Bible Commentaries
Genesis 36

Verses 1-43

Chapter 36

Now in chapter thirty-six, we're not going to bother to go into it in any detail because in it we have the generations of Esau. And they are given in chapter thirty-six just to drop out of the picture. But just to show you the descendants of Esau, the Scripture lists their names and all here in chapter thirty-six. The generations of Esau, who is Edom ( Genesis 36:1 ). Which means red, and he was the father of the Edomites. In verse six, it says, And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, his cattle, and all of his beasts, and his substance, which he got in the land of Canaan; and he went to the country went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob ( Genesis 36:6 ). So when Jacob came down into the area, Esau moved out over to the area that was south and somewhat east of the Dead Sea region going down to the Gulf of Akaba, the area that later became known as Edom. And that is the area where Esau and his descendants settled. Their riches were so great they could not dwell together. Their riches were so great they could not dwell together ( Genesis 36:7 ); Now one of the sons of Esau, verse ten, is Eliphaz. And one of Eliphaz's son in verse eleven is Teman. Now you remember in the book of Job, one of the comforters of Job was named Eliphaz, the Temanite. And so it is very possible that this Eliphaz that we have here, one of the sons of Esau was in actuality one of the comforters of Job. And so this probably dates for us the book of Job; which means that it is one of the oldest books in the Bible. For Genesis was written by Moses some five hundred years later. But the book of Job poetry was kept intact and it makes Job one of the oldest books in man's literature. So the name of Eliphaz, whose son was Teman and in Job, Eliphaz the Temanite; it is very possible that here is the time of Job. It is interesting also that we have in verse thirty-three, And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead ( Genesis 36:33 ). We know that Job was a ruler, a king over an area. It could be that this Jobab here is actually the Job of that book. And of course, Eliphaz then being one of his uncles who came to visit him at the time that he was going through such great personal loss and problems. So it's very likely that chapter thirty-six we have the names of those involved and the timing at least of the book of Job and the life of Job. He lived about this time which helps you to get things now sort of in perspective. It means that Job was living at the same time as Jacob and Esau and these events. I thought we would get chapter thirty-seven tonight but we'll let that go until next Sunday night and we'll start next Sunday in chapter thirty-seven. I really thought I could make it but I don't think I'm going to. So next Sunday night we'll begin in chapter thirty-seven and take the next five chapters as we continue now in this account. We get into some of my favorite parts of Genesis as we get into the story of Joseph, and I really feel that Hollywood has really passed up a tremendous one in not that really doing a really-they've done some, you know, gussied-up accounts, which aren't so good. But just the story of Joseph, the drama, the intrigue, the whole thing that is there is just-I love it. I love to read it. It just is one of my favorite parts of the Bible. So next Sunday night we begin with thirty-seven. Shall we stand? God bless you and keep His hand upon your life. May He watch over you daily and may you be conscious of His presence. Not just a thing from your head knowing, but in your heart experiencing the nearness, the closeness of God. May the Lord give you strength for every trial and testing. And may you come to that place of a total reliance upon his strength. The acknowledging of your own weakness. The surrendering and the committing of yourself completely into His hands. And thus, may your week be blessed and anointed by God. In Jesus' name. "