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Selected Verse: Genesis 36:24 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ge 36:24	Strong Concordance	And these are the children [01121] of Zibeon [06649]; both Ajah [0345], and Anah [06034]: this was that Anah [06034] that found [04672] the mules [03222] in the wilderness [04057], as he fed [07462] the asses [02543] of Zibeon [06649] his father [01].
	King James	And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
This was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness--The word "mules" is, in several ancient versions, rendered "water springs"; and this discovery of some remarkable fountain was sufficient, among a wandering or pastoral people, to entitle him to such a distinguishing notice.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

This was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness--The word "mules" is, in several ancient versions, rendered "water springs"; and this discovery of some remarkable fountain was sufficient, among a wandering or pastoral people, to entitle him to such a distinguishing notice.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
This Anah was not only industrious in his business, but ingenious too, and successful, for he found mules, or, (as some read it) waters, hot baths in the wilderness. Those that are diligent in their business sometimes find more advantages than they expected.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
This was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness - The words את הימם eth kaiyemim, here translated mules, has given rise to a great variety of conjectures and discordant opinions. St. Jerome, who renders it aquas calidas, warm springs, or hot baths, says there are as many opinions concerning it as there are commentators. The Septuagint has τον Ιαμειν, which seems to be the name of a man; but this is expressed in a great variety of ways in different MSS. of that version. The Syriac renders it mayé, waters; the author of this version having read in the Hebrew copy from which he translated. מים mayim, waters, for ימם yemim, the two first letters being transposed. Onkelos translates the word גבריא gibbaraiya, giants, or strong or powerful men. The Samaritan text has haaimim, and the Samaritan version am aimai, the Emim, a warlike people, bordering upon the Horites. The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases the place thus: "This is the Anah who united the onager with the tame ass, and in process of time he found mules produced by them." R. D. Kimchi says, that "Zibeon was both the father and brother of Anah; and this Anah, intent on heterogeneous mixtures, caused asses and horses to copulate, and so produced mules." R. S. Jarchi is of the same opinion. See his comment on this place. Bochart believes the Emim are meant; and argues forcibly, 1. That מצא matsa, he found, never signifies to invent, but rather the meeting with or happening on a thing which already exists. 2. That mules are never called ימם yemim in the Scriptures, but פרדים peradim. 3. That Anah fed Asses only, not horses. And, 4. That there is no mention of mules in Palestine till the days of David. From the whole he concludes that the Emim are meant, with whom Anah fought; and he brings many places of Scripture where the same form of expression, he or they found, signifies the onset to battle, Jdg 1:5; Sa1 31:3; Kg1 13:24; Ch2 22:8; Num 35:27; Gen 4:14; with many others. See the Hierozoicon, vol. i., cap. 21, p. 23S., edit. 1692. Gusset, in Comment. Heb. Ling., examines what Bochart has asserted, and supposes that mules, not the Emim, were found by Anah. Wagenseil would credit what Bochart has asserted, did not stronger reasons lead him to believe that the word means a sort of plant! From the above opinions and versions the reader may choose which he likes best, or invent one for himself. My own opinion is, that mules were not known before the time of Anah; and that he was probably the first who coupled the mare and ass together to produce this mongrel, or the first who met with creatures of this race in some very secluded part of the wilderness. Is it not probable that from this Anah, or ענה enah, the Enetae derived at least their fabulous origin, whom Homer mentions as famous for their race of wild mules? Παφλαγονων δ' ἡγειτο Πυλαιμενεος λασιον κηρ, Εξ Ενετων, ὁθεν ἡμιονων γενος αγροτεραων. IL., lib. ii., v. 852. The Paphlagonians Pylaemenes rules, Where rich Henetia breeds her Savage Mules. Pope. The Enetae or Henetae, who were a people contiguous to Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, and Galatia, might have derived their origin from this Anah, or Henah, out of which the Ενετοι of the ancient Greek writers might have been formed; and according to Theophrastus, Strabo, and Plutarch, the first mules were seen among these people. See Ludov, De Dieu and Scheuchzer.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

This was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness - The words את הימם eth kaiyemim, here translated mules, has given rise to a great variety of conjectures and discordant opinions. St. Jerome, who renders it aquas calidas, warm springs, or hot baths, says there are as many opinions concerning it as there are commentators.

The Septuagint has τον Ιαμειν, which seems to be the name of a man; but this is expressed in a great variety of ways in different MSS. of that version.

The Syriac renders it mayé, waters; the author of this version having read in the Hebrew copy from which he translated. מים mayim, waters, for ימם yemim, the two first letters being transposed.

Onkelos translates the word גבריא gibbaraiya, giants, or strong or powerful men.

The Samaritan text has haaimim, and the Samaritan version am aimai, the Emim, a warlike people, bordering upon the Horites.

The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases the place thus: "This is the Anah who united the onager with the tame ass, and in process of time he found mules produced by them." R. D. Kimchi says, that "Zibeon was both the father and brother of Anah; and this Anah, intent on heterogeneous mixtures, caused asses and horses to copulate, and so produced mules." R. S. Jarchi is of the same opinion. See his comment on this place.

Bochart believes the Emim are meant; and argues forcibly, 1. That מצא matsa, he found, never signifies to invent, but rather the meeting with or happening on a thing which already exists. 2. That mules are never called ימם yemim in the Scriptures, but פרדים peradim. 3. That Anah fed Asses only, not horses. And, 4. That there is no mention of mules in Palestine till the days of David. From the whole he concludes that the Emim are meant, with whom Anah fought; and he brings many places of Scripture where the same form of expression, he or they found, signifies the onset to battle, Jdg 1:5; Sa1 31:3; Kg1 13:24; Ch2 22:8; Num 35:27; Gen 4:14; with many others. See the Hierozoicon, vol. i., cap. 21, p. 23S., edit. 1692.

Gusset, in Comment. Heb. Ling., examines what Bochart has asserted, and supposes that mules, not the Emim, were found by Anah.

Wagenseil would credit what Bochart has asserted, did not stronger reasons lead him to believe that the word means a sort of plant!

From the above opinions and versions the reader may choose which he likes best, or invent one for himself. My own opinion is, that mules were not known before the time of Anah; and that he was probably the first who coupled the mare and ass together to produce this mongrel, or the first who met with creatures of this race in some very secluded part of the wilderness. Is it not probable that from this Anah, or ענה enah, the Enetae derived at least their fabulous origin, whom Homer mentions as famous for their race of wild mules?

Παφλαγονων δ' ἡγειτο Πυλαιμενεος λασιον κηρ,

Εξ Ενετων, ὁθεν ἡμιονων γενος αγροτεραων.

IL., lib. ii., v. 852.

The Paphlagonians Pylaemenes rules,

Where rich Henetia breeds her Savage Mules.

Pope.

The Enetae or Henetae, who were a people contiguous to Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, and Galatia, might have derived their origin from this Anah, or Henah, out of which the Ενετοι of the ancient Greek writers might have been formed; and according to Theophrastus, Strabo, and Plutarch, the first mules were seen among these people. See Ludov, De Dieu and Scheuchzer.

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¹⁴ Behold, thou hast driven me out [01644] this day [03117] from the face [06440] of the earth [0127]; and from [05921] thy face [06440] shall I be hid [05641]; and I shall be a fugitive [05128] and a vagabond [05110] in the earth [0776]; and it shall come to pass [01961], that every one that findeth me [04672] shall slay me [02026].

²⁷ And the revenger [01350] of blood [01818] find [04672] him without [02351] the borders [01366] of the city [05892] of his refuge [04733], and the revenger [01350] of blood [01818] kill [07523] the slayer [07523]; he shall not be guilty of blood [01818]:

⁸ And it came to pass, that, when Jehu [03058] was executing judgment [08199] upon the house [01004] of Ahab [0256], and found [04672] the princes [08269] of Judah [03063], and the sons [01121] of the brethren [0251] of Ahaziah [0274], that ministered [08334] to Ahaziah [0274], he slew [02026] them.

²⁴ And when he was gone [03212], a lion [0738] met [04672] him by the way [01870], and slew [04191] him: and his carcase [05038] was cast [07993] in the way [01870], and the ass [02543] stood [05975] by [0681] it, the lion [0738] also stood [05975] by the carcase [05038].

³ And the battle [04421] went sore [03513] against Saul [07586], and the archers [03384] [0582] [07198] hit [04672] him; and he was sore [03966] wounded [02342] of the archers [03384] [0582] [07198].

⁵ And they found [04672] Adonibezek [0137] in Bezek [0966]: and they fought [03898] against him, and they slew [05221] the Canaanites [03669] and the Perizzites [06522].