Saadia's Tafsir on Bereshit 36 (Parashat Vayishlach)

Bereshit 36:1

וְאֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת עֵשָׂו הוּא אֱדוֹם

And this is the exposition of the offspring of Esau — he is Edom.

Bereshit 36:2

עֵשָׂו לָקַח אֶת-נָשָׁיו מִבְּנוֹת כְּנָעַן אֶת-עָדָה בַּת-אֵילוֹן הַחִתִּי וְאֶת-אָהֳלִיבָמָה בַּת-עֲנָה בַּת-צִבְעוֹן הַחִוִּי

. . .

And Esau took wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite; and Oholibamah, daughter of Anah, daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

Bereshit 36:3

וְאֶת-בָּשְׂמַת בַּת-יִשְׁמָעֵאל אֲחוֹת נְבָיוֹת

and Basemath, daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebayot.

Bereshit 36:4

וַתֵּלֶד עָדָה לְעֵשָׂו אֶת-אֱלִיפָז וּבָשְׂמַת יָלְדָה אֶת-רְעוּאֵל

. .

And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau; and Basemath bore Reuel.

Bereshit 36:5

וְאָהֳלִיבָמָה יָלְדָה אֶת-יעיש (יְעוּשׁ) וְאֶת-יַעְלָם וְאֶת-קֹרַח אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו אֲשֶׁר יֻלְּדוּ-לוֹ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן

. . .

And Oholibamah bore Yeush, and Yalam, and Korah — these are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

Bereshit 36:6

וַיִּקַּח עֵשָׂו אֶת-נָשָׁיו וְאֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-בְּנֹתָיו וְאֶת-כָּל-נַפְשׁוֹת בֵּיתוֹ וְאֶת-מִקְנֵהוּ וְאֶת-כָּל-בְּהֶמְתּוֹ וְאֵת כָּל-קִנְיָנוֹ אֲשֶׁר רָכַשׁ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל-אֶרֶץ מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו

. . . . . .

Then Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and every soul of his household, and his cattle and his beasts, and all his property which he had acquired in the land of Canaan; and he went to another land, away from Jacob his brother.

Bereshit 36:7

כִּי-הָיָה רְכוּשָׁם רָב מִשֶּׁבֶת יַחְדָּו וְלֹא יָכְלָה אֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵיהֶם לָשֵׂאת אֹתָם--מִפְּנֵי מִקְנֵיהֶם

. .

For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; and the land of their sojourning could not support them, because of their cattle.

Bereshit 36:8

וַיֵּשֶׁב עֵשָׂו בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר עֵשָׂו הוּא אֱדוֹם

.

And Esau — who is the Red One (Edom) — settled in Mount al-Sharah (Seir).

Bereshit 36:9

וְאֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת עֵשָׂו אֲבִי אֱדוֹם בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר

.

And this is the exposition of the offspring of Esau, the father of the Reds (Edomites), in Mount al-Sharah.

Bereshit 36:10

אֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי-עֵשָׂו אֱלִיפַז בֶּן-עָדָה אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו רְעוּאֵל בֶּן-בָּשְׂמַת אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו

. . . .

These are the names of the sons of Esau: Eliphaz, son of Adah his wife; Reuel, son of Basemath his wife.

Bereshit 36:11

וַיִּהְיוּ בְּנֵי אֱלִיפָז--תֵּימָן אוֹמָר צְפוֹ וְגַעְתָּם וּקְנַז

.

And the sons of Eliphaz were: Teman, Omar, Zefo, Gaatam, and Kenaz.

Bereshit 36:12

וְתִמְנַע הָיְתָה פִילֶגֶשׁ לֶאֱלִיפַז בֶּן-עֵשָׂו וַתֵּלֶד לֶאֱלִיפַז אֶת-עֲמָלֵק אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי עָדָה אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו

. . .

And Timna was a concubine to Eliphaz, son of Esau; and she bore him Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.

Bereshit 36:13

וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי רְעוּאֵל נַחַת וָזֶרַח שַׁמָּה וּמִזָּה אֵלֶּה הָיוּ בְּנֵי בָשְׂמַת אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו

. . .

And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

Bereshit 36:14

וְאֵלֶּה הָיוּ בְּנֵי אָהֳלִיבָמָה בַת-עֲנָה בַּת-צִבְעוֹן--אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו וַתֵּלֶד לְעֵשָׂו אֶת-יעיש (יְעוּשׁ) וְאֶת-יַעְלָם וְאֶת-קֹרַח

. . . .

And these were the sons of Oholibamah, daughter of Anah, daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife — and she bore him: Yeush, and Yalam, and Korah.

Bereshit 36:15

אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי בְנֵי-עֵשָׂו בְּנֵי אֱלִיפַז בְּכוֹר עֵשָׂו--אַלּוּף תֵּימָן אַלּוּף אוֹמָר אַלּוּף צְפוֹ אַלּוּף קְנַז

. . .

These are the chieftains of Esau's sons. Sons of Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn: Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zefo, and Chief Kenaz,

Bereshit 36:16

אַלּוּף-קֹרַח אַלּוּף גַּעְתָּם אַלּוּף עֲמָלֵק אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי אֱלִיפַז בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי עָדָה

. . .

and Chief Korah, Chief Gaatam, and Chief Amalek. These are the chieftains from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah.

Bereshit 36:17

וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי רְעוּאֵל בֶּן-עֵשָׂו--אַלּוּף נַחַת אַלּוּף זֶרַח אַלּוּף שַׁמָּה אַלּוּף מִזָּה אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי רְעוּאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם--אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי בָשְׂמַת אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו

. . .

And these are the chieftains of Reuel, son of Esau: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, Chief Mizzah. These are his chieftains in the land of Edom — and they are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

Bereshit 36:18

וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי אָהֳלִיבָמָה אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו--אַלּוּף יְעוּשׁ אַלּוּף יַעְלָם אַלּוּף קֹרַח אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי אָהֳלִיבָמָה בַּת-עֲנָה--אֵשֶׁת עֵשָׂו

. . . . .

And these are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Yeush, Chief Yalam, Chief Korah. These are the chieftains of Oholibamah, daughter of Anah, his wife.

Bereshit 36:19

אֵלֶּה בְנֵי-עֵשָׂו וְאֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵיהֶם הוּא אֱדוֹם

.

These are the sons of Esau, and these are their chieftains; and they are the Reds (Edomites).

Bereshit 36:20

אֵלֶּה בְנֵי-שֵׂעִיר הַחֹרִי יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ לוֹטָן וְשׁוֹבָל וְצִבְעוֹן וַעֲנָה

. .

And these are the sons of Seir the Horite, the dwellers of the land: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

Bereshit 36:21

וְדִשׁוֹן וְאֵצֶר וְדִישָׁן אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי הַחֹרִי בְּנֵי שֵׂעִיר בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם

. .

and Dishon, and Etzer, and Dishan. These are the chieftains of the Horites, sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.

Bereshit 36:22

וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי-לוֹטָן חֹרִי וְהֵימָם וַאֲחוֹת לוֹטָן תִּמְנָע

.

And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.

Bereshit 36:23

וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי שׁוֹבָל עַלְוָן וּמָנַחַת וְעֵיבָל שְׁפוֹ וְאוֹנָם

. .

And these are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shefo, and Onam.

Bereshit 36:24

וְאֵלֶּה בְנֵי-צִבְעוֹן וְאַיָּה וַעֲנָה הוּא עֲנָה אֲשֶׁר מָצָא אֶת-הַיֵּמִם בַּמִּדְבָּר בִּרְעֹתוֹ אֶת-הַחֲמֹרִים לְצִבְעוֹן אָבִיו

, . . .

And these are the sons of Zibeon: Ayyah, and Anah. He is the Anah who rode the mules in the wilderness, when he was pasturing the donkeys of Zibeon his father.

Bereshit 36:25

וְאֵלֶּה בְנֵי-עֲנָה דִּשֹׁן וְאָהֳלִיבָמָה בַּת-עֲנָה

.

And these are the sons of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah his daughter.

Bereshit 36:26

וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי דִישָׁן--חֶמְדָּן וְאֶשְׁבָּן וְיִתְרָן וּכְרָן

.

And these are the sons of Dishan: Hemdan, and Eshban, and Yitran, and Keran.

Bereshit 36:27

אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי-אֵצֶר--בִּלְהָן וְזַעֲוָן וַעֲקָן

.

And these are the sons of Etzer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.

Bereshit 36:28

אֵלֶּה בְנֵי-דִישָׁן עוּץ וַאֲרָן

.

And these are the sons of Dishan: Uz, and Aran.

Bereshit 36:29

אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי הַחֹרִי אַלּוּף לוֹטָן אַלּוּף שׁוֹבָל אַלּוּף צִבְעוֹן אַלּוּף עֲנָה

. .

These are the chieftains of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah,

Bereshit 36:30

אַלּוּף דִּשֹׁן אַלּוּף אֵצֶר אַלּוּף דִּישָׁן אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי הַחֹרִי לְאַלֻּפֵיהֶם בְּאֶרֶץ שֵׂעִיר

. .

and Chief Dishon, Chief Etzer, Chief Dishan. These are the chieftains of the Horites in the land of al-Sharah.

Bereshit 36:31

וְאֵלֶּה הַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר מָלְכוּ בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם--לִפְנֵי מְלָךְ-מֶלֶךְ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. .

These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom — before a king reigned for the children of Israel.

Bereshit 36:32

וַיִּמְלֹךְ בֶּאֱדוֹם בֶּלַע בֶּן-בְּעוֹר וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ דִּנְהָבָה

. .

And there reigned in Edom Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

Bereshit 36:33

וַיָּמָת בָּלַע וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו יוֹבָב בֶּן-זֶרַח מִבָּצְרָה

. .

Then he died; and there reigned after him Yovav, the son of Zerah, from Bozrah.

Bereshit 36:34

וַיָּמָת יוֹבָב וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו חֻשָׁם מֵאֶרֶץ הַתֵּימָנִי

. .

And Yovav died; and there reigned after him Husham, from the land of Yemen.

Bereshit 36:35

וַיָּמָת חֻשָׁם וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו הֲדַד בֶּן-בְּדַד הַמַּכֶּה אֶת-מִדְיָן בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ עֲוִית

. . .

And Husham died; and there reigned after him Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck the Midianites in the field of Moab; and the name of his city was Avith.

Bereshit 36:36

וַיָּמָת הֲדָד וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו שַׂמְלָה מִמַּשְׂרֵקָה

. .

And he died; and there reigned after him Samlah, from Masrekah.

Bereshit 36:37

וַיָּמָת שַׂמְלָה וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו שָׁאוּל מֵרְחֹבוֹת הַנָּהָר

. .

And he died; and there reigned after him Saul, from Rehoboth-of-the-Euphrates.

Bereshit 36:38

וַיָּמָת שָׁאוּל וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו בַּעַל חָנָן בֶּן-עַכְבּוֹר

. .

And he died; and there reigned after him Baal-Hanan, the son of Akhbor.

Bereshit 36:39

וַיָּמָת בַּעַל חָנָן בֶּן-עַכְבּוֹר וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו הֲדַר וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ פָּעוּ וְשֵׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ מְהֵיטַבְאֵל בַּת-מַטְרֵד בַּת מֵי זָהָב

. . . . .

And he died; and there reigned after him Hadar; and the name of his city was Pa'u; and the name of his wife was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Mei-Zahab.

Bereshit 36:40

וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת אַלּוּפֵי עֵשָׂו לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לִמְקֹמֹתָם בִּשְׁמֹתָם אַלּוּף תִּמְנָע אַלּוּף עַלְוָה אַלּוּף יְתֵת

. . . .

And after that, these are the chieftains of Esau according to their clans, in their places by their names: Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Yetheth,

Bereshit 36:41

אַלּוּף אָהֳלִיבָמָה אַלּוּף אֵלָה אַלּוּף פִּינֹן

.

and Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,

Bereshit 36:42

אַלּוּף קְנַז אַלּוּף תֵּימָן אַלּוּף מִבְצָר

.

and Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibtzar,

Bereshit 36:43

אַלּוּף מַגְדִּיאֵל אַלּוּף עִירָם אֵלֶּה אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם לְמֹשְׁבֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָם--הוּא עֵשָׂו אֲבִי אֱדוֹם

. . .

and Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram. These are the chieftains of the Reds (Edomites), in their dwellings in the land of their possession — that is Esau, the father of them all.