Dictionaries :: Seir

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Seir:

rough; hairy. (1.) A Horite; one of the "dukes" of Edom (Gen 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 (Gen 14:6), who were afterwards driven out by the Edomites (Gen 32:3; 33:14,16). It was allotted to the descendants of Esau (Deu 2:4,22; Jos 24:4; 2Ch 20:10; Isa 21:11; Eze 25:8).

(3.) A mountain range (Gen 32:3) lying between the Wady Aly and the Wady Ghurab (Jos 15:10).

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Seir:

Seirath, hairy; goat; demon; tempest

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Seir:

se'-ir:

(1) (har se'-ir, "Mt. Seir" (Ge 14:6, etc.), ‘erets se‘-ir (Ge 32:3, etc.); to oros Seeir, ge Seeir): In Ge 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 (Ge 14:6; 36:20), "cave-dwellers," in possession. For a description of the land see EDOM.

(2) (har se‘ir; Codex Vaticanus Assar; Codex Alexandrinus Seeir): A landmark on the boundary of Judah (Jos 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.

Written by W. Ewing

Nave's Topical Bible

Seir: 1. A Range of Hills Southwest of the Dead Sea

Deu 1:2

Along the route from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea,

Deu 1:1, 2.

The people of Israel travel by,

Deu 1:2; 2:1; 33:2.

Originally inhabited by Horites,

Gen 14:6; 36:20-30; Deu 2:12;

and later inhabited by the descendants of Esau after they
destroyed the Horim people,

Deu 2:12, 22; with Gen 32:3; 33:14, 16; 36:8, 9; Num 24:18;
Deu 2:4, 5.

The southern boundary of the conquests of Joshua,

Jos 11:15-18.

Seir: 2. A Horite Chief

Gen 36:20, 21; 1Ch 1:38

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Seir:

(elevated).

(1.) We have both "land of Seir," (Genesis 32:3; 36:30) 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 Gulf. 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 Deuteronomy 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 4,800 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.