Moses provides a genealogy from Esau, who is Edom. Edom becomes an enemy of Israel later in the narrative. This genealogy shows the diversity of the Edomites’ ethnic composition and their political structure. Both of these details set Edom and Israel at odds concerning their heritage, tradition, and government. God will instruct Israel to remain ethnically pure in Canaan (cf. Deuteronomy 7:3). Israel will not initially have “chiefs” or “kings,” but will instead be a theocracy.

The purpose for this contrast is to make the serpent’s and woman’s seed typology (cf. Genesis 3:15) evident, not to insist that it is evil for people to intermarry. There is nothing inherently wrong with intermarrying. Through His instruction, setting Israel apart from other nations, God is providing a type of the spiritual kingdom in Christ. Every genealogy in Scripture is purposeful and important for our understanding of biblical theology. An understanding of biblical theology is important to keep us from misinterpreting or misapplying God’s instructions.

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