Bible Dictionary
Seir
Seir refers both to the mountainous land of Edom occupied by Esau’s descendants and to a wooded height on Judah’s boundary. The Edomite region was first associated with the Horites.
Definition
Seir denotes both the mountainous land of Edom and a separate mountain or wooded height on Judah’s boundary. The Edomite Seir extended along the eastern side of the Arabah and was associated first with the Horites and later with the descendants of Esau.
Biblical Usage
Seir is connected with Edom, Esau’s descendants, the Horites, and the inheritance of the Edomites. Another Seir marked Judah’s boundary.
Historical Background
The Edomite range lay from the southeastern Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqabah. The boundary Seir was near Kiriath-jearim and Chesalon and may have been a wooded height.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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 (Deut. 2:4, 22; Josh. 24:4; 2 Chr. 20:10; Isa. 21:11; Exek. 25:8). (3.) A mountain range (not the Edomite range, Gen. 32:3) lying between the Wady Aly and the Wady Ghurab (Josh. 15:10).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(hairy, Shaggy),
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>se'-ir:</p><p>(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.</p><p>(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.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>