Genesis 36:12

12 And Eliphaz, the son of Esau, had connection with a woman named Timna, who gave birth to Amalek: all these were the children of Esau's wife Adah.

Genesis 36:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 36:12

And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son
She is said to be the sister of Lotan, the eldest son of Seir the Horite, ( Genesis 36:22 ) ; in ( 1 Chronicles 1:36 ) mention is made of Timna among the sons of Eliphaz, and of Duke Timnah here, ( Genesis 36:40 ) ; and Gerundinsis ^F25 is of opinion, that Timnah the concubine of Eliphaz, after she had bore Amalek, conceived and bore another son, and she dying in childbirth, he called it by her name to perpetuate her memory: but Jarchi says, that Eliphaz lay with Lotan's mother, the wife of Seir the Horite, of whom was born Timna, and when she grew up she became his concubine, and so was both his daughter and his concubine: and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek;
from whence the Amalekites sprung, often mentioned in Scripture, whom the Israelites were commanded utterly to destroy, ( 1 Samuel 15:18 ) : these [were] the sons of Adah, Esau's wife;
that is, her grandsons.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Apud Menasseh ben Israel, conciliator in Gen. Quaest. 57. p. 81.

Genesis 36:12 In-Context

10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.

11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.

12 And Eliphaz, the son of Esau, had connection with a woman named Timna, who gave birth to Amalek: all these were the children of Esau's wife Adah.

13 And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: they were the children of Esau's wife Basemath.

14 And these are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon: she was the mother of Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.