Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Genesis 36:31
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And these [are] the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, etc.] In the land that was afterwards called the land of Edom; for this laud was not so called when these kings began to reign: for, according to Bishop Cumberland f1612, and those that follow him f1613, these were Horite kings, who, after their defeat by Chedorlaomer, (<011405>Genesis 14:5,6); in order to secure themselves the better from such a calamity for the future, set up a kingdom, and which appears, by the following account, to be elective; and so Maimonides f1614 observes, that not one of these kings were of Edom: and these were, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel; and there being no kings over Israel until many years after the times of Moses, hence some have thought these words are inserted by some other writer after him; but there is no need to suppose that; for Moses knew, from foregoing prophecies and promises, that kings would arise out of them and reign over them, (<011706>Genesis 17:6 35:11); and this he was so certain of, that he himself, by divine direction, gave laws and rules to the children of Israel respecting their future kings, (<051714>Deuteronomy 17:14-20); besides Moses himself was king in Jeshurun or Israel, (<053305>Deuteronomy 33:5), so that it is the same as if he had said, these are the kings that reigned in Edom, before this time.
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