Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 36
Overview:
Esau and his descendants.
- The registers in this
Chapter show the faithfulness of
God to
his promise to
Abraham.
Esau is here called
Edom, that name
which kept up the remembrance of his selling his
Birth-right for
a
Mess of
Pottage.
Esau continued the same profane despiser of
heavenly things. In outward prosperity and honour, the children
of the
Covenant are often behind, and those that are out of the
Covenant get the start. We may suppose it a trial to the
Faith
of
God's
Israel, to hear of the pomp and power of the
Kings of
Edom, while they were
Bond-slaves in
Egypt; but those that look
for great things from
God, must be content to wait for them;
God's time is the best time.
Mount Seir is called the land of
their possession.
Canaan was at this time only the land of
promise.
Seir was in the possession of the Edomites. The
children of this world have their all in
Hand, and nothing in
Hope, Lu 16:25; while the children of
God have their all in
Hope, and next to nothing in
Hand. But, all things considered,
it is
Beyond compare better to have
Canaan in promise, than
Mount Seir in possession.