THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Following the interment of his father, Esau sang praises with his wives.
Genesis 36:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And Esau took his wives, and his sons and daughters, and every soul of his house, and his substance, and cattle, and all that he was able to acquire in the land of Chanaan: and went into another country, and departed from his brother Jacob.
וַיִּקַּ֣ח עֵשָׂ֡ו אֶת־נָ֠שָׁיו וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו וְאֶת־בְּנֹתָיו֮ וְאֶת־כָּל־נַפְשׁ֣וֹת בֵּיתוֹ֒ וְאֶת־מִקְנֵ֣הוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־בְּהֶמְתּ֗וֹ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־קִנְיָנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־אֶ֔רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽיו׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
He journeyed to another region on account of his brother Jacob. At first glance, Esau's relocation might raise questions, given that he had already settled in Seir prior to Jacob's arrival in Canaan (Gen. 22:3). However, this confusion is resolved when we consider that, for the harmony of his father's household and the advantage of livestock raising, Esau had left Canaan early on and chosen Seir as his primary residence. Nonetheless, while Isaac was still living, he viewed this residence as merely provisional and circumstantial. Upon his father's death and the subsequent distribution of the inheritance, a definitive separation of dwelling places between the siblings was expected. It is reasonable to assume that Isaac’s will designated Jacob to remain in Canaan, a decision that Esau did not contest.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 32:3And he sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, to the country of Edom:
- Gen 25:23And he answering, said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.
- Gen 17:8And I will give to thee, and to thy seed, the land of thy sojournment, all the land of Chanaan, for a perpetual possession, and I will be their God.
- Gen 12:5And he took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all the substance which they had gathered, and the souls which they had gotten in Haran: and they went out to go into the land of Chanaan. And when they were come into it,
- Gen 28:4And give the blessings of Abraham to thee, and to thy seed after thee: that thou mayst possess the land of thy sojournment, which he promised to thy grandfather.
- Gen 13:6Neither was the land able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, and they could not dwell together.
- Rev 18:13And cinnamon and odours and ointment and frankincense and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and beasts and sheep and horses and chariots: and slaves and souls of men.
- Gen 13:11And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.