The Kings of Edom

The section opens by noting that Edom had kings before Israel, then lists a succession of rulers from Bela to Hadad with brief identifying details. The genealogy becomes a record of political order as well as descent.

T⁴³hese are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: ⁴⁴When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place. ⁴⁵When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. ⁴⁶When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith. ⁴⁷When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place. ⁴⁸When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. ⁴⁹When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place. ⁵⁰When Baal-hanan died, Hadad reigned in his place. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.

After Hadad’s death, the record shifts from kings to the chiefs of Edom and names them one by one. The chapter closes with a final catalog of Edom’s established leadership.

⁵¹Then Hadad died. ⁵²Now the chiefs of Edom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁵³Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁵⁴Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.