Ge 37:1 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2 This is the history of Jacob.

Moses is showing his original Israelite readers here the contrast between Esau and Jacob. "Esau dwelt in Mount Seir." Gen. 36:8 but Jacob dwelt in the Promise Land. The purpose again is to encourage them to follow the example of their father Jacob. Go to the land, possess it and dwell in it.