I have mentioned it earlier in this series, how it was that chapters of the Bible that dealt with genealogies held little to no interest for me until very recently. They used to represent the part of movies (if I could use that) when I go to take a leak, but now I'm beginning to see how very important these lists of "who begat who" are, to the narrative of the stories of the Bible. In some instances, the genealogies tell a more eloquent tale of certain situations, far beyond the storyline that may obtain afterwards, and I can raise more than a few instances, like for instance, how it is that Yahshua Hamashiach had root from Rahab (if you know, you know), or the true reason behind the relationship between David and his brothers. Genealogies give a glimpse into the marital and reproductive lives and the related dynamics of many of the characters in the Bible, if only we can but read between the lines.


After the burial of Isaac, attention shifted to Esau. Much like the writers wanted to be rid of Esau, just so they can focus on the child of promise, Jacob. Esau became a victim of history because he was rejected for not marrying according to his parent's dictates and wishes (Genesis 26:34-35), besides the fact that he sold his birthright, which he was already prophesied to have to lose right from birth. It is therefore not surprising to find that, right after mentioning the fact that "... these are the generations of Esau" in Genesis chapter 36 verse 1, we are quickly inundated with the fact that "... Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan" (v.2). One of the wives included Ishmael's daughter, Basemath. Curiously, "Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters (none of which are mentioned by name), and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan; and went into a land away from his brother Jacob" (v.6), in what seems like an acknowledgment of the fact that the promise was with his younger brother, and would rather not fight it, as Jacob should've been the one to leave in a case where it's been found that "... their substance was too great for them to dwell together; and the land of their sojournings could not bear them because of their cattle" (v.7).


It was to Mount Seir that Esau relocated, and we are reminded that Esau is Edom. One of the interesting names amongst the grandsons of Esau is Amalek, the son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timna. This will help you understand the underlying history when years after, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites in the wilderness, on their way to the "Promised Land" from Egypt (Exodus 17:8-16), leading to a war between both parties where Moses' hands had to be held up all day by Aaron and Hur to ensure victory for the Israelites, following which YAHWEH swore that HE "... will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (v.14). The massacring of Amalekites during Saul's reign as King in Israel (1 Samuel 15:2-34), with the disobedience of Saul in sparing the life of King of Amalek, Agag (and the best of sheep, and of oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good... v.9). The plot by Haman, a descendant of King Agag (apparently Saul also spared some members of his family, who didn't fall under the Prophet Samuel's sword, when it was discovered that Saul didn't carry out instructions to the latter) to wipe out the Jews while they were in exile under the rule of Persian King Ahasuerus, starting with the hanging of Mordecai from the gallows he specifically built for the purpose, and to which he was hung in a twist of fate, that prompted the celebration of Purim to this day amongst Jews, as documented in the Book Of Esther.


The above is just another reason why reading genealogies in the Bible is important. The foundation of the hatred between the Israelites and the Amalekites was laid bare, especially if it is right to speculate that at the time the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, the Amalekites remembered them to be descendants of their forefathers' brother who usurped the former's birthright, causing him to leave the land of Canaan for Mount Seir, even though as the elder, he shouldn't have had to move; and this hatred and anger transcended generations, till the last vestige of the Amalekites (after several altercations between both parties, which the Israelites won on all occasions), going by the name Agagites were wiped out during the time of Esther as Queen in Persia. Interestingly, the actions of the Amalekites is surprising considering that they were children borne by a concubine, and shouldn't have had to take up the matter so strongly as they did, save that they'd actually be giving validation to the Yoruba saying that a house will continue to know peace until the illegitimate child grows up.


But it wasn't always bad news with Esau, as his children and their children grew and multiplied, had Dukes or Chiefs (Genesis 36:40-43) amongst them, and prospered in spite of Jacob, regardless of the fact that they lived under the shadow of Israel, because they were mentioned in the Bible for instance, only in relation to things concerning Israel. Though Isaac in blessing Esau, prophesied that "... it shall come to pass, when you shall break loose, that you shall shake his yoke from your neck" (Genesis 27:40), it would appear that he didn't envisage that such a shaking of the yoke off Esau's neck, might mean his fading into oblivion.


'kovich


REFERENCE:
Genesis Chapter 36 Verse 1 – 40 , THE SACRED SCRIPTURES (Bethel Edition), An Assemblies of Yahweh ®, Publication, © 1981 (Fourth Printing, 1993).


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BIBLE STORIES (49): ESAU, EDOM & AMALEK https://madukovich./2018/09/01/bible-stories-49-esau-edom-amalek/