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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXXVI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page209"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have an account of the posterity of Esau, who,
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from him, were called Edomites, that Esau who sold his birthright,
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and lost his blessing, and was not loved of God as Jacob
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was. Here is a brief register kept of his family for some generations.
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1. Because he was the son of Isaac, for whose sake this
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honour is put upon him.
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2. Because the Edomites were neighbours
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to Israel, and their genealogy would be of use to give light
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to the following stories of what passed between them.
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3. It is to
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show the performance of the promise to Abraham, that he should
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be "the father of many nations," and of that answer which
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Rebekah had from the oracle she consulted, "Two nations are
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in thy womb," and of the blessing of Isaac, "Thy dwelling
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shall be the fatness of the earth." We have here,
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I. Esau's wives,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. His remove to mount Seir,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:6-8">ver. 6-8</A>.
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III. The names of his sons,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:9-14">ver. 9-14</A>.
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IV. The dukes who descended
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of his sons,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:15-19">ver. 15-19</A>.
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V. The dukes of the Horites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:20-30">ver. 20-30</A>.
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VI. The kings and dukes of Edom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:31-43">ver. 31-43</A>.
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Little more is
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recorded than their names, because the history of those that
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were out of the church (though perhaps it might have been serviceable
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in politics) would have been of little use in divinity. It
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is in the church that the memorable instances are found of
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special grace, and special providence; for that is the enclosure,
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the rest is common. This chapter is abridged,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+1:35-54">1 Chron. i. 35</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge36_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Generations of Esau.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1780.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now these <I>are</I> the generations of
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Esau, who <I>is</I> Edom.
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2 Esau
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took his wives of the daughters of Canaan;
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Adah the daughter of Elon the
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Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter
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of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the
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Hivite;
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3 And Bashemath Ishmael's
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daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
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4 And
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Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and
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Bashemath bare Reuel;
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5 And Aholibamah
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bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and
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Korah: these <I>are</I> the sons of Esau,
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which were born unto him in the land
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of Canaan.
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6 And Esau took his
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wives, and his sons, and his daughters,
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and all the persons of his house, and
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his cattle, and all his beasts, and all
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his substance, which he had got in the
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land of Canaan; and went into the
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country from the face of his brother
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Jacob.
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7 For their riches were more
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than that they might dwell together;
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and the land wherein they were
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strangers could not bear them because
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of their cattle.
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8 Thus dwelt Esau
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in mount Seir: Esau <I>is</I> Edom.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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1. Concerning Esau himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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He is called <I>Edom</I> (and again,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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that name by which was perpetuated
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the remembrance of the foolish bargain he
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made, when he sold his birthright for <I>that red,
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that red pottage.</I> The very mention of that
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name is enough to intimate the reason why
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his family is turned off with such a short
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account. Note, If men do a wrong thing
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they must thank themselves, when it is, long
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afterwards, remembered against them to their
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reproach.
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2. Concerning his wives, and the
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children they bore him in the land of Canaan.
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He had three wives, and, by them all, but five
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sons: many a one has more by one wife.
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God in his providence often disappoints those
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who take indirect courses to build up a family;
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yet here the promise prevailed, and
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Esau's family was built up.
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3. Concerning
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his removal to mount Seir, which was the
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country God had given him for a possession,
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when he reserved Canaan for the seed of Jacob.
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God owns it, long afterwards: <I>I gave
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to Esau mount Seir</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+2:5,Jos+24:4">Deut. ii. 5; Josh. xxiv. 4</A>),
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which was the reason why the Edomites must
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not be disturbed in their possession. Those
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that have not a right by promise, such as
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Jacob had, to Canaan, may have a very good
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title by providence to their estates, such as
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Esau had to mount Seir. Esau had begun
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to settle among his wives' relations, in Seir,
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before Jacob came from Padan-aram,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:3"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 3</A>.
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Isaac, it is likely, had sent him
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thither (as Abraham in his life-time had sent
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the sons of the concubines from Isaac his son
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into the east country,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+26:6"><I>ch.</I> xxv. 6</A>),
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that Jacob
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might have the clearer way made for him to
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the possession of the promised land. During
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the life of Isaac, however, Esau had probably
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still some effects remaining in Canaan; but,
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after his death, he wholly withdrew to mount
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Seir, took with him what came to his share
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of his father's personal estate, and left Canaan
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to Jacob, not only because he had the promise
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of it, but because Esau perceived that if they
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should continue to thrive as they had begun
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there would not be room for both. <I>Thus
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dwelt Esau in Mount Seir,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Note, Whatever
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opposition may be made, God's word
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will be accomplished, and even those that
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have opposed it will see themselves, some
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time or other, under a necessity of yielding
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to it, and acquiescing in it. Esau had
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struggled for Canaan, but now he tamely
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retires to mount Seir; for God's counsels shall
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<A NAME="Page210"> </A>
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certainly stand, concerning the times before
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appointed, and the bounds of our habitation.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge36_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Dukes of Edom.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1729.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And these <I>are</I> the generations of
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Esau the father of the Edomites in
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mount Seir:
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10 These <I>are</I> the names
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of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of
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Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son
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of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
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11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman,
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Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
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12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz
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Esau's son; and she bare to
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Eliphaz Amalek: these <I>were</I> the sons
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of Adah Esau's wife.
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13 And these
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<I>are</I> the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and
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Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these
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were the sons of Bashemath Esau's
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wife.
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14 And these were the sons of
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Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the
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daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and
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she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam,
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and Korah.
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15 These <I>were</I> dukes
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of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz
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the firstborn <I>son</I> of Esau; duke
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Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke
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Kenaz,
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16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam,
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<I>and</I> duke Amalek: these <I>are</I> the dukes
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<I>that came</I> of Eliphaz in the land of
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Edom; these <I>were</I> the sons of Adah.
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17 And these <I>are</I> the sons of Reuel
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Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah,
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duke Shammah, duke Mizzah:
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these <I>are</I> the dukes <I>that came</I> of Reuel
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in the land of Edom; these <I>are</I> the
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sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.
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18 And these <I>are</I> the sons of Aholibamah
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Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke
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Jaalam, duke Korah: these <I>were</I> the
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dukes <I>that came</I> of Aholibamah the
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daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.
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19 These <I>are</I> the sons of Esau, who <I>is</I>
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Edom, and these <I>are</I> their dukes.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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1. That only the names of
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Esau's sons and grandsons are recorded,
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only their names, not their history; for it is
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the church that Moses preserves the records
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of, not the record of those that are without.
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Those elders that lived by faith alone obtained
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a good report. It is Sion that produces the
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men of renown, not Seir,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:5">Ps. lxxxvii. 5</A>.
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Nor does the genealogy go any further than
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the third and fourth generation; the very
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names of all after are buried in oblivion. It
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is only the pedigree of the Israelites, who
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were to be the heirs of Canaan, and of whom
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were to come the promised seed, and the
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holy seed, that is drawn out to any length,
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as far as there was occasion for it, even of
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all the tribes till Canaan was divided among
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them, and of the royal line till Christ came.
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2. That these sons and grandsons of Esau
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are called <I>dukes,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:15-19"><I>v.</I> 15-19</A>.
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Probably they
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were military commanders, dukes, or captains,
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that had soldiers under them; for Esau
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and his family lived <I>by the sword,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+27:40"><I>ch.</I> xxvii. 40</A>.
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Note, Titles of honour have been more
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ancient out of the church than in it. Esau's
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sons were dukes when Jacob's sons were but
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plain shepherds,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+47:3"><I>ch.</I> xlvii. 3</A>.
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This is not a
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reason why such titles should not be used
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among Christians; but it is a reason why
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men should not overvalue themselves, or
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others, for the sake of them. There is an
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honour that comes from God, and a name in
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his house that is infinitely more valuable.
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Edomites may be dukes with men, but
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Israelites indeed are made to our God
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kings and priests.
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3. We may suppose those
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dukes had numerous families of children and
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servants that were their dukedoms. God
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promised to multiply Jacob, and to enrich
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him; yet Esau increases, and is enriched
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first. Note, It is no new thing for the men
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of this world to be full of children, and to
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have their bellies too <I>filled with hidden treasures,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</A>.
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God's promise to Jacob
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began to work late, but the effect of it remained
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longer, and it had its complete accomplishment
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in the spiritual Israel.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge36_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge36_30"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>20 These <I>are</I> the sons of Seir the
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Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan,
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and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
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21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan:
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these <I>are</I> the dukes of the Horites,
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the children of Seir in the land of
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Edom.
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22 And the children of Lotan
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were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's
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sister <I>was</I> Timna.
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23 And the
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children of Shobal <I>were</I> these; Alvan,
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and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and
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Onam.
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24 And these <I>are</I> the children
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of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah:
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this <I>was that</I> Anah that found the
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mules in the wilderness, as he fed the
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asses of Zibeon his father.
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25 And the
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children of Anah <I>were</I> these; Dishon,
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and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
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26 And these <I>are</I> the children of
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Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and
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Ithran, and Cheran.
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27 The children
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of Ezer <I>are</I> these; Bilhan, and
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Zaavan, and Akan.
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28 The children
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of Dishan <I>are</I> these; Uz, and Aran.
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29 These <I>are</I> the dukes <I>that came</I> of
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the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal,
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duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
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30 Duke
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Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan:
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these <I>are</I> the dukes <I>that came</I> of
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<A NAME="Page211"> </A>
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Hori, among their dukes in the land
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of Seir.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In the midst of this genealogy of the Edomites
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here is inserted the genealogy of the
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Horites, those Canaanites, or Hittites (compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+26:34"><I>ch.</I> xxvi. 34</A>),
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that were the natives of
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Mount Seir. Mention is made of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:6"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 6</A>,
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and of their interest in Mount Seir,
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before the Edomites took possession of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+2:12,22">Deut. ii. 12, 22</A>.
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This comes in here, not
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only to give light to the story, but to be a
|
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standing reflection upon the Edomites for
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intermarrying with them, by which, it is
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probable, they learned their way, and corrupted
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themselves. Esau having sold his
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birthright, and lost his blessing, and entered
|
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into alliance with the Hittites, his posterity
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and the sons of Seir are here reckoned
|
|
together. Note, Those that treacherously
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|
desert God's church are justly numbered
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with those that were never in it; apostate
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Edomites stand on the same ground with
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accursed Horites. Particular notice is taken
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of one Anah who fed the asses of Zibeon his
|
|
father
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
|
and yet is called <I>duke Anah,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
Note, Those that expect to rise high
|
|
should begin low. An honourable descent
|
|
should not keep men from an honest employment,
|
|
nor a mean employment hinder any
|
|
man's preferment. This Anah was not only
|
|
industrious in his business, but ingenious
|
|
too, and successful; for he found <I>mules,</I> or
|
|
(as some read it) <I>waters, hot-baths,</I> in the
|
|
wilderness. Those that are diligent in their
|
|
business sometimes find more advantages
|
|
than they expected.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge36_31"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_32"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_33"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_34"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge36_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge36_37"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_38"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_39"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_40"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_41"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_42"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ge36_43"> </A>
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|
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<P>
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|
<FONT SIZE=+1>31 And these <I>are</I> the kings that
|
|
reigned in the land of Edom, before
|
|
there reigned any king over the children
|
|
of Israel.
|
|
32 And Bela the son of
|
|
Beor reigned in Edom: and the name
|
|
of his city <I>was</I> Dinhabah.
|
|
33 And
|
|
Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah
|
|
of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
|
|
34 And Jobab died, and Husham of
|
|
the land of Temani reigned in his stead.
|
|
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 <I>was</I> Avith.
|
|
36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah
|
|
reigned in his stead.
|
|
37 And
|
|
Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth
|
|
<I>by</I> the river reigned in his stead.
|
|
38 And Saul died, and Baal-hanan the
|
|
son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
|
|
39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor
|
|
died, and Hadar reigned in his stead:
|
|
and the name of his city <I>was</I> Pau;
|
|
and his wife's name <I>was</I> Mehetabel, the
|
|
daughter of Matred, the daughter
|
|
of Mezahab.
|
|
40 And these <I>are</I> the
|
|
names of the dukes <I>that came</I> of Esau,
|
|
according to their families, after their
|
|
places, by their names; duke Timnah,
|
|
duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
|
|
41 Duke
|
|
Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
|
|
42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke
|
|
Mibzar,
|
|
43 Duke Magdiel, duke
|
|
Iram: these <I>be</I> the dukes of Edom,
|
|
according to their habitations in the
|
|
land of their possession: he <I>is</I> Esau
|
|
the father of the Edomites.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
By degrees, it seems, the Edomites wormed
|
|
out the Horites, obtained full possession of
|
|
the country, and had a government of their
|
|
own.
|
|
|
|
1. They were ruled by kings, who
|
|
governed the whole country, and seem to
|
|
have come to the throne by election, and not
|
|
by lineal descent; so bishop Patrick observes.
|
|
These kings reigned in <I>Edom before there
|
|
reigned any king over the children of Israel,</I>
|
|
that is, before Moses's time, for <I>he was king
|
|
in Jeshurun,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:5">Deut. xxxiii. 5</A>.
|
|
God had lately promised
|
|
<I>Jacob that kings should come out of his loins</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+35:11"><I>ch.</I> xxxv. 11</A>),
|
|
yet Esau's blood becomes
|
|
royal long before any of Jacob's did. Note,
|
|
In external prosperity and honour, the children
|
|
of the covenant are often cast behind,
|
|
and those that are out of covenant get the
|
|
start. The triumphing of the wicked may
|
|
be quick, but it is short; soon ripe, and as
|
|
soon rotten: but the products of the promise,
|
|
though they are slow, are sure and lasting;
|
|
<I>at the end it shall speak, and not lie.</I> We may
|
|
suppose it was a great trial to the faith of God's
|
|
Israel to hear of the pomp and power of the
|
|
kings of Edom, while they were bond-slaves in
|
|
Egypt; but those that look for great things
|
|
from God must be content to wait for them;
|
|
God's time is the best time.
|
|
|
|
2. They were
|
|
afterwards governed by dukes, again here
|
|
named, who, I suppose, ruled all at the same
|
|
time in several places in the country. Either
|
|
they set up this form of government in conformity
|
|
to the Horites, who had used it
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
|
|
or God's providence reduced them to it,
|
|
as some conjecture, to correct them for their
|
|
unkindness to Israel, in refusing them a
|
|
passage though their country,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:18">Num. xx. 18</A>.
|
|
Note, When power is abused, it is just with
|
|
God to weaken it, by turning it into divers
|
|
channels. <I>For the transgression of a land,
|
|
many are the princes thereof.</I> Sin brought
|
|
Edom from kings to dukes, from crowns to
|
|
coronets. We read of the dukes of Edom
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+15:15">Exod. xv: 15</A>),
|
|
yet, long afterwards, of their
|
|
kings again.
|
|
|
|
3. Mount Seir is called <I>the land
|
|
of their possession,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+36:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>.
|
|
While the Israelites
|
|
dwelt in the house of bondage, and their
|
|
Canaan was only the land of promise, the
|
|
Edomites dwelt in their own habitations, and
|
|
Seir was in their possession. Note, The
|
|
children of this world have their all in hand,
|
|
and nothing in hope
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+16:25">Luke xvi. 25</A>);
|
|
while
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page212"> </A>
|
|
|
|
the children of God have their all in hope,
|
|
and next to nothing in hand. But, all things
|
|
considered, it is better to have Canaan in
|
|
promise than mount Seir in possession.</P>
|
|
|
|
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