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GraciousCall.org - Calvin's Commentary on Genesis
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CHAPTER 36.
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Genesis 36:1-43
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1 Now these (are) the generations of Esau,
who (is) Edom.
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1.
Istae vero sunt generationes Esau, hic est Edom.
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2.
Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan;
Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah
the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
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2.
Esau accepit uxores suas e filiabus Chenaan,
Hadah filiam Elon Hittaei, et Aholibamah filiam Anah, filiam Sibhon Hivvaei,
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3.
And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of
Nebajoth.
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3.
Et Bosmath filiam Ismael sororem Nebajoth.
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4.
And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare
Reuel;
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4.
Et peperit Adah ipsi Esau Eliphaz: et Bosmath
peperit Rehuel.
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5.
And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah:
these (are) the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of
Canaan.
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5.
Et Aholibamah peperit Jehus, et Jahalam, et
Corah: isti filii Esau, qui nati sunt ei in terra Chenaan.
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6.
And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his
daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his
beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and
went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
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6.
Et accepit Esau uxores suas, et filios suos, et
filias suas, et omnes animas domus suae, et pecudes suas, et omnia jumenta
sua, et omnem acquisitionem suam, quam acquisierat in terra Chenaan: et
profectus est ad aaliam terram a facie Iahacob fratris sui.
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7.
For their riches were more than that they might
dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them
because of their cattle.
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7.
Erat enim substantia eorum multa, ita ut
nequirent habitare pariter: nec poterat terra peregrinationum eorum ferre eos
propter substantiam eorum.
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8.
Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau (is)
Edom.
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8.
Habitavit itaque Esau in monte Sehir: Esau est
Edom.
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9.
And these (are) the generations of Esau
the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
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9.
Ac istae sunt generationes Esau patris Edom in
monte Sehir.
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10. These (are) the names of
Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of
Bashemath the wife of Esau.
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10. Ista sunt nomina filiorum Esau:
Eliphaz filius Hadah uxoris Esau, Rehuel filius Bosmath uxoris Esau.
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11. And the sons of Eliphaz were
Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
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11. Et fuerunt filii Eliphaz, Theman,
Omar, Sepho, et Gahatham, et Cenaz.
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12. And Timna was concubine to
Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these (were) the
sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
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12. Timnah autem fuit concubina
Eliphaz filii Esau, et peperit ipsi Eliphaz Hamalec. Isti sunt filii Hadah
uxoris Esau.
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13. And these (are) the sons
of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of
Bashemath Esau’s wife.
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13. Isti vero sunt filii Rehuel:
Nahath, et Zerach, Sammah, et Mizza: isti sunt filii Bosmath uxoris Esau.
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14. And these were the sons of
Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she
bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
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14. Et isti fuerunt filii Aholibamah
filiae Hanah filiae Sibhon uxoris Esau, quos peperit ipsi Esau: Jehu, et
Jahalam, et Corah.
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15. These (were) dukes of the
sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn (son) of Esau; duke
Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
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15. Isti duces filiorum Esau. Filii
Eliphaz primogeniti Esau, dux Theman, dux Omar, dux Sepho, dux Chenaz,
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16. Duke Korah, duke Gatam, (and)
duke Amalek: these (are) the dukes (that came) of Eliphaz in the land
of Edom; these (were) the sons of Adah.
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16. Dux Corah, dux Gahatham, dux
Hamalex: isti sunt duces Eliphaz in terra Edom: isti sunt filii Hadah.
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17. And these (are) the sons
of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah:
these (are) the dukes (that came) of Reuel in the land of Edom; these (are)
the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
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17. Et isti sunt filii Rehuel filii
Esau: dux Nahath, dux Zerach, dux Sammah, dux Mizzah: isti sunt duces Rehuel
in terra Edom: isti sunt filii Bosmath uxoris Esau.
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18. And these (are) the sons
of Aholibamah Esau’s wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these (were)
the dukes (that came) of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
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18. Isti autem sunt filii Aholibamah
uxoris Esau, dux Jehus, dux Jahalam, dux Corah: isti sunt duces Aholibamah
filiae Hanah uxoris Esau.
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19. These (are) the sons of
Esau, who (is) Edom, and these (are) their dukes.
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19. Isti sunt filii Esau, et isti
duces eorum: ipse est Edom.
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20. These (are) the sons of
Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and
Anah,
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20. Isti sunt filii Sehir Horaei,
habitatores terrae: Lotan, et Sobal, et Sibhon, et Hanah,
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21. And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan:
these (are) the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land
of Edom.
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21. Et Dison, et Eser, et Disan. Isti
duces Horaeorum filiorum Sehir in terra Edom.
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22. And the children of Lotan were
Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister (was) Timna.
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22. Et fuerunt filii, Lotan, Hori, et
Heman: et soror Lotan, Thimnah.
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23. And the children of Shobal (were)
these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
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23. Isti sunt filii Sobal: Halvan, et
Manahath, et Hebal, Sepho, et Onam.
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24. 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.
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24. Et isti sunt filii Sibhon: Ajah
et Hanah: hic est Hanah, qui invenit mulos in deserto, quum passceret asinos
Sibhon patris sui.
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25. And the children of Anah (were)
these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
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25. Et isti sunt filii Hanah: Disan,
et Aholibamah filia Hanah.
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26 .And these (are) the children of Dishon;
Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
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26. Et isti sunt filii Dison: Hemdan,
et Esban, et Ithran, et Cheran.
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27. The children of Ezer (are)
these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
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27. Isti sunt filii Eser: Bilhan, et
Zaavan, et Acan.
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28. The children of Dishan (are)
these; Uz, and Aran.
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28. Isti sunt filii Disan: Us et
Aran.
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29. These (are) the dukes
(that came) of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
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29. Isti sunt duces Horaeorum: dux
Lotan, dux Sobal, dux Sibhon, dux Hanah.
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30. Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke
Dishan: these (are) the dukes (that came) of Hori, among their dukes
in the land of Seir.
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30. Dux Dison, dux Eser, dux Disan:
isti sunt duces Horaeorum, in ducibus eorum, in terra Sebir.
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31. And these (are) the kings
that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the
children of Israel.
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31. Et isti sunt reges, qui
regnaverunt in terra Edom, antequam regnaret rex super filios Israel.
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32. And Bela the son of Beor reigned
in Edom: and the name of his city (was) Dinhabah.
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32. Nempe regnavit in Edom, Belah
filius Behor: et nomen urbis ejus Dinhabah.
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33. And Bela died, and Jobab the son
of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
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33. Et mortuus est Belah, et regnavit
pro eo Jobab, filius Zerah de Bosrah.
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34. And Jobab died, and Husham of the
land of Temani reigned in his stead.
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34. Et mortuus est Jobab, et regnavit
pro eo Hussam e terra Australi.
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35. And Husham died, and Hadad the
son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead:
and the name of his city (was) Avith.
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35. Et mortuus est Hussam, et
regnavit pro eo Hadad filius Bedad, qui percussit Midian in agro Moab: et
nomen urbis ejus Avith.
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36. And Hadad died, and Samlah of
Masrekah reigned in his stead.
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36.
Et mortuus est
Hadad, et regnavit pro eo Samlah de Masrecah.
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37. And Samlah died, and Saul of
Rehoboth (by) the river reigned in his stead.
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37. Et mortuus est Samlah, et
regnavit pro eo Saul de Rehoboth fluminis.
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38.
And Saul died,
and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
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38.
Et mortuus est
Saul et regnavit pro eo Balah-hanan filius Hachbor.
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39.
And Baalhanan
the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his
city (was) Pau; and his wife’s name (was) Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred,
the daughter of Mezahab.
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39.
Et mortuus est
Balhal-hanan filius Hachbor, et regnavit pro eo Hadar: et nomen civitatis
ejus Pahu: nomen autem uxoris ejus Mehetabel filia Matred filiae Me — zahab.
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40. And these (are) the names
of the dukes (that came) of Esau, according to their families, after their
places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
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40. Ista ergo sunt nomina ducum Esau,
per familias suas, per loca sua, secundum nomina sua: dux Thimnah, dux
Haluah, dux Jetheth,
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41. Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke
Pinon,
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41. Dux Aholibamah, dux Eliah, dux
Pinon,
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42. Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke
Mibzar,
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42. Dux Cenaz, dux Theman, dux
Mibsar,
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43. Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these (be) the
dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their
possession: he (is) Esau the father of the Edomites.
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43. Dux Magdiel, dux Hiram: isti sunt duces Edom
per habitationes suas, in terra haereditatis ipsorum: ipse est Esau pater
Edom.
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1. Now these are the
generations of Esau. Though Esau was an
alien from the Church in the sight of God; yet since he also, as a son of
Isaac, was favored with a temporal blessing, Moses celebrates his race, and
inscribes a sufficiently lengthened catalogue of the people born from him. This
commemoration, however, resembles an honorable sepulture. For although Esau,
with his posterity, took the precedence; yet this dignity was like a bubble,
which is comprised under the figure of the world, and which quickly perishes.
As, therefore, it has been before said of other profane nations, so now Esau is
exalted as on a lofty theater. But since there is no permanent condition out of
the kingdom of God, the splendor attributed to him is evanescent, and the whole
of his pomp departs like the passing scene of the stage. The Holy Spirit
designed, indeed, to testify that the prophecy which Isaac uttered concerning
Esau was not vain; but he has no sooner shown its effect, than he turns away
our eyes, as if he had cast a veil over it, that we may confine our attention
to the race of Jacob. Now, though Esau had children by three wives, in whom
afterwards the blessing of God shone forth, yet polygamy is not, on that
account, approved, nor the impure lust of man excused: but in this the goodness
of God is rather to be admired, which, contrary to the order of nature, gave a
good issue to evil beginnings.
6. And went into the
country from the face of his brother Jacob.
Moses does not mean that Esau departed purposely to give place to his brother;
for he was so proud and ferocious, that he never would have allowed himself to
seem his brother’s inferior. But Moses, without regard to Esau’s design,
commends the secret providence of God, by which he was driven into exile, that
the possession of the land might remain free for Jacob alone. Esau removed to
Mount Seir, through the desire of present advantage, as is elsewhere stated.
Nothing was less in his mind than to provide for his brother’s welfare; but God
directed the blind man by his own hand, that he might not occupy that place in
the land which he had appointed for his own servant. Thus it often happens that
the wicked do good to the elect children of God, contrary to their own
intention; and while their hasty cupidity pants for present advantages, they
promote the eternal salvation of those whose destruction they have sometimes
desired. Let us, then, learn from the passage before us, to see, by the eyes of
faith, both in accidental circumstances (as they are called) and in the evil
desires of men, that secret providence of God, which directs all events to a
result predetermined by himself. For when Esau went forth, that he might live
more commodiously apart from his father’s family, he is said to have departed
from the face of his brother, because the Lord had so determined it. It is
stated indefinitely, that he departed “into the country;” because, being in
uncertainty respecting his plan, he sought a home in various places, until
Mount Seir presented itself; and as we say, he went out at a venture. ft582
9. And these are the
generations of Esau, the father of the Edomites. ft583 Though Esau had two names, yet in this place the second
name refers to his posterity, who are called Idumeans. For, to make it appear
what God had bestowed upon him for the sake of his father Isaac, Moses
expressly calls him the father of a celebrated and famous people. And
certainly, it served this purpose not a little, to trace the effect and
fulfillment of the prophecy in the progeny of Esau. For if the promise of God
so mightily flourished towards a stranger, how much more powerfully would it
put itself forth towards the children, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and
consequently the inheritance of grace? Esau was an obscure man, and a sojourner
in that country: whence therefore is it, that suddenly rulers should spring
from him, and a great body of people should flourish, unless because the
benediction which proceeded from the mouth of Isaac, was confirmed by the
result? For Esau did not reign in this desert without opposition; since a
people of no ignoble name previously inhabited Mount Seir. On this account
Moses relates that the men who had before inhabited that land were mighty: so
that it would not have been easy for a stranger to acquire such power as Esau
possessed, if he had not been divinely assisted.
24. This was that Anah that found the mules. Mules are the adulterous offspring of the horse and the
ass. Moses says that Anal was the author of this connection. ft584But I do not
consider this as said in praise of his industry; for the Lord has not in vain
distinguished the different kinds of animals from the beginning. But since the
vanity of the flesh often solicits the children of this world, so that they
apply their minds to superfluous matters, Moses marks this unnatural pursuit in
Anah, who did not think it sufficient to have a great number of animals; but he
must add to them a degenerate race produced by unnatural intercourse. Moreover,
we learn hence, that there is more moderation among brute animals in following
the law of nature, than in men, who invent vicious admixtures.
31. These are the kings that reigned, etc. We must keep in memory what we have said a little before,
that reprobates are suddenly exalted, that they may immediately fall, like the
herb upon the roofs, which is destitute of root, and has a hasty growth, but
withers the more quickly. To the two sons of Isaac had been promised the honor
that kings should spring from them. The Idumeans first began to reign, and thus
the condition of Israel seemed to be inferior. But at length, lapse of time
taught how much better it is, by creeping on the ground, to strike the roots
deep, than to acquire an extravagant pre-eminence for a moment, which speedily
vanishes away. There is, therefore, no reason why the faithful, who slowly
pursue their way, should envy the quick children of this world, their rapid
succession of delights; since the felicity which the Lord promises them is far
more stable, as it is expressed in the psalm,
“The children’s
children shall dwell there, and their inheritance shall be perpetual.” (Psalm 102:28.)
Footnotes
ft582 Quemadmodum Gallice dicitur, Il s’en est
alle a son aventure.
ft583 Patris Edom.
ft584 The word µymy, rendered mules by our translators, and by Calvin, is
of doubtful signification; it occurs in this place only. It is by many commentators translated
“waters,” or “warm springs;” and probably this interpretation is to be
preferred. The reader may see the
question discussed in Professor Bush’s note on this verse. — Ed.
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