Overview:
Seir is a significant geographical and historical region mentioned in the Bible, primarily associated with the descendants of Esau, also known as Edom. The name "Seir" is often used interchangeably with Edom, reflecting the close connection between the land and Esau's lineage. The region is characterized by its mountainous terrain and is located southeast of the Dead Sea, extending into the territory of modern-day Jordan.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 14:6 · Seir is first mentioned in the context of the "Horites in their hill country of Seir," indicating its early inhabitants before the Edomites. This passage highlights the ancient roots of the region and its initial settlement by the Horites.

2. Genesis 32:3 · Jacob, upon returning from Paddan-aram, sends messengers ahead to Esau, who is dwelling in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. This reference underscores Seir as Esau's domain and the familial ties to the land.

3. Genesis 36:8-9 · "So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir. This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir." These verses establish Seir as the homeland of Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, solidifying its identity as Edom.

4. Deuteronomy 2:4-5 · The Israelites, during their wilderness journey, are instructed not to provoke the Edomites, as they pass through the territory of Seir: "You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so be very careful. Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession." This passage highlights the divine allocation of Seir to Esau's descendants and the respect commanded for their territory.

5. Joshua 24:4 · In recounting Israel's history, Joshua states, "And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt." This reinforces the notion of Seir as Esau's divinely appointed inheritance.

6. 1 Chronicles 4:42-43 · The Simeonites, during the reign of Hezekiah, attack the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped to Seir, indicating ongoing conflicts and the strategic importance of the region.

Historical and Theological Significance:

Seir's significance in biblical history is multifaceted. It serves as a geographical marker for the Edomites, descendants of Esau, and plays a role in the narrative of Israel's journey to the Promised Land. The region's mountainous terrain provided a natural fortress for its inhabitants, contributing to its strategic importance.

Theologically, Seir represents the fulfillment of God's promises and the distinct destinies of Jacob and Esau. While Jacob's descendants, the Israelites, were chosen to inherit the Promised Land, Esau's lineage was granted Seir, illustrating the separate paths ordained by God for the two brothers.

Seir's mention in various prophetic texts also underscores its role in the broader narrative of Israel's relationship with neighboring nations. The region's history of conflict and interaction with Israel reflects the complex dynamics between the chosen people and their kin, as well as the unfolding of divine justice and mercy throughout biblical history.Seir

Seirath, hairy; goat; demon; tempest

Seir

(hairy, Shaggy),

1. We have both "land of Seir," (Genesis 32:3; 36:50) and "Mount Seir." (Genesis 14:6) It is the original name of the mountain range extending along the east side of the valley of Arabah, from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic, Golf. The Horites appear to have been the chief of the aboriginal inhabitants, (Genesis 36:20) but it was ever afterward the possession of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. The Mount Seir of the: Bible extended much farther south than the modern province, as is shown by the words of (2:1-8) It had the Arabah on the west, vs. 1 and 8; it extended as far south as the head of the Gulf of Akabah, ver. 8; its eastern border ran along the base of the mountain range where the plateau of Arabia begins. Its northern, order is not so accurately determined. There is a line of "naked" white hills or cliffs which run across the great valley about eight miles south of the Dead Sea, the highest eminence being Mount Hor, which is 4800 feet high.
2. Mount Seir, an entirely different place from the foregoing; one of the landmarks on the north boundary of the territory of Judah. (Joshua 15:10) only. It lay westward of Kirjath-jearim, and between it and Beth-shemesh. If Kuriel el-Enab be the former and Ain-shems the latter of these two, then Mount Seir cannot fail to be the ridge which lies between the Wady Aly and the Wady Ghurab . In a pass of this ridge is the modern village of Seir.

Seir

1. A mountain of Judah, near Kirjath-jearim, Joshua 15:10.

2. A Horite, one of the primitive rulers of the country south and southeast of the Dead Sea, Genesis 36:20 De 2:12.

3. A mountainous tract lying between the southern extremity of the Dead Sea and the eastern gulf of the Red Sea. Mount Hor formed part of Seir, and is the only part that retains its original name. See IDUMEA.

Rough; hairy.

(1.) A Horite; one of the "dukes" of Edom (Genesis 36:20-30).

(2.) The name of a mountainous region occupied by the Edomites, extending along the eastern side of the Arabah from the south-eastern extremity of the Dead Sea to near the Akabah, or the eastern branch of the Red Sea. It was originally occupied by the Horites (Genesis 14:6), who were afterwards driven out by the Edomites (Genesis 32:3; 33:14, 16). It was allotted to the descendants of Esau (Deuteronomy 2:4, 22; Joshua 24:4; 2 Chronicles 20:10; Isaiah 21:11; Ezek. 25:8).

(3.) A mountain range (not the Edomite range, Genesis 32:3) lying between the Wady Aly and the Wady Ghurab (Joshua 15:10).

SEIR

se'-ir:

(1) (har se'-ir, "Mt. Seir" (Genesis 14:6, etc.), 'erets se`-ir (Genesis 32:3, etc.); to oros See ir, ge See ir): In Genesis 32:3 "the land of Seir" is equated with "the field of Edom." The Mount and the Land of Seir are alternative appellations of the mountainous tract which runs along the eastern side of the Arabah, occupied by the descendants of Esau, who succeeded the ancient Horites (Genesis 14:6; Genesis 36:20), "cave-dwellers," in possession. For a description of the land see EDOM.

(2) (har se`ir; Codex Vaticanus Assar; Codex Alexandrinus See ir): A landmark on the boundary of Judah (Joshua 15:10), not far from Kiriath-jearim and Chesalon. The name means "shaggy," and probably here denoted a wooded height. It may be that part of the range which runs Northeast from Saris by Karyat el-`Anab and Biddu to the plateau of el-Jib. Traces of an ancient forest are still to be seen here.

W. Ewing

8165. Seir -- a mountain range in Edom, also its inhab., also a ...
... Seir. 8166 . a mountain range in Edom, also its inhab., also a mountain in Judah.
Transliteration: Seir Phonetic Spelling: (say-eer') Short Definition: Seir. ...
/hebrew/8165.htm - 6k

3877. Lotan -- a son of Seir
... 3876, 3877. Lotan. 3878 . a son of Seir. Transliteration: Lotan Phonetic
Spelling: (lo-tawn') Short Definition: Lotan. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3877.htm - 6k

2190. Zaavan -- a descendant of Seir
... Zaavan. 2191 . a descendant of Seir. Transliteration: Zaavan Phonetic Spelling:
(zah-av-awn') Short Definition: Zaavan. ... of Seir NASB Word Usage Zaavan (2). ...
/hebrew/2190.htm - 6k

4506a. Manachath -- a descendant of Seir the Horite
... Manachath. 4506b . a descendant of Seir the Horite. Transliteration: Manachath
Short Definition: Manahath. ... of Seir the Horite NASB Word Usage Manahath (2). ...
/hebrew/4506a.htm - 5k

4506. Manachath -- a descendant of Seir the Horite
... Manachath. 4506a . a descendant of Seir the Horite. Transliteration: Manachath
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-nakh'-ath) Short Definition: Manahath. Manahath ...
/hebrew/4506.htm - 5k

Chapter xxxii
... the angels. 3-5. And Jacob sent messengers on in advance to Esau, his brother,
to the land of Seir, the region of Edom. And he gave ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... The outline of the contents of the chapter runs thus: (1) Esau's wives and children
and their settlement in Seir (v. Genesis 36:1-8); (2) Esau's descendants (v ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Chapter xxxiii
... servant, and I shall drive along at my leisure at a gait suited to the cattle before
me and at a gait suited to the children, until I come to my lord to Seir. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiii.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... South of Moab were the rugged and barren mountains of Seir, the seat of the kingdom
of Edom. ... The title was one which well befitted the red cliffs of Seir. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Power of Ambition.
... South of the Dead Sea, bounded by the rocky desert on the east and the hot barren
Arabah on the west, extends the wild picturesque range of Mount Seir. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study vi the power of.htm

From Sinai to Kadesh.
... Seir (Deut.33:3; Judg.5:4-5). Several points have been put forward as the probable
site, but there can not now be any certainty as to the exact location. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter vi from sinai to.htm

Jehoshaphat
... "And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom Thou wouldest
not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 15 jehoshaphat.htm

The Providence of God
... When the people of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir came against Judah, God
set the enemy one against another. The children of Ammon ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/14 the providence of god.htm

Chapter xiv
... Rephaim at Ashteroth-Qarnayim and the Zuzim at Ham and the Emim in the plain of
Qiryathayim; and the Horites in their mountains, namely those of Seir, as far ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Book 1 Footnotes:
... observes here. [31] For Seir in Josephus, the coherence requires that we
read Esau or Seir, which signify the same thing. [32] The ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 1 footnotes .htm

Seir (38 Occurrences)
... Wady Ghurab (Joshua 15:10). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SEIR. se'-ir:
(1) (har se'-ir, "Mt. Seir" (Genesis 14:6, etc.), 'erets ...
/s/seir.htm - 21k

Se'ir (36 Occurrences)
Se'ir. Seir, Se'ir. Seirah . ... Se'ir (36 Occurrences). Genesis 14:6 and the Horites
in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. (See RSV). ...
/s/se'ir.htm - 16k

Horite (4 Occurrences)
... HORITE; HORIM. ho'-rit, ho'-rim (chori, chorim; Chorraioi): Denoted the inhabitants
of Mt. Seir before its occupation by the Edomites (Deuteronomy 2:12). ...Seir. ...
/h/horite.htm - 9k

Anah (10 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Speech. (1.) One of the sons of Seir, and head of an Idumean
tribe, called a Horite, as in course of time all the branches of this ...
/a/anah.htm - 13k

Horites (6 Occurrences)
... which abounded in Edom. Their ancestor was "Seir," who probably gave his
name to the district where he lived. They were a branch ...
/h/horites.htm - 8k

Horim (2 Occurrences)
... HORITE; HORIM. ho'-rit, ho'-rim (chori, chorim; Chorraioi): Denoted the inhabitants
of Mt. Seir before its occupation by the Edomites (Deuteronomy 2:12). ...Seir. ...
/h/horim.htm - 8k

Dishan (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Antelope, the youngest son of Seir the Horite, head
of one of the tribes of Idumaea (Genesis 36:21, 28, 30). Int. ...
/d/dishan.htm - 8k

Lotan (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Coverer, one of the sons of Seir, the Horite (Genesis
36:20, 29). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LOTAN. ...
/l/lotan.htm - 8k

Ezer (10 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Treasure. (1.) One of the sons of Seir, the native princes,
"dukes," of Mount Hor (Genesis 36:21, 27). (2.) 1 Chronicles 7:21; ...
/e/ezer.htm - 11k

Dishon (7 Occurrences)
... di'-shan, di'-shon (dishan, dishon, "antelope," "pygarg"): A Horite clan, mentioned
as the youngest "son" and elsewhere as the "grandson" of Seir. ...
/d/dishon.htm - 8k

What is significance of Mount Seir? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Horites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Edomites? | GotQuestions.org

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