Genesis 36:1

Genesis 36:1 says, Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.  We already have a record of Jacob's children, and we are now getting a record of Esau's children.  These were also Isaac's grandchildren, but they were not to be a part of God's promise to Abraham to make him the father of a great nation.  Our physical relationship to a Christian today likewise does not make us a Christian.  Verse two states, 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;  Then verse three adds, And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. Esau had three wives including the daughter of Ishmaei.  With the exception of the daughter of Ishmael, Esau's wives were in no way associated with God.  We today should seek a wife among our fellow believers, and of course we should only seek one wife.  Verse four says, And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;  Two of Esau's wives each had one son.  Then verse five adds, And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.  Aholibamah, Ishmael's daughter, had three sons, so Esau had a total of five sons in the land of Canaan.  Once more, even if it had been obtained illegally, God's promise to Isaac passed with the birthright.  This does not mean that we can cheat someone else out of their place in God's kingdom, but that God is not limited to man made laws to accomplish His will.  Rebekah had been told before the birth of Esau and Jacob that the older son would serve the younger.  We could see what she did as simply bringing about God's will, but again I do not believe that God ever needs us to use deceit to accomplish His will.  Verse six says, And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, 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.  Though they were not listed, Esau also had daughters, which implies more than one daughter.  Now that Esau had reconciled with Jacob, he took all that he had a moved away from Jacob.  Sometimes, as followers of Christ, we can reconcile with someone physically and still be separated spiritually.  Verse seven states, 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.  Both Esau and Jacob had a lot of cattle, and the land could not support them both.  Materially, they were both well blessed.  Material wealth should never be used to determine spiritual wealth, or obedience.  Verse eight states, Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.  Just as Jacob became known as Israel, Esau became known as Edom.  Verse nine adds, And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:  Then verse ten concludes, 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.  We are once again given the names of two of Esau's sons and told that he lived in mount Seir, and was the father of the Edomites.