We find that Esau is bound by marriage to both the Canaanites and the Ishmaelites. The Hittites and Hivites were Canaanite tribes. The Hittites were, by far, the stronger and the bigger. They had a huge empire that stretched from Asia Minor to Palestine. This was the major empire of Abraham's time. The Hittites were the U.S. of the day. They had the power, the resources, the military, etc. They were a strong people. The Hivites were a smaller people based in the land of Canaan. We see how close these ties were: Egypt, Ishmael, and now we have the Canaanites. They are all a related people by marriage and blood!
By the way, this is said four times in this chapter so that we get the idea that Esau is Edom. They are the same thing. We need to understand that when God talks about Esau He is talking about Edom. When He is talking about Edom, He is talking about Esau, and that these are real descendants of this actual person.
