📅 May 22, 2025
📖 DAILY BIBLE READING
✨ Genesis 36 – The Lineage of Esau: The Origins of Edom
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📜 Bible Text – Genesis 36 (KJV)
1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
3 And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.
6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
10 These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
14 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
15 These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.
17 And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.
23 And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
25 And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
26 And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
27 The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
28 The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.
29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
31 And these are 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 was 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 was Avith.
36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
38 And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
39 And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
40 And these are the names of the dukes that came 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 be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.
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🔵 Introduction
Genesis 36 can at first seem like a dry genealogy. Yet it is far more: it traces the growth of Esau’s descendants into the nation of Edom. It reminds us that God’s purposes extend beyond Jacob (Israel); He also shapes history through Esau. Though Esau is not the bearer of the covenant, he is not forgotten. His offspring become numerous, organized, and politically significant. Genesis 36 shows that God’s blessing operates outside the line of promise, even as His unique covenant continues with Israel.
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🟡 Commentary
- Esau’s Wives and Children (vv. 1–5)
Esau marries Canaanite women—unapproved by his parents (cf. Gen 26:34–35). His three wives produce the progenitors of Edom’s tribes: Eliphaz, Reuel, and the sons of Oholibamah. Their names signal Edom’s rapid expansion. - Esau’s Migration and Separation from Jacob (vv. 6–8)
Wealth and livestock force Esau to move with all his household to Seir, leaving Jacob behind. This echoes Abraham and Lot’s separation (Gen 13): a physical and symbolic division of God’s chosen line and a parallel line outside the promise. - The Chiefs of Esau’s Descendants (vv. 9–19)
Grandsons and great-grandsons of Esau become clan chiefs (Heb. alufim). The Edomite society coalesces into powerful tribal leaders—among them Amalek (v. 12), later an Israelite foe (Exod 17). - The Horite Tribes of Seir (vv. 20–30)
Before Esau’s arrival, Horites inhabited Seir. Their clans and chiefs are listed, showing Edom’s incorporation or displacement of indigenous peoples and underscoring its social complexity. - The Kings of Edom (vv. 31–39)
Edom had its own kings before Israel did—eight rulers, non-hereditary. This reveals Edom’s early political sophistication contrasted with Israel’s later, dynastic monarchy. - Further Chiefs of Esau (vv. 40–43)
The final roster of Esau’s chiefs and their territories highlights Edom’s regional organization and cements Esau’s identity as the father of a fully formed nation.
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🟢 Summary
Genesis 36 describes the birth of Edom from Esau, Jacob’s brother. It shows Esau’s separation from Jacob, his settlement in Seir, and the rise of a powerful people—complete with clan chiefs and kings. Even the pre-existing Horite tribes are acknowledged. Edom stands as an established nation before Israel, blessed and organized, yet outside the covenant line.
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🔴 Today’s Message
- God remembers every branch of the family. Even those outside the covenant line—like Esau—are richly blessed.
- Power and prominence do not equal spiritual election. Edom’s early monarchy contrasted with Israel’s spiritual calling.
- Separation can precede reconciliation. Jacob and Esau’s split foreshadows later peace between them.
- God’s story embraces all nations. Scripture records other peoples and leaders as part of His global purpose.
- Order and structure sustain societies. Edom’s detailed tribal and political organization shows the value of stable institutions.
~~~~~ 📚 ~~~~~
📆 May 18–24, 2025
📆 WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
📖 Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 6
✨ Seth and Enoch
📖 Read online here
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🟦 Introduction
In an age of growing godlessness, two men stand out as beacons of faith: Seth, the “substitute” for Abel, and Enoch, who “walked with God.” While Cain’s descendants indulged in progress without God and sin spread like a curse across the earth, a godly remnant remained through Seth’s line. Enoch, one of its greatest representatives, was a man of faith and vision. His translation is a prophetic preview of the redemption of the final generation.
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🟨 Commentary
- Seth – a Substitute with a Responsibility
Seth was no better by nature than Cain, yet he received God’s grace. His task was to carry on Abel’s spiritual legacy. With him began a line of people who consciously invoked God’s name (Gen. 4:26). - Two Lines, Two Cultures
Seth’s descendants remained faithful to true worship, honored the Sabbath, and lived as “sojourners on the earth.” Cain’s offspring built cities and pursued wealth, culture, and pleasure. When the two lines intermingled, moral decay followed. - Adam’s Long Life – Testament to Grace and a Warning
Adam lived nearly a thousand years to teach his descendants God’s will. Yet few listened; many blamed him for the world’s suffering. His death, after centuries of sorrow, was even seen as a mercy. - Enoch – the One Who Walked with God
Enoch’s life of faith intensified after the birth of his son. For 300 years he maintained constant fellowship with God—in family, work, and community. His relationship deepened through prayer, retreat, meditation, and service to others. - Enoch’s Ministry – Preacher, Prophet, Example
He proclaimed God’s judgment, warned of coming doom, and preached God’s love in Christ. He had prophetic insight into Christ’s second coming (Jude 14–15). His holy life and translation attest to divine approval. - Translation as a Sign of Hope
Enoch was taken up before the Flood—a pattern for the righteous being caught up before final judgment. His disappearance shows that a life of obedience leads into eternity, refuting Satan’s lie that one cannot obey God.
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🟩 Summary
Seth was Abel’s righteous successor, preserving a godly line through his offspring. Enoch was the shining example of that line: a man of faith who walked with God in a godless world. His preaching, prophecy, and lifestyle bore witness to God’s will. While the masses forgot their Creator, Enoch lived with eternity in view—and did not experience death. His life demonstrates that it is possible to live holy even in dark times.
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🟥 Message for Us Today
- Honor God amid the world. We live in an era like Enoch’s. Faithfulness to God is possible even when society turns away.
- True faith shows itself in daily conduct. To “walk with God” means to live in relationship with Him every day—in family, community, and service.
- Separation from evil preserves purity. Seth’s line was corrupted only when it joined with the ungodly—an urgent warning for today.
- Prayer, meditation, and retreat are wells of strength. Enoch regularly sought God’s presence in silence—a model for anyone growing spiritually.
- The end is coming—but with hope. Enoch’s translation symbolizes the future of the faithful. Those who walk with God today will be with Him at His return.
