Genesis 33-36

In reading the history of the descendants of Esau I made a few minor discoveries. One is that I never realized that the one and only Job was of the line of Esau. He is even apparently mentioned by name in Genesis 36:33 -- "And Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zara, of Bosra, reigned in his stead." I don't think it is unanimously agreed that this Jobab is the same Job, but it seems to make sense historically.

And I found it quite interesting how the genealogy of Esau proceeds from semi-nomadic people (as Jacob and Esau were) to familial tribes, to a sort of aristocratic government, to eventually full-fledged kings. When I read things like this I am reminded of the historical nature that lies at the heart of Scripture. We know through the study of history that that is how man's governing of himself (especially in that region of the world) evolved. The Bible simply confirms this. And of course we see the same thing with the descendants of Jacob later on, when Moses leads a wandering people through the desert, who eventually go on to lead tribes by overseeing judges, and eventually all-powerful kings.