Summary
The chapter begins with Esau’s marriages to Canaanite women and the birth of his sons, establishing the foundation of the Edomite people. It then lists the sons of Esau’s three main wives—Adah, Bashemath, and Aholibamah—highlighting their descendants and the titles of ‘dukes’ that denote tribal leaders. Following this, the genealogy of the Horites, ancient inhabitants of the land, is presented to explain the region’s pre-Israelite history. The narrative transitions to a chronological account of early Edomite kings, from Bela to Hadar, noting their cities and succession. The chapter closes with a detailed enumeration of Edomite dukes organized by family and location, underscoring the importance of lineage and territorial claims.