Genesis 36:31

31 reges autem qui regnaverunt in terra Edom antequam haberent regem filii Israhel fuerunt hii

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 isti duces Horreorum dux Lothan dux Sobal dux Sebeon dux Ana
30 dux Dison dux Eser dux Disan isti duces Horreorum qui imperaverunt in terra Seir
31 reges autem qui regnaverunt in terra Edom antequam haberent regem filii Israhel fuerunt hii
32 Bale filius Beor nomenque urbis eius Denaba
33 mortuus est autem Bale et regnavit pro eo Iobab filius Zare de Bosra
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.