Deuteronomy 2:12

The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.)

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite generation at the edge of the Transjordan, recounting past territorial shifts before directing them to cross the Brook of Zered.

The words — The Hebrew יִֽירָשׁ֗וּם (yi.ra.Shu/m) translates literally as "they dispossessed them," and וַ/יַּשְׁמִידוּ/ם (va/i.yash.mi.Du/m) means "and they destroyed them."

The thread — The displacement of the Horites in Seir by Esau’s line is repeated in Deuteronomy 2:22, while Genesis 14:6 and Genesis 36:20 only record the Horites inhabiting the region.

Why it lands — The passage states a historical precedent of forced settlement to establish that Israel’s occupation of their allotted land follows the same divine pattern.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּבְשֵׂעִ֞ירu./ve./se.'Irand/ in/ Seir יָשְׁב֣וּya.she.Vuthey dwelt הַחֹרִים֮ha./cho.Rimthe/ Horites לְפָנִים֒le./fa.Nim<to>/ before וּבְנֵ֧יu./ve.Neiand/ [the] descendants of עֵשָׂ֣ו'e.SavEsau יִֽירָשׁ֗וּםyi.ra.Shu/mthey dispossessed/ them וַיַּשְׁמִידוּם֙va/i.yash.mi.Du/mand/ they destroyed/ them מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔םmi./pe.nei./Hemfrom/ before/ them וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּva/i.ye.she.Vuand/ they dwelt תַּחְתָּ֑םtach.Ta/min place of/ them כַּאֲשֶׁ֧רka./'a.Sherjust/ as עָשָׂ֣ה'a.Sahit did יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael לְאֶ֙רֶץ֙le./'E.retzto/ [the] land of יְרֻשָּׁת֔וֹye.ru.sha.T/opossession/ its אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which נָתַ֥ןna.Tanhe gave יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehלָהֶֽם׃la./Hemto/ them

King James Version

The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 2:22 just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day.
Genesis 14:6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
Genesis 36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
Numbers 21:21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
Deuteronomy 2:32 So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz.
1 Chronicles 1:38 The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.