Now these [are] the generations of Esau, who [is] Edom.
] Who was surnamed Edom, from the red pottage he sold his birthright for to his brother Jacob, ( Genesis 25:30 ) ; an account is given of him, and his posterity, not only because he was a son of Isaac, lately made mention of as concerned in his burial; but because his posterity would be often taken notice of in the sacred Scriptures, and so their genealogy would serve to illustrate such passages; and Maimonides F13 thinks the principal reason is, that whereas Amalek, a branch of Esau's family, were to be destroyed by an express command of God, it was necessary that all the rest should be particularly described, lest they should all perish together; but other ends are answered hereby, as partly to show the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham, concerning the multiplication of his seed, and the accomplishment of the oracle to Rebekah, signifying that two nations were in her womb, one of which were those Edomites; as also to observe how the blessing of Isaac his father came upon him with effect, ( Genesis 22:17 ) ( 25:23 ) ( Genesis 27:39 Genesis 27:40 ) .
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.