ANNOTATIONS.
CHAP. XXXVI.
Chap. 4, 10. 22. 25.1. The generations of Esau.) As before Moyses described the genealogies of Cain, of Iapheth and Cham, of Nachor, of Ismael, and other sonnes of Abraham; so here he recordeth another collateral progenie of Esau, that the difference and distinction of them and the selected people of God might be more conspicuous, because contraries opposed are seen more cleerly. By comparison of interrupted companies the continual succession of the Church is more glorious.And so the Churches succession and perpetual light, compared with the interrupted and obscure companies, shineth the brighter. For albeit in those other generations there might be manie faithful and iust persons among the infidels and wicked, and of some we are assured (as of Lot and Iob) yet faith and religion decayed, and was extinguished in their carnal children, and only continued in the right line from Adam to Iacob, whose twelue sonnes were fathers & beginners of twelue Tribes, and in them the same true Religion was stil conserued and publikly professed, as in the onlie knowne visible Church, til the comming of Christ, as S. Augustin clearly sheweth in his excellent worke of the Citie of God, especially in the 15. and 16. bookes, in manie chapters.
One place of Scripture seemeth contrarie to another but is not.2. Ada the daughter of Elon.) In the 26. chap. (v. 34.) Esaus two wiues, which he tooke in Chanaan are called Iudith the daughter of Beeri the Hetheite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place, and here the same two wiues are named Ada the daughter of Elon the Hetheite, and Oolibama the daughter of Sebeon the Heueite. Which neither agree in names nor countrie. Againe his third wife Ismaels daughter, here named Basemath, in 28. chap v. 9. is called Maheleth. For reconciliation of which and other like difficulties, or seeming contradictions, albeit lerned expositors say, that either these persons had diuers names, or one was true and natural father, another legal, or adoptiue, for there were such also before the law of Moyses, as appeareth in the historie of Thamar: yet it were hard to giue a determinate solution of this difficultie. Holy Scriptures not easie to be vnderstood.Which example, with manie others (by vs omitted in these briefe annotations) conuince the Protestants presumptuous errour, holding that Scriptures are easie to be vnderstood.
Esaus last parting from Iacob.6. Departed from his brother. 8. Dwelt in Mount Seir.) Here is another difficultie (though not so intricate as the former) how Esau now parted into Mount Seir, seeing he dwelled there, when his brother Iacob came from Mesopotamia. chap. 22. v. 3. Which S. Augustin (q. 119. in Gen.) solueth saying: Esau first dwelt in Seir after he was disappointed of his fathers blessing, but dwelt againe with his father after Iacobs returne from Mesopotamia, and now went to Seir againe after his fathers death.
