Eliphaz:
Eliphaz is the firstborn son of Esau and his wife Adah. He is an important figure as his descendants include the Amalekites, a perennial enemy of Israel (Genesis 36:12). The Amalekites' hostility towards Israel is first seen in Exodus 17:8-16, where they attack the Israelites shortly after the Exodus. This enmity is later addressed in Deuteronomy 25:17-19, where God commands Israel to remember what Amalek did and to blot out their memory.

Reuel:
Reuel, another son of Esau, is less prominently featured in biblical narratives. His name means "friend of God," which is significant in understanding the cultural and religious context of names in the ancient Near East. Reuel's descendants are part of the Edomite lineage, contributing to the complex relationship between Edom and Israel.

Jeush:
Jeush is one of Esau's sons, and his name means "he will help" or "he will come to aid." While specific stories about Jeush are not detailed in the Bible, his inclusion in the genealogies underscores the importance of family lineage and heritage in biblical times. The genealogies serve to connect the narrative of the patriarchs to the broader history of Israel and its neighboring nations.

Jalam:
Jalam, another son of Esau, is mentioned in the genealogical records, highlighting the importance of documenting family lines. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles serve to establish the historical and theological context for the post-exilic community of Israel, emphasizing their identity and continuity with the past.

Korah:
Korah, the last son listed, should not be confused with the Korah who led a rebellion against Moses in Numbers 16. This Korah is part of Esau's lineage, and his descendants are integrated into the Edomite nation. The name Korah means "bald" or "ice," and like the other sons of Esau, his mention in the genealogies underscores the interconnectedness of the peoples in the biblical narrative.

“The sons of Esau:” (1 Chronicles 1:35). Genealogies like this anchor the story of redemption in real time and space.

• Esau, Jacob’s twin, is also called Edom (Genesis 36:1); his line becomes the nation that settles south of Judah (Numbers 20:14).

• God had promised, while the twins were still in Rebekah’s womb, that “two nations are in your womb” (Genesis 25:23). This list shows that word unfolding exactly as spoken.

• Malachi 1:2-3 recalls God’s sovereign choice of Jacob over Esau, yet here we still see the Lord’s faithfulness in giving Esau a fruitful lineage.

First in the list is Eliphaz, the son Esau had with Adah (Genesis 36:4).

• His own sons—Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz—become Edomite chiefs (Genesis 36:11, 15), and his concubine Timna bears Amalek (Genesis 36:12), forefather of Israel’s bitter foe (Exodus 17:8-13).

• Teman’s descendants gain a reputation for wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 1:8-9).

Takeaway: A single branch can produce both adversaries and sages; God’s purposes are broader than our family stereotypes.

Reuel, born to Basemath (Genesis 36:4), stands second.

• His sons—Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah—also become clan leaders (Genesis 36:13, 17).

• The name Reuel later appears for Moses’ Midianite father-in-law (Exodus 2:18), a reminder that similar names do not equal identical people; Scripture preserves distinct lineages with care.

Lesson: Even lesser-known figures matter; each name testifies that the Lord “knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19).

Jeush is one of three sons Esau fathered through Oholibamah (Genesis 36:5).

• He becomes a chief in Edom (Genesis 36:17-18).

• Though he fades from the narrative, his inclusion underscores that God records every family thread, not just the most famous.

Reflection: Obscurity in human history is not obscurity to God (Psalm 139:15-16).

Jalam, another son of Oholibamah, follows Jeush.

• Scripture offers no exploits or scandals; sometimes a quiet life is itself a testimony.

• His name still receives honorable mention in 1 Chronicles and Genesis, showing that divine recordkeeping values faithfulness over fame (Proverbs 22:1).

Last is Korah, also from Oholibamah.

• He should not be confused with the Levitical Korah who rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16); different family, different century.

• Edomite Korah becomes a chief (Genesis 36:18), illustrating how leadership can arise outside the covenant line yet still operate under God’s overarching sovereignty (Deuteronomy 2:4-5).

1 Chronicles 1:35 is more than a roll call. It demonstrates that:

• God keeps His word to nations as well as individuals.

• Every branch of a family tree carries potential for blessing, conflict, prominence, or quiet service.

• The Lord’s meticulous record of Esau’s sons affirms both the historical reliability of Scripture and the value He places on every life.

(35-37) The sons of Esau.--Comp. Genesis 36:9-13. In 1Chronicles 1:36 the name of Timna occurs under the general heading, "Sons of Eliphaz." According to Genesis 36:12, Timna was a secondary wife of Eliphaz, and mother of Amalek. Strange as this difference may at first sight appear, it is in fact absolutely unimportant. The writer's intention being simply to enumerate the principal branches of the sons of Eliphaz, the statement of the special relations between the different clans might be omitted here, as fairly and naturally as the relations between Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth are left unnoticed in 1Chronicles 1:4. Comp. also 1Chronicles 1:17, where Uz, Hul, &c, are apparently co-ordinated with Aram, although Genesis 10:23 expressly calls them "sons of Aram." The Vatican MS. of the LXX. has our text; the Alexandrine MS. follows that of Genesis 36:12. It is at least curious that if Timna-Amalek be excluded from account, the sons of Esau are twelve in number. The fact is obscured in the compressed statement of the chronicler; but it becomes evident by reference to Genesis 36:11-14, where five sons are reckoned to Eliphaz (1Chronicles 1:11), four to Reuel (1Chronicles 1:13), and three to Esau's wife Aholibamah (1Chronicles 1:14), viz.: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. Although 1Chronicles 1:12 of that passage reckons Amalek with the sons of Adah, mother of Eliphaz, it distinctly separates Timna-Amalek from the sons of Eliphaz. It would seem that Amalek was known to be but remotely connected with the pure Edomite stocks. For the or-fanisation of a people in twelve tribes, &c., comp. Ewald, Hist, of Israel, 1:362, and his Antiq. of Israel, ? 280. However, Genesis 36:15-19 enumerates Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Gatam, and Amalek, sons of Eliphaz; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, Mizzah, sons of Reuel; and Jeush, Jaalam, Korah, sons of Aholibamah; as chiliarchs (all-fim--LXX., ????????) or chieftains of Esau-Edom. . . .

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