Esau's Genealogy

            Chapter 36 of Genesis presents a detailed list of the genealogy of the descendants of Esau. In light of the Torah’s careful and parsimonious use of its holy words, it seems quite surprising that it devotes so many verses to what, apparently, is of incidental significance.

             In truth, eleven chapters earlier, the Torah detailed the generations of Ishmael, and the same question can be raised concerning the final seven verses of chapter 25 of Genesis. (Though, obviously, the wonderment is greater concerning our chapter, which is six times the length of the genealogy of Ishmael.)

            Perhaps Rashi’s initial comment on Ḥumash provides an answer:

Rabbi Yitzḥak says: the Torah should have commenced with (the first mitzva given to the Children of Israel) “This month, etc.” [Exodus 12:2] Why, then does the Torah start with the description of creation? Because of the concept expressed in the verse: “He declared to His people the strength of His works in order that He might give them the heritage of nations.” [Psalms 111:6] Should the nations of the world claim “You are robbers who took the land of the seven (Canaanite) nations by force,” Israel can reply “The entire earth belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whom He pleased. When He willed, He gave it to the nations, and when He willed, He took the Land from them and gave it to us.”

Taking Rabbi Yitzḥak’s comment to the extreme, we can understand that every word of the Torah, from “In the beginning” until “This month” is intended to demonstrate Israel’s Divine right to its Land. Accordingly, we can suggest that the two extensive genealogical lists are intended to present a detailed list of those who gave up their claim to the Promised Land.

            It is noteworthy that the genealogy of Ishmael concludes with the verse:

[His descendants] lived in the area from Ḥavilah to Shur (which borders on Egypt), all the way to Assyria.                                               Genesis 25:18

Similarly, the description of Esau’s descendants includes the verse:

Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the members of his household, his livestock animals, and all the possessions that he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and he moved to another area, away from his brother Jacob.                                                                         Ibid. 36:6 In both instances, the Torah stresses that the nation of Israel’s potential competitors for the right to the Holy Land gave up their claim and left the Land.

Thus, the Torah teaches not only that the Land belongs to us by virtue of God’s gift to His people, but, as well, the descendants of Ishmael and of Esau waived their claims.