The opening verse of this section states, These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel
(see further Genesis 36:1–43). This list is an ancient compilation, as the text states that these kings ruled before Israel had a king. This would take the original list back to the book of Judges, where the clause, In those days there was no king in Israel,
is emphasised (Judges 17:6; Judges 18:1; Judges 19:1; Judges 21:25). But this list must be older than that because Moses already includes it Esau’s genealogy in Genesis 36:1–43.1 Long before Saul took the throne of Israel, the Edomites had kings. The writer of Genesis wants us to know the power and extent of this monarchy.2 It is not clear how the kings of Edom were related to Esau, but they were kings who ruled in Edom—and Esau is Edom.3
43 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel: Bela the son of Beor, the name of his city being Dinhabah.