Genesis 36:1–5, 40–43 (ESV)

These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

… (Though too long to fit here, this entire section should be read.)

These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their clans and their dwelling places, by their names: the chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of Edom), according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession.

It is difficult for modern Americans to relate to these detailed genealogies. That’s because we live in a multi-racial, constitutional republic. To us, a nation is a land with a constitutional government.

But that’s not how things used to be. The Greek word for “nation” in the New Testament is ethnos. Long ago, nations were not republics, nor even specific areas of land; they were ethnic groups. A racially diverse nation was a contradiction in terms. That’s still true in many parts of the world. Think about that the next time you hear that the Kurds want to have a separate Kurdistan.

In an ancient society, where few people can read and almost all news is local, most of what you know came from your parents and grandparents. If they tell you things beyond what they were eyewitnesses to, that will mainly be things they learned from their relatives. Thus, the history you knew would mostly be the history of your family—and much of that would be genealogy.

Thus, these genealogies have a significance we can’t fully relate to. Israelite genealogies weren’t just interesting; they were essential. They told you who you are. They explained who is king and why. They told you whom you’re supposed to like and whom you’re supposed to be at war with.

They governed your life.

History isn’t just for entertainment; it explains things. We live in an independent nation. But why? How?

Because we declared it on July 4, 1776, and because Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.

Similarly, Genesis is all about how we got here. For its original audience, genealogies are a big part of that. Please read all of Genesis 36, and do it as if it’s directly important to you—especially the parts about the kings and chiefs. Try to capture the feeling you’d have if it were about, say, the battle of Yorktown—or something else where everything would be different now if it hadn’t turned out the way it did.

Whether you’re thinking of your ancestors or of Yorktown, praise God that we made it.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NASB stands for the New American Standard Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.