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Selected Verse: Genesis 36:20 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ge 36:20	Strong Concordance	These are the sons [01121] of Seir [08165] the Horite [02752], who inhabited [03427] the land [0776]; Lotan [03877], and Shobal [07732], and Zibeon [06649], and Anah [06034],
	King James	These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Sons of Seir, the Horite--native dukes, who were incorporated with those of the Edomite race.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Sons of Seir, the Horite--native dukes, who were incorporated with those of the Edomite race.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Horite Literally, Rock dweller.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
(parallel, Ch1 1:38-42). Descendants of Seir the Horite; - the inhabitants of the land, or pre-Edomitish population of the country. - "The Horite:" ὁ Τρωγλοδύτης, the dweller in caves, which abound in the mountains of Edom (vid., Rob. Pal. ii. p. 424). The Horites, who had previously been an independent people (Gen 14:6), were partly exterminated and partly subjugated by the descendants of Esau (Deu 2:12, Deu 2:22). Seven sons of Seir are given as tribe-princes of the Horites, who are afterwards mentioned as Alluphim (Gen 36:29, Gen 36:30), also their sons, as well as two daughters, Timna (Gen 36:22) and Aholibamah (Gen 36:25), who obtained notoriety from the face that two of the headquarters of Edomitish tribe-princes bore their names (Gen 36:40 and Gen 36:41). Timna was probably the same as the concubine of Eliphaz (Gen 36:12); but Aholibamah was not the wife of Esau (cf. Gen 36:2). - There are a few instances in which the names in this list differ from those in the Chronicles. But they are differences which either consist of variation in form, or have arisen from mistakes in copying. (Note: Knobel also undertakes to explain these names geographically, and to point them out in tribes and places of Arabia, assuming, quite arbitrarily and in opposition to the text, that the names refer to tribes, not to persons, although an incident is related of Zibeon's son, which proves at once that the list relates to persons and not to tribes; and expecting his readers to believe that not only are the descendants of these troglodytes, who were exterminated before the time of Moses, still to be found, but even their names may be traced in certain Bedouin tribes, though more than 3000 years have passed away! The utter groundlessness of such explanations, which rest upon nothing more than similarity of names, may be seen in the association of Shobal with Syria Sobal (Judith 3:1), the name used by the Crusaders for Arabia tertia, i.e., the southernmost district below the Dead Sea, which was conquered by them. For notwithstanding the resemblance of the name Shobal to Sobal, no one could seriously think of connecting Syria Sobal with the Horite prince Shobal, unless he was altogether ignorant of the apocryphal origin of the former name, which first of all arose from the Greek or Latin version of the Old Testament, and in fact from a misunderstanding of Psa 60:2, where, instead צובה ארם, Aram Zobah, we find in the lxx Συριά Σοβάλ, and in the Vulg. Syria et Sobal.) Of Anah, the son of Zibeon, it is related (Gen 36:24), that as he fed the asses of his father in the desert, he "found היּמם" - not "he invented mules," as the Talmud, Luther, etc., render it, for mules are פּרדים, and מצא does not mean to invent; but he discovered aquae calidae (Vulg.), either the hot sulphur spring of Calirrhoe in the Wady Zerka Maein (vid., Gen 10:19), or those in the Wady el Ahsa to the S.E. of the Dead Sea, or those in the Wady Hamad between Kerek and the Dead Sea. (Note: It is possible that there may be something significant in the fact that it was "as he was feeding his father's asses," and that the asses may have contributed to the discovery; just as the whirlpool of Karlsbad is said to have been discovered through a hound of Charles IV, which pursued a stag into a hot spring, and attracted the huntsmen to the spot by its howling.)

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

(parallel, Ch1 1:38-42). Descendants of Seir the Horite; - the inhabitants of the land, or pre-Edomitish population of the country. - "The Horite:" ὁ Τρωγλοδύτης, the dweller in caves, which abound in the mountains of Edom (vid., Rob. Pal. ii. p. 424). The Horites, who had previously been an independent people (Gen 14:6), were partly exterminated and partly subjugated by the descendants of Esau (Deu 2:12, Deu 2:22). Seven sons of Seir are given as tribe-princes of the Horites, who are afterwards mentioned as Alluphim (Gen 36:29, Gen 36:30), also their sons, as well as two daughters, Timna (Gen 36:22) and Aholibamah (Gen 36:25), who obtained notoriety from the face that two of the headquarters of Edomitish tribe-princes bore their names (Gen 36:40 and Gen 36:41). Timna was probably the same as the concubine of Eliphaz (Gen 36:12); but Aholibamah was not the wife of Esau (cf. Gen 36:2). - There are a few instances in which the names in this list differ from those in the Chronicles. But they are differences which either consist of variation in form, or have arisen from mistakes in copying.

(Note: Knobel also undertakes to explain these names geographically, and to point them out in tribes and places of Arabia, assuming, quite arbitrarily and in opposition to the text, that the names refer to tribes, not to persons, although an incident is related of Zibeon's son, which proves at once that the list relates to persons and not to tribes; and expecting his readers to believe that not only are the descendants of these troglodytes, who were exterminated before the time of Moses, still to be found, but even their names may be traced in certain Bedouin tribes, though more than 3000 years have passed away! The utter groundlessness of such explanations, which rest upon nothing more than similarity of names, may be seen in the association of Shobal with Syria Sobal (Judith 3:1), the name used by the Crusaders for Arabia tertia, i.e., the southernmost district below the Dead Sea, which was conquered by them. For notwithstanding the resemblance of the name Shobal to Sobal, no one could seriously think of connecting Syria Sobal with the Horite prince Shobal, unless he was altogether ignorant of the apocryphal origin of the former name, which first of all arose from the Greek or Latin version of the Old Testament, and in fact from a misunderstanding of Psa 60:2, where, instead צובה ארם, Aram Zobah, we find in the lxx Συριά Σοβάλ, and in the Vulg. Syria et Sobal.)

Of Anah, the son of Zibeon, it is related (Gen 36:24), that as he fed the asses of his father in the desert, he "found היּמם" - not "he invented mules," as the Talmud, Luther, etc., render it, for mules are פּרדים, and מצא does not mean to invent; but he discovered aquae calidae (Vulg.), either the hot sulphur spring of Calirrhoe in the Wady Zerka Maein (vid., Gen 10:19), or those in the Wady el Ahsa to the S.E. of the Dead Sea, or those in the Wady Hamad between Kerek and the Dead Sea.

(Note: It is possible that there may be something significant in the fact that it was "as he was feeding his father's asses," and that the asses may have contributed to the discovery; just as the whirlpool of Karlsbad is said to have been discovered through a hound of Charles IV, which pursued a stag into a hot spring, and attracted the huntsmen to the spot by its howling.)

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
These are the sons of Seir - In the midst of the genealogy of the Edomites is inserted the genealogy of the Horites, those Canaanites, or Hittites, (compare Gen 26:34,) that were the natives of mount Seir. Mention is made of them, Gen 14:6, and of their interest in mount Seir before the Edomites took possession of it, Deu 2:12, Deu 2:22. This comes in here, not only to give light to the story, but to be a standing reflexion upon the Edomites for intermarrying with them, by which it is likely they learned their way, and corrupted themselves. Esau having sold his birth - right, and lost his blessing and entered into alliance with the Hittites, his posterity and the sons of Seir are here reckoned together. Those that treacherously desert God's church are justly numbered with those that were never in it: apostate Edomites stand on the same ground with accursed Horites. Notice is taken of one Anah, who fed the asses of Zibeon his father, Gen 36:20, and yet is called duke Anah, Gen 36:29. Those that expect to rise high should begin low. An honourable descent should not keep men from an honest employment, nor a mean employment baulk any man's preferment.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
These are the sons of Seir the Horite - These Horites were the original inhabitants of the country of Seir, called the land of the Horites, and afterwards the land of the Idumeans, when the descendants of Esau had driven them out. These people are first mentioned Gen 14:6.

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¹⁹ And the border [01366] of the Canaanites [03669] was from Sidon [06721], as thou comest [0935] to Gerar [01642], unto Gaza [05804]; as thou goest [0935], unto Sodom [05467], and Gomorrah [06017], and Admah [0126], and Zeboim [06636], even unto Lasha [03962].

²⁴ And these are the children [01121] of Zibeon [06649]; both Ajah [0345], and Anah [06034]: this was that Anah [06034] that found [04672] the mules [03222] in the wilderness [04057], as he fed [07462] the asses [02543] of Zibeon [06649] his father [01].

² Thou hast made the earth [0776] to tremble [07493]; thou hast broken [06480] it: heal [07495] the breaches [07667] thereof; for it shaketh [04131].

² Esau [06215] took [03947] his wives [0802] of the daughters [01323] of Canaan [03667]; Adah [05711] the daughter [01323] of Elon [0356] the Hittite [02850], and Aholibamah [0173] the daughter [01323] of Anah [06034] the daughter [01323] of Zibeon [06649] the Hivite [02340];

¹² And Timna [08555] was concubine [06370] to Eliphaz [0464] Esau's [06215] son [01121]; and she bare [03205] to Eliphaz [0464] Amalek [06002]: these were the sons [01121] of Adah [05711] Esau's [06215] wife [0802].

⁴¹ Duke [0441] Aholibamah [0173], duke [0441] Elah [0425], duke [0441] Pinon [06373],

⁴⁰ And these are the names [08034] of the dukes [0441] that came of Esau [06215], according to their families [04940], after their places [04725], by their names [08034]; duke [0441] Timnah [08555], duke [0441] Alvah [05933], duke [0441] Jetheth [03509],

²⁵ And the children [01121] of Anah [06034] were these; Dishon [01787], and Aholibamah [0173] the daughter [01323] of Anah [06034].

²² And the children [01121] of Lotan [03877] were Hori [02753] and Hemam [01967]; and Lotan's [03877] sister [0269] was Timna [08555].

³⁰ Duke [0441] Dishon [01787], duke [0441] Ezer [0687], duke [0441] Dishan [01789]: these are the dukes [0441] that came of Hori [02753], among their dukes [0441] in the land [0776] of Seir [08165].

²⁹ These are the dukes [0441] that came of the Horites [02752]; duke [0441] Lotan [03877], duke [0441] Shobal [07732], duke [0441] Zibeon [06649], duke [0441] Anah [06034],

²² As he did [06213] to the children [01121] of Esau [06215], which dwelt [03427] in Seir [08165], when he destroyed [08045] the Horims [02752] from before [06440] them; and they succeeded [03423] them, and dwelt [03427] in their stead even unto this day [03117]:

¹² The Horims [02752] also dwelt [03427] in Seir [08165] beforetime [06440]; but the children [01121] of Esau [06215] succeeded [03423] them, when they had destroyed [08045] them from before [06440] them, and dwelt [03427] in their stead; as Israel [03478] did [06213] unto the land [0776] of his possession [03425], which the LORD [03068] gave [05414] unto them.

⁶ And the Horites [02752] in their mount [02042] Seir [08165], unto Elparan [0364], which is by [05921] the wilderness [04057].

³⁸ And the sons [01121] of Seir [08165]; Lotan [03877], and Shobal [07732], and Zibeon [06649], and Anah [06034], and Dishon [01787], and Ezer [0687], and Dishan [01789].
³⁹ And the sons [01121] of Lotan [03877]; Hori [02753], and Homam [01950]: and Timna [08555] was Lotan's [03877] sister [0269].
⁴⁰ The sons [01121] of Shobal [07732]; Alian [05935], and Manahath [04506], and Ebal [05858], Shephi [08195], and Onam [0208]. And the sons [01121] of Zibeon [06649]; Aiah [0345], and Anah [06034].
⁴¹ The sons [01121] of Anah [06034]; Dishon [01787]. And the sons [01121] of Dishon [01787]; Amram [02566], and Eshban [0790], and Ithran [03506], and Cheran [03763].
⁴² The sons [01121] of Ezer [0687]; Bilhan [01092], and Zavan [02190], and Jakan [03292]. The sons [01121] of Dishan [01789]; Uz [05780], and Aran [0765].

²⁹ These are the dukes [0441] that came of the Horites [02752]; duke [0441] Lotan [03877], duke [0441] Shobal [07732], duke [0441] Zibeon [06649], duke [0441] Anah [06034],

²⁰ These are the sons [01121] of Seir [08165] the Horite [02752], who inhabited [03427] the land [0776]; Lotan [03877], and Shobal [07732], and Zibeon [06649], and Anah [06034],

⁶ And the Horites [02752] in their mount [02042] Seir [08165], unto Elparan [0364], which is by [05921] the wilderness [04057].

³⁴ And Esau [06215] was forty [0705] years [08141] old [01121] when he took [03947] to wife [0802] Judith [03067] the daughter [01323] of Beeri [0882] the Hittite [02850], and Bashemath [01315] the daughter [01323] of Elon [0356] the Hittite [02850]:

⁶ And the Horites [02752] in their mount [02042] Seir [08165], unto Elparan [0364], which is by [05921] the wilderness [04057].