Biography
This Korah was a direct son of Esau and his wife Oholibamah, daughter of Anah (Genesis 36:5, 14, 18). He is listed among the sons born to Esau in the land of Canaan before Esau relocated to the hill country of Seir. Like his brothers Jeush and Jalam, Korah became a chief among the Edomites, and his name appears in the register of Edomite chiefs that descend from Oholibamah (Gen. 36:18). This Korah is distinct from the Edomite chief of the same name listed as a son of Eliphaz. As a firsthand descendant of Esau and a founding figure among the Edomite clans, Korah son of Oholibamah represents one of the earliest chieftains of the nation that would repeatedly intersect, often antagonistically, with Israel throughout its history.
Significance
Korah son of Esau and Oholibamah illustrates how the biblical narrative carefully tracks the founding of nations through specific family lines, even those outside the covenant promise. His existence as an Edomite chief gives historical and genealogical grounding to a nation that plays a significant role in Israel's story, from the wilderness journeys (Num. 20:14–21) to the prophetic oracles of Obadiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The Bible's treatment of Edomite genealogy reflects the conviction that God orders all nations, not Israel alone. Korah son of Esau stands as a reminder that the outworking of the sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau had real, lasting, and geopolitically significant consequences for subsequent generations.
Verse Appearances (4)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]