Genesis 36

Names are a problem. I have no particular desire with respect to them. The ones that are common I generally leave the traditional gloss (unless there are distinct spellings even for the same person). The ones that are never remembered, I try to use a reasonably consistent transliteration. But I admit it is tricky.

In this chapter we see that the ancients were aware that humans have an impact on the environment. In this case is it due to an abundance of livestock. The phrase is similar to that used of Abram and Lot in Genesis 13. Land is a major asset. They consider themselves guests (גור) according to my glosses, stranger being reserved for זור.

In this chapter we have the origin of Amaleq, or Amalek. I would prefer the q but tradition has the k and he is famous as the image of the flesh and the enemy of Saul and others. I am confortable with the analogical interpretation. This seems to me to be a positive way to use these texts of horror effectively. As I see it, suppose you were God... if you have to teach an intransigent and stubborn humanity, you have to paint a realistic picture for it, and the reality is that we are violent, self-serving, and fearful and we need to learn to use the powers that have been entrusted to us: of sex, of wealth, of care, for the benefit of others (not excluding ourselves), while at the same time preserving the independent growth and responsibility of these same others - to whom the same powers have been entrusted. If we see the picture so painted, perhaps we can learn.

There is a large amount of redundancy in this chapter. The idea is that we are not to forget who Edom is. (Redundancy is a good aspect of system design. If one part fails, another takes over.) There are some discrepancies between Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles, in one case (Gen 36:27, 1 Chr 1:42) a vav for a yod is switched. I suspect the vav is intended in each case. Dishon and Dishan have varied spellings and 1 Chronicles uses additional vavs for clarity.

I wonder if I have too many commas in these lists. As I said when I did 1 Chronicles, now updated slightly, I must be mad. And why would anyone set this to music? And what would it mean for them? Try the music for this chapter and compare it to 1 Chronicles. I wonder ... Tell me what you find (he said hopefully).

Genesis 36		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּלְד֥וֹת עֵשָׂ֖ו ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם	1		And these are the successions of Esau. He is Edom.	3d	3g	10
עֵשָׂ֛ו לָקַ֥ח אֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו מִבְּנ֣וֹת כְּנָ֑עַן אֶת־עָדָ֗ה בַּת־אֵילוֹן֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־אָהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ בַּת־עֲנָ֔ה בַּת־צִבְע֖וֹן הַֽחִוִּֽי	2		Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Ahalivamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tsivon the Hivite,	3d	4B	12 25
וְאֶת־בָּשְׂמַ֥ת בַּת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל אֲח֥וֹת נְבָיֽוֹת	3		And Basmat, the daughter of Yishmaeil sister of Nevayot.	3e	3g	14
וַתֵּ֧לֶד עָדָ֛ה לְעֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־אֱלִיפָ֑ז וּבָ֣שְׂמַ֔ת יָלְדָ֖ה אֶת־רְעוּאֵֽל	4		And Adah gave birth for Esau to Elifaz, and Basmat gave birth to Reuel.	3c	4B	12 9
וְאָהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ יָֽלְדָ֔ה אֶת־יְע֥וּשׁ וְאֶת־יַעְלָ֖ם וְאֶת־קֹ֑רַח אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י עֵשָׂ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלְּדוּ־ל֖וֹ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן	5		And Ahalivamah gave birth to Yeush, and Yalam, and Korah. These are the children of Esau that were born to him in the land of Canaan.	3e	4C	19 16
וַיִּקַּ֣ח עֵשָׂ֡ו אֶת־נָ֠שָׁיו וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו וְאֶת־בְּנֹתָיו֮ וְאֶת־כָּל־נַפְשׁ֣וֹת בֵּיתוֹ֒ וְאֶת־מִקְנֵ֣הוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־בְּהֶמְתּ֗וֹ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־קִנְיָנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־אֶ֔רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽיו	6		And Esau took his wives, and his sons and his daughters, and all of his household, and his livestock and all his beasts, and all his acquisitions, that he had procured in the land of Canaan, and went to a land away from the presence of Jacob, his brother.	3e	4B	51 13
כִּֽי־הָיָ֧ה רְכוּשָׁ֛ם רָ֖ב מִשֶּׁ֣בֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו וְלֹ֨א יָֽכְלָ֜ה אֶ֤רֶץ מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם֙ לָשֵׂ֣את אֹתָ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י מִקְנֵיהֶֽם	7		For their property was too abundant for them to settle as one, and the land where they were guests could not bear them, from the presence of their livestock.	3c	4C	11 19
וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב עֵשָׂו֙ בְּהַ֣ר שֵׂעִ֔יר עֵשָׂ֖ו ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם	8		So Esau settled on mount Seir. Esau, he is Edom.	3e	4C	14
וְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּלְד֥וֹת עֵשָׂ֖ו אֲבִ֣י אֱד֑וֹם בְּהַ֖ר שֵׂעִֽיר	9		And these are the successions of Esau, the father of Edom, in mount Seir.	3d	4B	11 4
אֵ֖לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֑ו אֱלִיפַ֗ז בֶּן־עָדָה֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת עֵשָׂ֔ו רְעוּאֵ֕ל בֶּן־בָּשְׂמַ֖ת אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו	10	g	These are the names of the children of Esau: Elifaz child of Adah, wife of Esau, Reueil child of Basmat, wife of Esau.	3e	4B	7 20
וַיִּהְי֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י אֱלִיפָ֑ז תֵּימָ֣ן אוֹמָ֔ר צְפ֥וֹ וְגַעְתָּ֖ם וּקְנַֽז	11		And were the children of Elifaz: Teiman, Omar, Tsepho, and Gatam, and Qenaz.	3e	4B	8 11
וְתִמְנַ֣ע ׀ הָיְתָ֣ה פִילֶ֗גֶשׁ לֶֽאֱלִיפַז֙ בֶּן־עֵשָׂ֔ו וַתֵּ֥לֶד לֶאֱלִיפַ֖ז אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֑ק אֵ֕לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י עָדָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו	12		Timna was courtesan to Elifaz child of Esau, and gave birth to Amalek for Elifaz. These are the children of Adah, wife of Esau.	3e	4B	26 10
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ בְּנֵ֣י רְעוּאֵ֔ל נַ֥חַת וָזֶ֖רַח שַׁמָּ֣ה וּמִזָּ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּ֣ה הָי֔וּ בְּנֵ֥י בָשְׂמַ֖ת אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו	13		And these are the children of Reueil: Nachat and Zerach, Shamah and Mizah. These are the children of Basmat, wife of Esau.	3e	4B	18 12
וְאֵ֣לֶּה הָי֗וּ בְּנֵ֨י אָהֳלִיבָמָ֧ה בַת־עֲנָ֛ה בַּת־צִבְע֖וֹן אֵ֣שֶׁת עֵשָׂ֑ו וַתֵּ֣לֶד לְעֵשָׂ֔ו אֶת־יְע֥וּשׁ וְאֶת־יַעְלָ֖ם וְאֶת־קֹֽרַח	14		And these are the children of Ahalivamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Tsivon, wife of Esau, and she gave birth for Esau to Yeush, and Yalam, and Korah.	3c	4B	22 17
אֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֑ו בְּנֵ֤י אֱלִיפַז֙ בְּכ֣וֹר עֵשָׂ֔ו אַלּ֤וּף תֵּימָן֙ אַלּ֣וּף אוֹמָ֔ר אַלּ֥וּף צְפ֖וֹ אַלּ֥וּף קְנַֽז	15	g	These are the captains of the children of Esau, the children of Elifaz, firstborn of Esau, captain Teiman, captain Omar, captain Tsepho, captain Qenaz,	3e	4C	8 25
אַלּֽוּף־קֹ֛רַח אַלּ֥וּף גַּעְתָּ֖ם אַלּ֣וּף עֲמָלֵ֑ק אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֤י אֱלִיפַז֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֔וֹם אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י עָדָֽה	16		Captain Korah, captain Gatam, captain Amalek. These are the captains of Elifaz in the land of Edom. These are the children of Adah.	3d	4C	13 19
וְאֵ֗לֶּה בְּנֵ֤י רְעוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־עֵשָׂ֔ו אַלּ֥וּף נַ֙חַת֙ אַלּ֣וּף זֶ֔רַח אַלּ֥וּף שַׁמָּ֖ה אַלּ֣וּף מִזָּ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֤י רְעוּאֵל֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֔וֹם אֵ֕לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י בָשְׂמַ֖ת אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו	17		And these are the children of Reueil, child of Esau, captain Nachat, captain Zerach, captain Shamah, captain Mizah. These are the captains of Reueil in the land of Edom. These are the children of Basmat, wife of Esau.	3e	4C	27 23
וְאֵ֗לֶּה בְּנֵ֤י אָהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת עֵשָׂ֔ו אַלּ֥וּף יְע֛וּשׁ אַלּ֥וּף יַעְלָ֖ם אַלּ֣וּף קֹ֑רַח אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֞י אָֽהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה בַּת־עֲנָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת עֵשָֽׂו	18		And these are the children of Ahalivamah, wife of Esau, captain Yeush, captain Yalam, captain Korah, These are the captains of Ahalivamah, the daughter of Anah, wife of Esau.	3d	4C	26 17
אֵ֧לֶּה בְנֵי־עֵשָׂ֛ו וְאֵ֥לֶּה אַלּוּפֵיהֶ֖ם ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם	19	c	These are the children of Esau and these are captains. He is Edom.	3c	3g	15
אֵ֤לֶּה בְנֵֽי־שֵׂעִיר֙ הַחֹרִ֔י יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ לוֹטָ֥ן וְשׁוֹבָ֖ל וְצִבְע֥וֹן וַעֲנָֽה	20	C	These are the children of Seir, the Chorite who inhabited the land: Lotan and Shoval and Tsivon and Anah,	3e	4C	13 11
וְדִשׁ֥וֹן וְאֵ֖צֶר וְדִישָׁ֑ן אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֧י הַחֹרִ֛י בְּנֵ֥י שֵׂעִ֖יר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ אֱדֽוֹם	21		And Dishon and Eitser and Dishan. These are the captains of the Chorites, the children of Seir, in the land of Edom.	3c	4B	9 17
וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־לוֹטָ֖ן חֹרִ֣י וְהֵימָ֑ם וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן תִּמְנָֽע	22		And the children of Lotan, Chori and Hemam, and the sister of Lotan, Timna.	3e	4B	11 7
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ בְּנֵ֣י שׁוֹבָ֔ל עַלְוָ֥ן וּמָנַ֖חַת וְעֵיבָ֑ל שְׁפ֖וֹ וְאוֹנָֽם	23		And these are the children of Shoval, Alyan and Manachat and Eival, Shefi and Onam.	3e	4B	16 5
וְאֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־צִבְע֖וֹן וְאַיָּ֣ה וַעֲנָ֑ה ה֣וּא עֲנָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָצָ֤א אֶת־הַיֵּמִם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בִּרְעֹת֥וֹ אֶת־הַחֲמֹרִ֖ים לְצִבְע֥וֹן אָבִֽיו	24		And these are the children of Tsivon, both Ayah and Anah. He is the Anah who found the days in the wilderness when he tended the asses of Tsivon his father.	3e	4C	13 27
וְאֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־עֲנָ֖ה דִּשֹׁ֑ן וְאָהֳלִיבָמָ֖ה בַּת־עֲנָֽה	25		And these are the children of Anah, Dishon, and Ahalivamah, the daughter of Anah.	3e	4A	8 9
וְאֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י דִישָׁ֑ן חֶמְדָּ֥ן וְאֶשְׁבָּ֖ן וְיִתְרָ֥ן וּכְרָֽן	26		And these are the children of Dishan, Chemdan, and Eshban, and Yitran, and Cran.	3e	4B	7 10
אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵי־אֵ֑צֶר בִּלְהָ֥ן וְזַעֲוָ֖ן וַעֲקָֽן	27	g	These are the children of Eitser, Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Aqan.	3e	4A	5 9
אֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־דִישָׁ֖ן ע֥וּץ וַאֲרָֽן	28	f	These are the children of Dishan, Uts and Aran.	3e	3g	9
אֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֣י הַחֹרִ֑י אַלּ֤וּף לוֹטָן֙ אַלּ֣וּף שׁוֹבָ֔ל אַלּ֥וּף צִבְע֖וֹן אַלּ֥וּף עֲנָֽה	29	g	These are the captains of the Chorites: captain Lotan, captain Shoval, captain Tsivon, captain Anah.	3e	4C	8 16
אַלּ֥וּף דִּשֹׁ֛ן אַלּ֥וּף אֵ֖צֶר אַלּ֣וּף דִּישָׁ֑ן אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֧י הַחֹרִ֛י לְאַלֻּפֵיהֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ שֵׂעִֽיר	30		Captain Dishon, captain Eitser, captain Dishan, These are the captains of the Chorites, for their captains in the land of Seir.	3c	4B	12 18
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַמְּלָכִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָלְכ֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֑וֹם לִפְנֵ֥י מְלָךְ־מֶ֖לֶךְ לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	31		And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before a king reigned of the children of Israel.	3e	4B	15 11
וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ בֶּאֱד֔וֹם בֶּ֖לַע בֶּן־בְּע֑וֹר וְשֵׁ֥ם עִיר֖וֹ דִּנְהָֽבָה	32		And Bela child of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city, Dinhavah.	3e	4B	11 7
וַיָּ֖מָת בָּ֑לַע וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו יוֹבָ֥ב בֶּן־זֶ֖רַח מִבָּצְרָֽה	33		And when Bela had died, Yovav, child of Zerach of Batsrah, reigned in his stead.	3e	4B	5 13
וַיָּ֖מָת יוֹבָ֑ב וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו חֻשָׁ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ הַתֵּימָנִֽי	34		And when Yovav had died, Chusham, from the land of the Temanite, reigned in his stead.	3e	4B	5 14
וַיָּ֖מָת חֻשָׁ֑ם וַיִּמְלֹ֨ךְ תַּחְתָּ֜יו הֲדַ֣ד בֶּן־בְּדַ֗ד הַמַּכֶּ֤ה אֶת־מִדְיָן֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב וְשֵׁ֥ם עִיר֖וֹ עֲוִֽית	35		And when Chusham had died, reigned in his stead Hadad child of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, and the name of his city, Avit.	3e	4C	5 26
וַיָּ֖מָת הֲדָ֑ד וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו שַׂמְלָ֖ה מִמַּשְׂרֵקָֽה	36		And when Hadad had died, Samlah from Masreiqah reigned in his stead.	3e	4B	5 11
וַיָּ֖מָת שַׂמְלָ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו שָׁא֖וּל מֵרְחֹב֥וֹת הַנָּהָֽר	37		And when Samlah had died, Shaul from Rechovot of the river, reigned in his stead.	3e	4B	5 13
וַיָּ֖מָת שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו בַּ֥עַל חָנָ֖ן בֶּן־עַכְבּֽוֹר	38		And when Shaul had died, Baal Chanan child of Acbor reigned in his stead.	3e	4B	5 12
וַיָּמָת֮ בַּ֣עַל חָנָ֣ן בֶּן־עַכְבּוֹר֒ וַיִּמְלֹ֤ךְ תַּחְתָּיו֙ הֲדַ֔ר וְשֵׁ֥ם עִיר֖וֹ פָּ֑עוּ וְשֵׁ֨ם אִשְׁתּ֤וֹ מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵל֙ בַּת־מַטְרֵ֔ד בַּ֖ת מֵ֥י זָהָֽב	39		And when Baal Chanan child of Acbor, had died, Hadar reigned in his stead, and the name of his city, Pai, and the name of his wife, Maheitaveil, the daughter of Matreid, the daughter of Mei Zahav.	3e	4C	23 15
וְ֠אֵלֶּה שְׁמ֞וֹת אַלּוּפֵ֤י עֵשָׂו֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔ם לִמְקֹמֹתָ֖ם בִּשְׁמֹתָ֑ם אַלּ֥וּף תִּמְנָ֛ע אַלּ֥וּף עַֽלְוָ֖ה אַלּ֥וּף יְתֵֽת	40	~	And these are the names of the captains of Esau in their families, in their places, by their names, captain Timna, captain Alvah, captain Yeteit,	3d	4C	22 12
אַלּ֧וּף אָהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה אַלּ֥וּף אֵלָ֖ה אַלּ֥וּף פִּינֹֽן	41		captain Ahalivamah, captain Eilah, captain Pinon,	3c	3g	15
אַלּ֥וּף קְנַ֛ז אַלּ֥וּף תֵּימָ֖ן אַלּ֥וּף מִבְצָֽר	42		captain Qenaz, captain Teiman, captain Mivtsar,	3d	3g	12
אַלּ֥וּף מַגְדִּיאֵ֖ל אַלּ֣וּף עִירָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה ׀ אַלּוּפֵ֣י אֱד֗וֹם לְמֹֽשְׁבֹתָם֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָ֔ם ה֥וּא עֵשָׂ֖ו אֲבִ֥י אֱדֽוֹם	43		captain Magdieil, captain Iram. These are the captains of Edom, of their settlements in the land of their holdings. It is Esau the father of Edom.	3e	4B	9 25