Genesis 36:16

Jacob has nothing to do with the chapter. It has its own important place of sketching the earthly lot of Esau. Yet it still teaches us something, though not directly. What is natural comes into power first, and what is spiritual comes afterwards. The family of promise remain shepherds and herdsmen. They wander here and there, outside the land and within it, and even suffer harsh oppression. Meanwhile the generations of Edom rise fast into importance, away from Canaan, in Mount Seir.

The children of Esau had "dukes" in plenty, giving us an early example of what we find so often in Scripture and in our own experience — that the man who loves the world and ignores God goes ahead in the world beyond the man who fears God.

Genesis 36 gives us the rise and progress of their national greatness. First comes the line of their dukes, as they are called. In modern language these would probably answer to the sheikhs of their tribes. Later come the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel.

Pharaoh represents the hindrance to Israel's rescue out of Egypt. Amalek represents the hindrance to their walk with God through the wilderness. Amalek stands before us as the type of the flesh. He was the grandson of Esau, who preferred a bowl of stew to the birthright. He was the first to oppose Israel after their baptism "in the cloud and in the sea." These facts fix his character clearly. Besides these, we know that Saul lost the kingdom of Israel because he failed to destroy Amalek. Further, Haman is the last of the Amalekites we find any notice of in Scripture. He was hanged on a gallows because of his wicked attempt against the descendants of Israel.

Agag was the title of the kings of Amalek, probably a general title, like the title of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. So Haman came from this royal race. Amalek, Haman's people, descended from Esau through Eliphaz: he was first a chief, and then became the people of Edom.

Here, in Genesis, we have only a list of names to tell us that this chief and that king once lived. Their power was short-lived, their greatness faded, and they are quickly dismissed. "These are the generations of Esau."

Esau (Edom) prospers and grows great in material things. His sons become "dukes" before Jacob's family reach such honour — except for Joseph in Egypt. We must remember that Joseph did not exalt himself. Pharaoh exalted him. Esau's family, though, shows the common history of the flesh, which always exalts itself. So the long list of names is meant to impress one fact on us. God has taken full account of the flesh and all its activities, and has found it only vanity.