46. smote Midian in the field of Moab] An isolated historical notice, interesting as showing the power of Edom at some period. The Midianites centred round the lands east of the Gulf of Akaba, but bands of them were constantly pushing northwards and harassing the territories of Edom, Moab, and Israel (compare Numbers xxii. 4; Judges vi.; etc.).
⁴⁸And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead. ⁴⁹And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
48. Rehoboth by the River] not “the River,” par excellence (i.e. the Euphrates), as the Revised Version translators supposed; but either the Wady el-Arish, the stream on the boundary of Egypt or Palestine; or else a river in north Edom, Rehoboth being distinguished from other places of the same name by being the city on its banks.
⁵⁰And Baal-hanan died, and Hadad[¹] reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Pai[²]: and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.
[¹] In Genesis xxxvi. 39, Hadar.
[²] In Genesis xxxvi. 39, Pau.
50. Hadad] As in verse 46; in Genesis xxxvi. 39, “Hadar.” Possibly the king whom David overthrew, 2 Samuel viii. 14, compare 1 Kings xi. 14 (perhaps a son of this Hadad).
⁵¹And Hadad died.
51a. And Hadad died] repeated by a copyist’s error from verse 47; the words are not found in Genesis.
51b–54 (compare Genesis xxxvi. 40–43).
The “Dukes” of Edom.