The Horites were an ancient people mentioned in the Bible, primarily associated with the region of Seir, which is located in the mountainous area of Edom. They are first introduced in the genealogical records of Genesis and are noted for their early habitation of the land before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites, took possession of it.

Biblical References

The Horites are first mentioned in Genesis 14:6, where they are listed among the peoples defeated by the coalition of kings led by Chedorlaomer: "and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the desert" . This passage highlights their presence in the hill country of Seir, indicating their established settlement in the region.

In Genesis 36, the genealogy of Esau is detailed, and the Horites are mentioned in connection with the descendants of Seir the Horite. Genesis 36:20-21 states: "These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom" . This passage provides insight into the familial structure and leadership of the Horites, listing several chiefs and their descendants.

Deuteronomy 2:12 further elaborates on the displacement of the Horites by the Edomites: "The Horites had previously lived in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out, destroying them and settling in their place, just as Israel did in the land the LORD gave them as their possession" . This verse underscores the transition of power and territory from the Horites to the Edomites, drawing a parallel to the Israelites' conquest of Canaan.

Cultural and Historical Context

The Horites are often associated with the Hurrians, a group known from ancient Near Eastern texts, although the exact relationship between the two is debated among scholars. The name "Horite" is believed to be derived from a term meaning "cave dweller," suggesting that they may have lived in the caves and rocky terrain of the Seir region.

The Horites' presence in the land of Seir before the Edomites indicates their role as one of the earlier inhabitants of the area. Their eventual displacement by the descendants of Esau reflects the broader biblical theme of divine providence and the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs, as the Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother.

Theological Significance

The narrative of the Horites serves as a backdrop to the unfolding account of God's chosen people, Israel. Their displacement by the Edomites is part of the larger biblical narrative of land inheritance and divine sovereignty. The mention of the Horites in the genealogies and historical accounts of the Old Testament underscores the interconnectedness of various peoples and the fulfillment of God's promises through the lineage of Abraham.

The Horites' account, while brief in the biblical text, contributes to the understanding of the complex history of the ancient Near East and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.Cave-men, a race of Troglodytes who dwelt in the limestone caves which abounded in Edom. Their ancestor was "Seir," who probably gave his name to the district where he lived. They were a branch of the Hivites (Genesis 14:6; 36:20-30; 1 Chronicles 1:38, 39). They were dispossessed by the descendants of Esau, and as a people gradually became extinct (Deuteronomy 2:12-22). 6034. Anah -- two Horites
... two Horites. Transliteration: Anah Phonetic Spelling: (an-aw') Short Definition:
Anah. Word Origin from anah Definition two Horites NASB Word Usage Anah (12). ...
/hebrew/6034.htm - 6k

687. Etser -- "treasure," a chief of the Horites
... 686, 687. Etser. 688 . "treasure," a chief of the Horites. Transliteration:
Etser Phonetic Spelling: (ay'-tser) Short Definition: Ezer. ...
/hebrew/687.htm - 6k

2752. Chori -- inhab. of Edom, also the name of an Edomite, also ...
... inhab. of Edom, also the name of an Edomite, also the name of a Simeonite.
Transliteration: Chori Phonetic Spelling: (kho-ree') Short Definition: Horites. ...
/hebrew/2752.htm - 6k

Chapter xxxvi
... selection and to show how groundless the assumption is that we find in these names
traces of a totemistic religion, especially on the part of the old Horites. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Chapter xiv
... the kings allied with him and smote the Rephaim at Ashteroth-Qarnayim and the Zuzim
at Ham and the Emim in the plain of Qiryathayim; and the Horites in their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

The History after the Flood.
... of making war on the earth; and they destroyed the giants Karnaim, and the strong
nations that were with them in their city, and the Horites of the mountains ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxi the history after the.htm

Chapter xxxii
... our explanation accounts for Esau's 400 men: they are an army that he has gathered
while engaged upon his task of subduing Seir, the old domain of the Horites. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... In prehistoric days they had been the home of the Horites, whose name may denote
that they were of the "white" Amorite race or that they were dwellers in "caves ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... Then skirting the country of the Horites and Gittites, Mareshah, Edom, and Lachish,
and traversing the lonely wastes of the desert where the tracks of the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Horites (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Horites (6 Occurrences). Genesis 14:6 and the Horites
in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. ...
/h/horites.htm - 8k

Horite (4 Occurrences)
... The "Horites" in their "Mt. ... The Horites were Semites, and consequently are distinguished
in Deuteronomy 2:12 from the tall race of Rephaim. AH Sayce. ...
/h/horite.htm - 9k

Seir (38 Occurrences)
... It was originally occupied by the Horites (Genesis 14:6), who were afterwards
driven out by the Edomites (Genesis 32:3; 33:14, 16). ...
/s/seir.htm - 21k

Se'ir (36 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 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

Chiefs (227 Occurrences)
... Genesis 36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came
of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. ...
/c/chiefs.htm - 37k

Horim (2 Occurrences)
... The "Horites" in their "Mt. ... The Horites were Semites, and consequently are distinguished
in Deuteronomy 2:12 from the tall race of Rephaim. AH Sayce. ...
/h/horim.htm - 8k

Descended (64 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Genesis 36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who
came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. (See NAS). ...
/d/descended.htm - 25k

Edom (108 Occurrences)
... Its old capital was Bozrah (Isaiah 63:1). The early inhabitants of the land
were Horites. ... This only means that the Horites were subdued. ...
/e/edom.htm - 53k

Elparan (1 Occurrence)
... Oak of Paran, a place on the edge of the wilderness bordering the territory of the
Horites (Genesis 14:6). This was the farthest point to which Chedorlaomer's ...
/e/elparan.htm - 9k

Ezer (10 Occurrences)
... Ezer (10 Occurrences). Genesis 36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs
who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. ...
/e/ezer.htm - 11k

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

What is the significance of Edom in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Miscellaneous Bible Questions (All) | GotQuestions.org

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