Genesis 36:1-43

The Edomites, Esau’s descendants, are mentioned more than 200 times in the Bible - and the division between them and the descendants of Jacob never went away. During the Exodus, God told Israel to leave the Edomites alone (Deut. 2:4-8) because they were “brothers.” But Edom refused to let the Israelites enter the land (Num. 20:14-21). Later, they became bitter enemies of King David (2 Sam. 8:13). The Book of Obadiah is a pronouncement of God’s judgment on Edom for its oppression and cruelty toward the Israelites. How sad that the people of Esau became an enemy to the heritage of Jacob: the people of Israel.

This chapter ends Esau’s story. Including the genealogy of Esau (Otherwise known as Edom), it demonstrates the Lord’s continuing love for Isaac’s other son, even though Jacob is the son of the covenant.