Genesis 36:38 - Edom's fleeting royal succession

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Hebrew Text

וַיָּמָת שָׁאוּל וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו בַּעַל חָנָן בֶּן־עַכְבּוֹר׃

English Translation

and Sha᾽ul died, and Ba῾al-ĥanan the son of ῾Akhbor reigned in his place;

Transliteration

Vayamot Shaul vayimloch tachtav Ba'al Chanan ben-Akbor.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיָּ֖מׇת שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו בַּ֥עַל חָנָ֖ן בֶּן־עַכְבּֽוֹר׃

Parasha Commentary

Context in Sefer Bereishit

The verse appears in Bereishit 36:38, listing the kings of Edom before Bnei Yisrael had kings. The death of Shaul (not King Saul of Israel) and succession by Ba'al-Chanan ben Achbor is part of the genealogy of Edomite rulers.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi (Bereishit 36:38) notes that the name Ba'al-Chanan ("master of grace") reflects how Hashem grants kingship to whom He chooses, even to Edomite rulers. The name Achbor ("mouse") suggests humility, teaching that leadership can emerge from seemingly insignificant origins.

Ibn Ezra's Insight

Ibn Ezra observes that the Edomite kingship was not hereditary like Israel's monarchy (which required Davidic lineage). Here, the throne passed to Ba'al-Chanan without familial connection to Shaul, highlighting a structural difference between Edom's and Yisrael's systems of governance.

Midrashic Perspective

Bereishit Rabbah 83:4 links Edom's transient kingship to Esav's flawed character, contrasting with Yaakov's enduring legacy.
The name Ba'al-Chanan is interpreted as a ruler who relied on idolatrous "grace" (chanan), alluding to Edom's spiritual divergence from Yisrael.

Halachic Implication

The Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 1:9) derives from such verses that non-Jewish kingships follow different protocols than Jewish monarchy, which requires adherence to Torah law and Davidic lineage.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was Ba'al Chanan mentioned in Genesis 36:38?
A: Ba'al Chanan was a king of Edom who ruled after the death of Sha'ul (Saul). The Torah lists the kings of Edom to show the lineage and history of Esav's descendants (Rashi on Genesis 36:31).

Q: Why does the Torah list the kings of Edom in Genesis 36?
A: The Torah lists the kings of Edom to contrast the temporary nature of their kingship (where kings were not hereditary) with the future eternal kingship of Israel that would come through Yehudah (Ramban on Genesis 36:31).

Q: What is the significance of Sha'ul's death in Genesis 36:38?
A: Sha'ul's death marks a transition in Edomite leadership. The Torah emphasizes that each king's reign was temporary, teaching that worldly power is fleeting compared to spiritual achievements (Midrash Tanchuma, Vayishlach 1).

Q: Why does the Torah mention seemingly minor kings like Ba'al Chanan?
A: Even minor details in Torah have significance. Listing these kings shows the fulfillment of Hashem's promise that Esav would become a nation with kings (Genesis 36:31), demonstrating Divine providence in history (Sforno on Genesis 36:31).

Q: What lesson can we learn from Genesis 36:38 about leadership?
A: The quick succession of Edomite kings teaches that true leadership requires more than political power - it needs righteousness and connection to Hashem, unlike the unstable Edomite monarchy (Malbim on Genesis 36:31-39).