Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsGenesis 36
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Genesis 36 in the BibleGenesis 36:2
Ada the daughter of Elon.
[1] In the 26. chap. (v. 34.) Esau's two wives, which he took in Chanaan are called Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hetheite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place, and here the same two wives are named Ada the daughter of Elon the Hetheite, and Oolibama the daughter of Sebeon the Heveite. Which neither agree in names nor country. Again his third wife Ismael's daughter, here named Basemath, in 28. chap. v. 9. is called Maheleth. For reconciliation of which and other like difficulties, or seeming contradictions, albeit learned expositors say, that either these persons had diverse names, or one was true and natural father, another legal, or adoptive, for there were such also before the law of Moyses, as appeareth in the history of Thamar: [2] yet it were hard to give a determinate solution of this difficulty. Which example, with many others (by us omitted in these brief annotations) convince the Protestants' presumptuous error, holding that Scriptures are easy to be understood.
- 1 One place of Scripture seemeth contrary to another but is not.
- 2 Holy Scriptures not easy to be understood.
Genesis 36:6
Departed from his brother. 8. Dwelt in Mount Seir.
◦ Here is another difficulty (though not so intricate as the former) how Esau now parted into Mount Seir, seeing he dwelled there, when his brother Jacob came from Mesopotamia. chap. 22. v. 4. Which S. Augustin (q 119. in Gen.) solveth saying: Esau first dwelt in Seir after he was disappointed of his Father's blessing, but dwelt again with his father after Jacob's return from Mesopotamia, and now went to Seir again after his father's Brothers easily envy each other: but the parents are glad of their children's advancement.
- ◦ Esau's last parting from Jacob. (c)
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Genesis 36:1
The generations of Esau.
As before Moyses described [1] the genealogies of Cain, of Japheth, and Cham, of Nachor, of Ismael, and other sons of Abraham; so here he recordeth another collateral progeny of Esau, that the difference and distinction of them and the selected people of God might be more conspicuous, because contraries opposed are seen more clearly. [2] And so the Church's succession and perpetual light, compared with the interrupted and obscure companies, shineth the brighter. For albeit in those other generations there might be many faithful and just persons among the infidels and wicked, and of some we are assured (as of Lot and Job) yet faith and religion decayed, and was extinguished in their carnal children, and only continued in the right line from Adam to Jacob, whose twelve sons were fathers & beginners of twelve Tribes, and in them the same true Religion was still conserved and publicly professed, as in the only known visible Church, till the coming of Christ, as S. Augustin clearly sheweth in his excellent work of the City of God, especially in the 15. and 16. books, in many chapters.