Genesis 36:31

31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.

Genesis 36:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 36:31

And these [are] the kings that reigned in the land of Edom,
&c.] In the land that was afterwards called the land of Edom; for this laud was not so called when these kings began to reign: for, according to Bishop Cumberland F6, and those that follow him F7, these were Horite kings, who, after their defeat by Chedorlaomer, ( Genesis 14:5 Genesis 14:6 ) ; in order to secure themselves the better from such a calamity for the future, set up a kingdom, and which appears, by the following account, to be elective; and so Maimonides F8 observes, that not one of these kings were of Edom: and these were, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel;
and there being no kings over Israel until many years after the times of Moses, hence some have thought these words are inserted by some other writer after him; but there is no need to suppose that; for Moses knew, from foregoing prophecies and promises, that kings would arise out of them and reign over them, ( Genesis 17:6 ) ( 35:11 ) ; and this he was so certain of, that he himself, by divine direction, gave laws and rules to the children of Israel respecting their future kings, ( Deuteronomy 17:14-20 ) ; besides Moses himself was king in Jeshurun or Israel, ( Deuteronomy 33:5 ) , so that it is the same as if he had said, these are the kings that reigned in Edom, before this time.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Orig. Gent. Antiq. p. 1-24.
F7 Bedford in his Scripture Chronology, and the Authors of the Universal History.
F8 Morch Nevochim, par. 3. c. 50. p. 510.

Genesis 36:31 In-Context

29 These are the chiefs of the Horites: the chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zib'eon, Anah,
30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, according to their clans in the land of Se'ir.
31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.
32 Bela the son of Be'or reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Din'habah.
33 Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.