Genesis 36:11

Genesis 36:11 says, And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.  We now begin the list of Esau's grandchildren.  Matthew Henry points out that these are the last of Esau's descendants that we are told anything about.  Verse twelve adds, And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.  Like so many others in that age, Eliphaz had children not only with his wife, but also with a concubine or mistress as we would say today.   Though called the sons of Adah, these were her grandsons.  Verse thirteen states, And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.  Reuel had four sons, the grandchildren of Bashemath.  Verse fourteen states, 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.  Though it was unusual, we are given a list of the children Aholibamah, Esau's and Anah's daughter.  Daughters were often not named then, much less their children.  Verse fifteen declares, 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,  Then verse sixteen adds, 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.  Matthew Henry says that Esau's grandchildren became rulers, men with earthly titles, in the land.  We might view Esau as a great success, but must remember that true success comes from our relationship with God and not from worldly acclaim.  Verse seventeen states, 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. This is a list of the children of Reuel, who also became earthly rulers.  Verse eighteen says,, 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.  This was the conclusion of the list of Esau's grandchildren, who all became earthly rulers.  Once more, we might proclaim Esau a greater success than Jacob, but Esau had sold his birthright which would have made his children and grandchildren the heirs of the promise of God.  No matter how successful we may be in the eyes of the world, if we have sacrificed our relationship with God, then we will ultimately be nothing but a failure.  Verse nineteen concludes, These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.  This was the conclusion of the list of Esau's children and grandchildren and their titles.  We are reminded that Esau was known as Edom, so his descendants would become the Edomites.