Genesis 36 Esau is Edom

To see Genesis 36 without my comments click HERE.

There are many modern day Baal priests who try to preach their Gospel and will just simply pass over this chapter in Genesis that talks about the descendants of Esau. They seem to think that it is irrelevant to the entire context of the Bible. However, the Bible is very clear. 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof and correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Tim 3:16

This verse tells us that this Chapter, as well as all others are not to be ignored, marginalized, nor negated. This Chapter was put in the Bible for a specific reason. All scripture is taught for a reason and if the reason isn't readily known it should be investigated so it can be properly understood. The Father often conceals information from us and it's up to us as Israelite Kings and Priests of his Kingdom to search the Bible and to learn the deeper reasons of why he does the things that we may not understand Proverbs25:2.

This Chapter talks about the literal descendants of Esau and in no way can be ignored unless one were to try to spiritualize Edom (Esau) in the same way that modern churches have spiritualized Israel. To do so with either Esau or Jacob (Israel) is a major perversion of the scriptures. This Chapter starts out talking about Esau's wives in which he married Non-Hebrew Canaanite women and he also married an Ishmaelite.

In Verse 6 Esau takes all his family and Cattle to Seir because the land could not support both him, Jacob, and all their cattle. It's also important to notice that because Esau left the region the birthright and blessing would have automatically became Jacob's by default. Which means that if Jacob would have waited instead of tricking Isaac for the blessing, then it would have fell in in his lap, and would have saved himself a lot of years of grief and hardship.

Next, this Chapter lists the Dukes that are descendants of Esau. Each Duke represents a tribe in Edom somewhat like the patriarchal tribes of Israel for example. In Genesis 36:19 we are told that Esau is Edom. This is a statement that is reiterated many times though out the Bible, and we are told that the Father hates the Edomites in Romans9:12-13. We are also told by the Prophet Obadiah in Verse 18 of the ultimate fate of the Edomites.

The Book "Who is Esau-Edom?" by Charles Weisman explains who modern day Edomites are quite clearly.

Who are the Edomites and what could they have ever done to make the Father hate them so?

It's clear from the Bible that the Edomites (Esau) originally had the birthright and despised it, traded it for a bowl of pottage, and abandoned the land and the family in which it came from. Living to the South of the area where the tribe of Judah were to settle years later. The Edomites fought many battles with Israel.

Just a few major events that I think are important to know. I am trying to keep this brief and in no way represents all the history of Edom throughout the Bible...

King David conquered the Edomites at one point prior to Israel and Judah being weakened by years of civil war between themselves. 

 Next, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzer conquered Judah in 586 B.C. With the help of the Edomites and took the remaining Judahites away into "The Babylonian captivity." When you create empty space of land people come into the land and live there, mostly they were individual Edomites at that time.

In 125 B.C. John Hyrcanus (of the Maccabees) through Guerrilla warfare officially conquered the Edomite nation and forced the Edomite nation to merge with Judea and adapt the religious practice of the “Traditions of the Elders” which the Messiah spoke out against. 

The Edomite nation was to the South of Judah. This map represents a time frame of about 830 B.C.

In the New Testament the Edomites are called Idumeans which were the majority of the population of Judea (not to be confused with the tribe of Judah). The Edomite/Idumeans followed the traditions of the elders when the Messiah was born. The history of Edom brings to light why the Edomites in John 8:31-44 told the Messiah that they were from Abraham (which is true because Esau is from Abraham) and were never in the Assyrian nor the Babylonian captivity. Obviously, the only people who can fit this description are the Edomites/Idumeans. 

From Edom came other colorful characters. Just to mention a couple, were the Disciple Judas and Herod the Great both which of which tried to kill the Messiah.

Yes, Genesis Chapter 36 is an important Chapter just as all Chapters are important in the Bible and quite worthy of study. The idea when approaching this chapter is that when we correctly identify who Israel and the Edomites are, major portions of the Bible suddenly become very important. 

Praise the Lord for ALL of his word!