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Genesis 36:31-39
And theseare the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel…

Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto himshall the gathering of the peoplebe.

Numbers 24:17-19
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth…

before any king reigned over the Israelites
This phrase underscores the timeline of governance in the region, indicating that Edom had established a monarchy before Israel. The Israelites were initially led by judges and only later demanded a king, leading to the anointing of Saul as the first king. This distinction emphasizes the unique theocratic leadership of Israel, where God was considered the ultimate ruler until the people's insistence on having a human king (1 Samuel 8).

Bela son of Beor
Bela is listed as the first king of Edom, and his lineage is noted, which was a common practice to establish legitimacy and authority. The name Beor is also associated with Balaam, the prophet inNumbers 22-24, though it is unclear if there is a direct connection. The mention of Bela highlights the historical record-keeping of the Edomites and their structured governance.

His city was named Dinhabah
Dinhabah, the city associated with King Bela, is not well-documented archaeologically, but its mention indicates the presence of urban centers in Edom. The naming of cities after rulers or significant figures was a common practice in the ancient Near East, reflecting the ruler's influence and legacy. This detail provides insight into the political and social organization of Edom during this period.

– “These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom…” (1 Chronicles 1:43)

• The chronicler pauses his genealogies to highlight Edom’s national leadership. Edom, descended from Esau (Genesis 36:1), occupied the rugged territory south-east of the Dead Sea.

• Mentioning Edom’s kings reminds readers that God had allowed Esau’s line to develop its own kingdom long before Israel’s monarchy. CompareGenesis 36:31, where the same list appears, andDeuteronomy 2:4-5, which shows the LORD protecting Edom’s inheritance even while Israel journeyed wilderness-bound.

• This factual statement underscores both divine sovereignty and the reliability of Scripture’s historical record (Psalm 33:11).

– “…before any king reigned over the Israelites” (1 Chronicles 1:43)

• Israel would not receive a king until Saul (1 Samuel 10:1), centuries after Edom’s line began. The chronicler quietly reminds God’s people that the LORD’s timing differs from human expectation (Isaiah 55:8-9).

• Edom’s earlier monarchy never meant covenant priority; rather, Israel’s theocratic period under judges displayed God’s direct rule (Judges 2:18). Only when Israel asked for a king “like all the other nations” (1 Samuel 8:5-7) did the LORD grant one—foreshadowing the perfect King in the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

•Deuteronomy 17:14-15 had already anticipated a future Israelite king, proving God’s plan was unfolding purposefully even while Edom flourished politically.

– “Bela son of Beor.” (1 Chronicles 1:43)

• Bela is recorded as Edom’s first king. His father, Beor, shares a name with Balaam’s father (Numbers 22:5), yet Scripture offers no indication they are the same man; the similarity simply shows common naming practices.

• By naming both Bela and Beor, the chronicler roots Edom’s monarchy in real individuals, reinforcing Scripture’s trustworthiness (Luke 1:3-4).

• The record also illustrates that God tracks the rise and fall of nations (Acts 17:26), even those outside the covenant line, revealing His universal governance.

– “His city was named Dinhabah.” (1 Chronicles 1:43)

• A king’s “city” served as his seat of power. Dinhabah’s precise location is uncertain today, but its mention indicates an organized administrative center, not a nomadic clan.

•Genesis 36:32 repeats this detail, corroborating the chronicler’s source material. The repetition in two separate books emphasizes that every place matters to God’s recorded history (Joshua 21:45).

• Identifying Dinhabah contrasts Edom’s early urban development with Israel’s later centralized government at Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-7), highlighting the LORD’s unique path for His chosen people.

1 Chronicles 1:43 points out that Edom enjoyed a structured monarchy, starting with Bela of Dinhabah, long before Israel received a king. The chronicler’s brief note underscores God’s meticulous rule over all nations, His intentional timing in establishing Israel’s monarchy, and the reliability of the biblical record down to individual names and cities.

(43)Before any king reigned over the children of Israel.--Comp.Numbers 20:14-21, the message of Moses to the king of Edom, asking for a free passage for Israel through his domains. As the older people, and as having been earlier established in its permanent home, Edom was naturally a stage beyond Israel in political development. Unhappily brief as it is, this notice is very appropriately inserted here in an introduction to the history of the kings of the house of David.

Bela the son of Beor.--Curiously like "Balaam the son of Beor,"Numbers 22:5. In Hebrew, Bela and Balaam are essentially similar words, the terminal m of the latter being possibly a mere formative. (Perhaps, however, Balaam--Heb.Bil'am = "Bel is a kinsman") comp. Eliam. The prophet whose strange story is read in Numbers 22-24 may, like Isaiah, have been of royal extraction.

Dinhabah.--Doom-giving, that is, the place where the king gave judgment (1Samuel 8:5). . . .

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