Sons into Chiefs

Sons into Chiefs

Genesis 36: ¹⁵ These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, ¹⁶ Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.

 

¹⁷ These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

 

¹⁸ And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah. ¹⁹ These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.

 

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Eliphaz and Reuel became Esau’s strongest sons and the leaders of the Edomites. Eliphaz led his uncle Korah who is mentioned twice. Korah is not to be confused with the Korah who rebelled against Moses later on.

 

My Observations:

• Esau seemed to want power.
• Esau groomed his sons to become mighty warriors like himself.
• Esau taught his sons self-reliance that did not include GOD.

 

Small groups led by chiefs made the Edomites strong. These groups would disperse throughout the land of Canaan and would eventually cause problems for the Israelites. Esau may have forgiven Jacob, but did not forget.

 

Rebellion to GOD seemed to begin with Canaan. Any behavior was acceptable behavior with the people who followed the ways of Canaan. He seemed to desire that the curse placed on him by Noah, would not come to pass. But little did he know, that JESUS would be born through the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Pre-incarnate JESUS saw everything the Edomites were doing.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the Chiefs of Edom?
• Have you ever felt you needed to belong to a group because of its numbers but realized it is not where GOD wanted you?
• Is fear keeping you in a group you know is harmful to your relationship with GOD?

Lineage of Problems

 

Lineage of Problems

Genesis 36: ⁹ And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir. ¹⁰ These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. ¹¹ And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.

 

¹² Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.

 

¹³ These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.

 

¹⁴ These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.

 

 

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Esau became the Father of the Edomites. This group of people would cause problems to anyone related to Esau’s brother Jacob, otherwise known as Israel. Eliphaz had one son in particular that would cause major problems for the Israelites. His name is Amalek.

 

My Observations:

• Esau’s sons followed him in the way against GOD.
• Eliphaz was Esau’s oldest and probably was most like Esau.
• Amalek was born from Timna, a concubine of Eliphaz.

 

Amalek was listed differently in this genealogy. Later we will find out why. He would become a prominent figure that would cause problems for the Israelites again and again. Teman, Eliphaz’s oldest son, would become a chief of in the Edomite clan.

 

Active rebellion against the LORD was what the Edomites would become known for. This stemmed from Esau’s choices and beliefs. Esau’s children would cause problems that needed GOD’s solution.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD seem to repeat Esau’s genealogy to Moses with more detail?
• Does small rebellion cause big problems for you later in life?
• What big problems are you facing that started out as something small, that you now need GOD’s help with?