“And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.”
My Notes
What Does Genesis 36:11 Mean?
"And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz." Eliphaz (Esau's firstborn) produces five sons — and TWO of these names will appear significantly later in Scripture: TEMAN becomes a region in Edom famous for its WISDOM (Jeremiah 49:7 — 'is wisdom no more in Teman?'), and KENAZ is the ancestor of Caleb's clan through Othniel (Joshua 15:17, Judges 1:13). The genealogical list that seems purely administrative contains names that will define regions and clans for centuries.
The name "Teman" (Teiman — south, or south-wind) gives its name to a DISTRICT of Edom that became synonymous with WISDOM: when Jeremiah asks 'is counsel perished from the prudent? is wisdom no more in Teman?' (49:7), he's referencing the REPUTATION of this Edomite region. Job's friend Eliphaz is called 'the Temanite' (Job 2:11) — from Teman. The genealogical name became a geographic name became a wisdom-tradition name.
The name "Kenaz" (Qenaz) connects to the KENIZZITES — a clan that will be ABSORBED into Israel: Caleb (the faithful spy) is called a KENIZZITE (Numbers 32:12). Othniel (the first judge) is 'the son of Kenaz' (Judges 1:13). The Edomite clan-name becomes an ISRAELITE identity. The descendant of Esau becomes part of the inheritance of Jacob. The genealogical boundary is CROSSED.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What names in your family tree have become identities you didn't expect?
- 2.What does Teman's wisdom-REPUTATION growing from a genealogical NAME teach about names becoming legacies?
- 3.How does Kenaz producing Israelite heroes (Caleb, Othniel) teach about boundaries being permeable?
- 4.What seeds are hidden in the 'genealogical lists' of your own story?
Devotional
Teman. Omar. Zepho. Gatam. Kenaz. Five sons of Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn. A genealogical list — but the names carry FUTURES: Teman becomes a region famous for WISDOM. Kenaz becomes the ancestor of Caleb and Othniel. The administrative list contains seeds of centuries of significance.
The 'Teman' name will define a REGION and a REPUTATION: the district of Teman in Edom becomes synonymous with WISDOM — so renowned that the prophet Jeremiah references Teman's wisdom as a STANDARD (49:7). Job's friend Eliphaz comes from Teman (Job 2:11). The genealogical name in a list becomes the byword for a TRADITION. The son's name becomes the region's identity becomes the culture's reputation.
The 'Kenaz' name crosses a BOUNDARY: the Kenizzites — descendants of this Edomite grandson — will be ABSORBED into Israel. Caleb (the faithful spy who wholly followed the LORD, Numbers 14:24) is a KENIZZITE. Othniel (the first judge who delivered Israel, Judges 3:9) is 'son of Kenaz.' The Edomite genealogy produces ISRAELITE heroes. The boundary between Esau's line and Jacob's line is PERMEABLE. The genealogical wall has doors.
The LARGER lesson of the genealogical list is that NAMES become NATIONS: these five names — mere entries in a genealogy — become regions, clans, traditions, and identities that persist for centuries. The list that seems like filler is actually SEED — each name a seed that will germinate into something the reader can't yet see. The genealogy is the FUTURE compressed into names.
What names in YOUR family tree have become regions, traditions, or identities you didn't expect?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son,.... She is said to be the sister of Lotan, the eldest son of Seir the…
Observe here, 1. That only the names of Esau's sons and grandsons are recorded, only their names, not their history; for…
Teman A district in the north of Edom. Cf. Eze 25:13; Amo 1:12; Oba 1:9. Its reputation for "wise men" is alluded to in…