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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/36.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/36.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/36.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/36.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/36.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/36.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And these <i>are</i> the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/36.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now these <i>were</i> the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/36.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/36.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/36.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/36.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before <i>any</i> king of the sons of Israel reigned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/36.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/36.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/36.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/36.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/36.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/36.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />These were the kings who ruled Edom before any king ruled the people of Israel:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/36.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />This is a list of the kings who ruled the territory of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelis. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/36.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/36.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/36.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/36.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/36.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/36.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And these [are] the kings who have reigned in the land of Edom before the reigning of a king over the sons of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/36.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And these are the kings who have reigned in the land of Edom before the reigning of a king over the sons of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/36.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And these the kings which reigned in the land of Edom, before a king reigned over the sons of Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/36.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the kings that ruled in the land of Edom, before the children of Israel had a king were these: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/36.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now before the sons of Israel had a king, the kings who ruled in the land of Edom were these:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/36.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/36.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/36.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/36.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And these are the Kings that reigned in the land of Adum before a King would reign over the children of Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/36.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/36.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />these <i>are</i> the kings which reigned in Edom, before a king reigned in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/36-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=9221" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/36.htm">The Kings of Edom</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: wə·’êl·leh (Conj-w:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">These</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·mə·lā·ḵîm (Art:: N-mp) -- King. From malak; a king.">are the kings</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: mā·lə·ḵū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence to take counsel.">reigned</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bə·’e·reṣ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">in the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/123.htm" title="123: ’ĕ·ḏō·wm (N-proper-ms) -- The name of a condiment. Or oedowm; from 'adom; red; Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region occupied by him.">of Edom</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lip̄·nê (Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">any king</a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: mə·lāḵ- (V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence to take counsel.">reigned</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: liḇ·nê (Prep-l:: N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">over the Israelites:</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> </span><span class="reftext">32</span>Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/1-43.htm">1 Chronicles 1:43-50</a></span><br />These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor. His city was named Dinhabah. / When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place. / When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/17-14.htm">Deuteronomy 17:14-15</a></span><br />When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” / you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/8-5.htm">1 Samuel 8:5-9</a></span><br />“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” / But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. / And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/10-19.htm">1 Samuel 10:19</a></span><br />But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-12.htm">1 Samuel 12:12</a></span><br />But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-14.htm">1 Kings 11:14</a></span><br />Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/14-21.htm">1 Kings 14:21</a></span><br />Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-20.htm">2 Kings 8:20-22</a></span><br />In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. / So Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night. His troops, however, fled to their homes. / So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/3-9.htm">2 Kings 3:9</a></span><br />So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/2-6.htm">Psalm 2:6</a></span><br />“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/89-27.htm">Psalm 89:27</a></span><br />I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-10.htm">Hosea 13:10-11</a></span><br />Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? / So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-1.htm">Matthew 2:1-2</a></span><br />After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, / asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-11.htm">Matthew 27:11</a></span><br />Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/18-33.htm">John 18:33-37</a></span><br />Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” / “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?” / “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.</p><p class="hdg">the kings.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/17-6.htm">Genesis 17:6,16</a></b></br> And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/25-23.htm">Genesis 25:23</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto her, Two nations <i>are</i> in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and <i>the one</i> people shall be stronger than <i>the other</i> people; and the elder shall serve the younger.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/20-14.htm">Numbers 20:14</a></b></br> And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:</p><p class="hdg">before there.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Genesis 35:11</a></b></br> And God said unto him, I <i>am</i> God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/36-28.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/36-21.htm">Edom</a> <a href="/genesis/35-22.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/romans/11-1.htm">Israelite</a> <a href="/genesis/32-32.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/revelation/20-4.htm">Reigned</a> <a href="/revelation/17-10.htm">Reigning</a> <a href="/genesis/24-2.htm">Ruling</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/37-3.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/36-32.htm">Edom</a> <a href="/genesis/37-3.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/exodus/5-15.htm">Israelite</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/genesis/49-20.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/genesis/36-32.htm">Reigned</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-7.htm">Reigning</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-4.htm">Ruling</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 36</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-1.htm">Esau's three wives.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-6.htm">His removal to mount Seir.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-9.htm">His sons.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-15.htm">The dukes which descended of his sons.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-20.htm">The sons and dukes of Seir the Horite.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-24.htm">Anah finds mules.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-31.htm">The kings of Edom.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">40. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/36-40.htm">The dukes that descended of Esau.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/36.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/36.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom</b><br>The mention of Edom refers to the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, who settled in the region southeast of Israel. Edom is often associated with Mount Seir and the area south of the Dead Sea. The Edomites were a significant neighboring nation to Israel, and their history is intertwined with that of the Israelites. The kings of Edom are listed to show the established governance and political structure of Edom, which contrasts with the tribal leadership of Israel at the time. This highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Esau that he would become a nation (<a href="/genesis/25-23.htm">Genesis 25:23</a>).<p><b>before any king reigned over the Israelites:</b><br>This phrase indicates a time before the establishment of the monarchy in Israel, which began with Saul, followed by David and Solomon. The reference to Edomite kings reigning before Israel had a king underscores the historical context of Israel's development as a nation. It also reflects the prophetic nature of Israel's future monarchy, as seen in <a href="/genesis/17-6.htm">Genesis 17:6</a>, where God promises Abraham that kings will come from him. The mention of Edomite kings serves as a chronological marker, emphasizing the divine timing and plan for Israel's eventual kingship.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/edom.htm">Edom</a></b><br>A region and a people descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. The Edomites were often in conflict with Israel throughout biblical history.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/k/kings_of_edom.htm">Kings of Edom</a></b><br>The passage lists the kings who ruled over Edom before Israel had its own monarchy, highlighting the established governance in Edom.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. At this point in Genesis, they had not yet established a monarchy.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/esau.htm">Esau</a></b><br>The brother of Jacob, whose descendants became the Edomites. His account is foundational to understanding the relationship between Edom and Israel.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/monarchy.htm">Monarchy</a></b><br>The concept of kingship, which is significant in the history of both Edom and Israel, as it marks a transition in governance and leadership.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_leadership.htm">God's Sovereignty in Leadership</a></b><br>The mention of Edomite kings before Israel had a king reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and their leaders, regardless of their acknowledgment of Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_timing_of_god's_plans.htm">The Timing of God's Plans</a></b><br>God's timing for Israel to have a king was different from Edom's. This teaches us to trust in God's perfect timing for His plans in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_choices.htm">The Consequences of Choices</a></b><br>Esau's choices led to the establishment of a nation that often opposed Israel. Our choices can have long-lasting impacts on future generations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>Israel's eventual request for a king was not in line with God's original plan. This highlights the importance of seeking God's will and being obedient to His guidance.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_36.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 36</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_edomite_kings_fit_biblical_timelines.htm">Genesis 36:31–39 describes Edomite kings before Israel’s monarchy—how does this align with later biblical timelines? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_there_anachronisms_in_genesis.htm">If Moses wrote the Torah, why are there anachronisms such as references to kings in Genesis?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_paul_the_apostle_jewish.htm">What is Edom's significance in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_the_edomites.htm">Who were the ancient people known as Edomites?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/36.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31) <span class= "bld">The kings.</span>--In the triumphal song of Moses on the Red Sea we still read of "dukes of Edom" (<a href="/exodus/15-15.htm" title="Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold on them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.">Exodus 15:15</a>; but when Israel had reached the borders of their land, we find that Edom had then a king (<a href="/numbers/20-14.htm" title="And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus said your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us:">Numbers 20:14</a>). But in the list given here, no king succeeds his father, and probably these were petty monarchs, who sprang up in various parts of the country during a long period of civil war, in which the Horites were finally as completely conquered as were the Canaanites in Palestine under the heavy hands of Saul and Solomon. In the time of the dukes, there were also Horite dukes of the race of Seir, ruling districts mixed up apparently with those governed by the descendants of Esau. But all these now disappear.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/36.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And these</span> (which follow) <span class="cmt_word">are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any</span> (literally, <span class="accented">before the reigning</span> of a) <span class="cmt_word">king over</span> (or, to) <span class="cmt_word">the children of Israel</span>. <p><span class="Text_Heading">1.</span> The reference to Israelitish kings in this place has been explained as an evidence of post-Mosaic authorship (Le Clerc, Bleek, Ewald, Bohlen, et <span class="accented">alii</span>), or at least as a later interpolation from <a href="/1_chronicles/1-43.htm">1 Chronicles 1:43</a> (Kennicott, A. Clarke, Lange), but is sufficiently accounted for by remembering that in <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Genesis 35:11</a> kings had been promised to Jacob, while the blessing pronounced on Esau (<a href="/genesis/27-40.htm">Genesis 27:40</a>) implied that in his line also should arise governors, the historian being understood to say that though the promised kings had not yet arisen in the line of Jacob, the house of Esau had attained at a somewhat early period to political importance (Calvin, Michaelis, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, Gerlach, Havernick, and others). <p><span class="Text_Heading">2.</span> The difficulty of finding room for the dukes (seven, four and three, all grandsons of Esau, vers. 15-19), the kings (eight in number, vers. 32-39), and again the dukes (in all eleven, vers. 40-43), that intervened between Esau and Moses disappears if the kings and dukes existed contemporaneously, of which <a href="/exodus/15-15.htm">Exodus 15:15</a>, as compared with <a href="/numbers/20-14.htm">Numbers 20:14</a>, affords probable evidence. <p><span class="Text_Heading">3.</span> As to the character of the Edomitish kings, it is apparent that it was not a hereditary monarchy, since in no case does the son succeed the father, but an elective sovereignty, the kings being chosen by the dukes, alluphim, or phylarchs (Keil, Hengstenberg, Kalisch, Gerlach), though the idea of successive usurpations (Lange) is not without a measure of probability. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/36-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">These</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are the kings</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמְּלָכִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mə·lā·ḵîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">reigned</span><br /><span class="heb">מָלְכ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(mā·lə·ḵū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4427.htm">Strong's 4427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the land</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּאֶ֣רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Edom</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱד֑וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·ḏō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_123.htm">Strong's 123: </a> </span><span class="str2">The name of a condiment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">לִפְנֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">any king</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֖לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">ruled</span><br /><span class="heb">מְלָךְ־</span> <span class="translit">(mə·lāḵ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4427.htm">Strong's 4427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over the Israelites:</span><br /><span class="heb">לִבְנֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(liḇ·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/36-31.htm">Genesis 36:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/36-31.htm">OT Law: Genesis 36:31 These are the kings who reigned (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/36-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 36:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 36:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/36-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 36:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 36:32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>