 36:25 – And the children of Anah [were] these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.

r.       Genesis 36:26 – And these [are] the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.

1.      Hemdan - חמדן Chemdan, "desire"

2.      Eshban - אשבן 'Eshban, "fire of discernment"

3.      Ithran - יתרן Yithran, "advantage"

4.      Cheran - כרן Kĕran, "lyre"

s.      Genesis 36:27 – The children of Ezer [are] these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.

1.      Bilhan - בלהן Bilhan, "their decrepitude"

2.      Zaavan - זעון Za`avan, "troubled"

3.      Akan - עקן `Aqan, "sharp-sighted"

t.       Genesis 36:28 – The children of Dishan [are] these; Uz, and Aran.

1.      Uz - עוץ `Uwts, "wooded"

2.      Aran - ארן 'Aran, "joyous"

u.      Genesis 36:29 – These [are] the dukes [that came] of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,

v.      Genesis 36:30 – Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these [are] the dukes [that came] of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.

w.    Genesis 36:31 – And these [are] the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.

1.      Israel had no king, judges ruled until Saul was anointed in ~ 1000 BC. (we are currently in the 1700-1600 BC era)

x.      Genesis 36:32 – And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city [was] Dinhabah.

1.      Dinhabah - דנהבה Dinhabah, "give thou judgement"

y.      Genesis 36:33 – And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.

z.      Genesis 36:34 – And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.

aa.   Genesis 36:35 – And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city [was] Avith.

1.      Midians descended from Abraham and Keturah

bb.   Genesis 36:36 – And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.

cc.   Genesis 36:37 – And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth [by] the river reigned in his stead.

dd.   Genesis 36:38 – And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.

ee.   Genesis 36:39 – And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city [was] Pau; and his wife's name [was] Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

ff.     Genesis 36:40 – And these [are] the names of the dukes [that came] of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,

gg.   Genesis 36:41 – Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,

hh.   Genesis 36:42 – Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,

ii.      Genesis 36:43 – Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these [be] the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he [is] Esau the father of the Edomites.

1.      Here we have 11 dukes listed, 11 denotes disorder and disorganization